Ginger Free Orange Marmalade
Bright, bittersweet, and deeply citrusy, this classic preserve captures everything you love about a proper marmalade — glossy set, tender peel strips, and that perfect balance of tart and sweet. It's made with just four ingredients: fresh oranges, lemons, water, and sugar, so there's nothing hidden in the jar and no reason to second-guess the label. Many store-bought spreads and flavored preserves sneak in unexpected additions, but when you make it yourself from scratch, you know exactly what went into every spoonful. The technique here is genuinely satisfying — the cheesecloth bundle does the heavy lifting by releasing natural pectin from the pith and seeds, giving you a beautiful, firm set without any commercial additives. A candy thermometer and the frozen-plate wrinkle test take the guesswork out of knowing when you've hit the sweet spot. The finished jars are shelf-stable and make a stunning gift, or simply the best thing you'll ever spread on a thick slice of buttered toast.
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Learn more →Ingredients
48 servings
- 2 lbs navel or seville oranges (about 4 medium), scrubbed
- 2 lemons, scrubbed
- 8 cups water
- 6 cups granulated sugar
Instructions
- 1
Halve all the oranges and lemons. Squeeze the juice from each half into a large heavy-bottomed pot (at least 8-quart), catching the seeds and any loose pulp in a fine-mesh strainer set over the pot. Transfer the seeds and strained pulp to a double layer of cheesecloth; set the squeezed halves aside.
- 2
Using a spoon, scrape the white pith and any remaining pulp from the inside of each squeezed orange and lemon half and add it to the cheesecloth bundle — this pith is rich in natural pectin and is essential for the set. Tie the cheesecloth into a secure bundle with kitchen twine, leaving a long tail to tie to the pot handle.
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