Blood Orange Bars Recipe

Last Updated on February 11, 2023 by Ellen Christian

Blood oranges are a delicious and healthy fruit, but what do you do with them? Try this delicious Blood Orange Bars recipe for a delicious dessert.

Blood Orange Bars Recipe

This blood orange dessert is a great way to incorporate this healthy ingredient into your diet. If you love blood oranges, you’ll love these delicious treats!

It’s hard to know what to make with this type of orange. They’re so good, but they won’t last long in the fridge! They taste great and are easy to make. Plus, they’ll keep for up to two weeks when stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can buy some here.

So you can enjoy them at your leisure without worrying about eating them all right away or throwing any out! I adore blood oranges fresh but I enjoy making this recipe as a treat during the holidays. It also makes a delicious dessert during Valentines Day.

Scroll to the end to print ingredients and directions for my luscious blood orange bars. It’s one of my favorite citrus desserts.

What else can you make with blood orange?

I hope to try some more blood orange desserts soon. I think that muffins, cookies, and cake would all be delicious with a blood orange flavor.

What are blood oranges?

As the name suggests, they are a type of orange that has a reddish-purple hue to its skin. The flesh and juice of the fruit are also a deep red color. This is due to the presence of anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant pigment.

That means that your blood orange bars get a deep red color naturally and not with red food coloring.

Blood oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, and folate. They contain no cholesterol or saturated fat, but they do have more calories than other oranges.

Are blood oranges still available?

Blood Oranges are in season from late winter to early spring (though you can find them sometimes year-round). You’ll often find them at local farmer’s markets during this time.

When choosing blood oranges, make sure they’re firm and have a deep orange color. Avoid fruits that are dry or have brown spots.

What does blood orange do to your body?

Blood oranges are packed with anthocyanin that provides an excellent antioxidant. All their pigments have a dark red color to them. This antioxidant has strong anti-cancer properties. These are helpful in controlling the effects of radical damage in the body and are believed by many researchers to reduce the chances of cancer.

Where can I find blood orange juice?

If you can’t find blood orange juice at the grocery store, you can squeeze your own from fresh blood oranges. Or, you can find store bought blood orange juice here on Amazon.

Why is blood orange so expensive?

As with all citrus fruits, the price of blood oranges depends on the season and availability. They’re more expensive than other oranges because they’re a specialty fruit.

What does a blood orange taste like?

Blood oranges are tangy with a hint of raspberry. They also have a unique flavor that most people enjoy. You can substitute them for regular oranges in most recipes.

Tips for making blood orange bars

• Remember to take the butter out earlier in the day so that it softens to room temperature.
• Be sure to sift the powdered sugar for the best results.
• Use unsalted butter for the best taste.
• Use large eggs in this recipe.
• Bake in the center of the oven. Use an oven thermometer to check the temperature.
• Be sure to cool completely so they set up properly.

Kitchen equipment

• Medium bowl for the crust
• Large bowl for the filling
• Pastry blender
• Fine mesh strainer (for the juice)
• Zester to make orange zest

How to make Blood Orange Bars

Prep time is about 15 minutes.

Ingredients 

You should be able to find everything you need for these bars at your local grocery store.

Crust:

1 ½ C flour

½ C powdered sugar

¾ C unsalted butter (soft)

Filling:

2 Tbsp blood orange zest (1 orange)

½ cup blood orange juice (2 oranges)

1 C granulated sugar

2 Tbsp all purpose flour

¼ teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

¼ C confectioner or powdered sugar

Difference between powdered sugar and confectioners?

Powdered sugar is often called confectioner’s sugar. It’s just a finer grind of granulated sugar. You can use them interchangeably in this orange bars recipe.

Instructions for blood orange bars

Preheat the oven temperature to 350 degrees.

Prep 8 X 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper

Mix the flour, powdered sugar, and butter together until a soft dough forms. You can use a pastry cutter or a mixer on low speed for the dough.

Press mixture evenly in the bottom of the prepared pan. I often do this with a silicone spatula.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Add the zest, juice, sugar, flour, salt, and eggs into a blender/food processor.

Pulse until light and frothy. 

Remove the crust from the oven. Do not let the crust cool.

Pulse the mixture one more time.

Pour the filling on the top of the hot crust.

Return to the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Remove the orange bars from the oven when done.

Set aside and cool on a wire rack to cool completely to room temperature.

Just prior to serving your blood orange bar sprinkle powdered sugar on top of the bars.

Can I make blood orange bars ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this recipe ahead of time! They should be made closer to the time you’re serving them. Keep in mind that if you cover them with plastic wrap while storing them, the powdered sugar might lose its crunchiness.

But, tey can be stored at room temperature for 1 day or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days (3 is pushing it).

How to store orange bars?

Storing these delicious desserts is easy! Simply keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and they’ll last for up to two weeks.

Do not cover the pan with plastic wrap. Make sure they are in an airtight container to keep them fresh. The buttery crust is much better when fresh.

Orange bars or lemon bars do not freeze well so be sure to eat them quickly!

Citrus bars variations

If you cannot find this type of orange at the store but want to try this blood oranges bars recipe, you can make lemon bars instead. Just use lemon juice instead of the blood orange juice. You may need to adjust the sugar if you use this as a lemon bar recipe because lemons are more tart.

Or, you can make orange bars with traditional oranges. The orange flavor isn’t the same but it’s still a delicious citrus dessert.

Orange or lemon bars are a delicious dessert if you cannot find a blood orange.

So, whether you make these blood orange bars for Christmas or Valentine’s Day, I hope you enjoy them.

More bars dessert recipes

If you enjoyed my blood orange bar recipe, you might want to try one of these bars.

• Cheerios cereal bars
• Healthy peanut butter banana bars
• Paleo pumpkin bars
• Chocolate coconut bars
• Weight Watchers breakfast bars

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