
Bright, bittersweet, and deeply aromatic, this classic citrus preserve is the kind of thing that makes a plain piece of toast feel like a proper occasion. It comes together with just four ingredients — oranges, lemons, water, and sugar — so there's nothing hidden in the mix and no reason to second-guess the label. The technique here is genuinely satisfying: you coax natural pectin from the pith using a cheesecloth bundle, which means the marmalade sets beautifully without any commercial additives. Slicing the peel into thin strips gives every jar that gorgeous, jewel-toned look you'd expect from a specialty shop, but at a fraction of the cost. The frozen-plate set test is a small but brilliant trick that takes all the guesswork out of knowing when you're done boiling. Processed in a water bath, the sealed jars will keep on your pantry shelf for months — ready to brighten up breakfast, glaze a roast, or make an effortless homemade gift whenever the mood strikes.
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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.
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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