Citrus season is here — especially oranges — and if you’ve got extras on hand, here are some of my favorite orange-forward dessert recipes to inspire your baking. Some use fresh oranges, juice, or zest to showcase seasonal fruit; others rely on orange flavoring for when you want that bright citrus note without fresh fruit. All recipes are vegan, gluten-free, and free of refined sugar.
Click the “Get the recipe” button in each entry to view the full recipe. I hope these ideas help you make the most of orange season.
Recipes Featuring Fresh Oranges
These selections highlight fresh oranges — juice, segments, or zest — so you can enjoy peak citrus flavor while it’s in season.
Chocolate Orange Tart
A lush, no-bake chocolate tart with bright orange flavor — decadence balanced by fresh citrus.
Fig & Orange Roll-Up Cookies
Crisp on the outside and soft inside, these cookies combine figs with bright orange for a satisfying, fruity bite.
Raw Cranberry Orange Cheesecake
A festive raw cheesecake layered with cranberry and orange flavors and warming spices.
Raw Orange Caramel Tart
Creamy, caramel-like filling with a bright orange twist — a luscious no-bake dessert.
Mirabelle Plum Jam
A sweet-tart jam where orange juice and maple syrup accent mirabelle plums — lovely on toast or desserts.
Dark Chocolate with Orange Peel
A refined chocolate-orange bark with natural candied orange peel — perfect for gifting or snacking.
Walnuts in Syrup
Crunchy walnuts glazed in orange-scented syrup — excellent over ice cream or as a sweet snack.
Orange Butter Cake with Warm Orange Sauce
A light, fluffy cake finished with a warm orange sauce that provides most of the sweetness — elegant and not overpowering.
Vegan Ricciarelli
Chewy traditional almond cookies brightened with orange zest — simple, classic, and fragrant.
Blood Orange Dessert Recipes
Blood oranges bring a distinct flavor and stunning color. These recipes highlight their ruby hues and bright, floral-citrus notes.
Blood Orange Tart
A colorful no-bake blood orange tart set on a rich chocolate crust — bright, refreshing, and beautiful.
Blackberry Blood Orange Nice Cream
A simple three-ingredient vegan nice cream that blends blackberries and blood orange for a refreshing frozen treat.
Blood Orange Bundt Cake with Salted Chocolate Ganache
A moist bundt cake with intense blood orange flavor finished with salted chocolate ganache — ideal for chocolate-orange lovers.
Orange Flavored Desserts
These desserts rely on orange flavoring — extracts or oils — rather than fresh fruit. When you want a clear orange note, these deliver the profile you’re after.
Cassava Almond Orange Cake
A cozy cassava-and-almond cake with orange notes — moist and comforting.
No-Bake Candy Bar Cookies
Chewy, orange-flavored no-bake cookies topped with crunchy chocolate — a satisfying treat without an oven.
Orange Gingerbread Cheesecake
A spiced raw cheesecake with a gingerbread-style crust and a smooth orange-flavored filling — cozy and bright.
Raw Orange and Fig Spread
A quick, raw spread combining figs and citrus for a marmalade-like result that’s great on toast or desserts.
Chocolate Orange Mousse
A creamy chocolate-orange mousse made with walnuts, tahini, and a hint of espresso for depth.
Orange Marmalade Desserts
Orange marmalade lends concentrated citrus flavor and pleasing texture. These recipes put marmalade to good use, whether as a filling, glaze, or flavor accent.
Orange Marmalade Galette
A rustic galette featuring a cookie-dough crust, a layer of creamy filling, and a bright orange marmalade topping — like a fruit pizza in pastry form.
Chocolate Orange Hazelnut Truffles
Rich dark chocolate truffles with orange marmalade and a hazelnut center — elegant little bites with intense flavor.
Orange Blossom Desserts
Orange blossom water brings a floral, aromatic lift to desserts. It pairs beautifully with nuts, tahini, and delicate creams for Middle Eastern-inspired or simply fragrant confections.
Pistachio & Orange Blossom Avocado Cake
An unusual raw cake where avocado provides a silky base, pistachios add texture, and orange blossom water lends perfume.
Sesame Orange Blossom Cookies
Crisp tahini-based cookies flavored with orange blossom water for a fragrant, nutty cookie experience.
Tahini Orange Blossom Cheesecake
A simple, raw, nut-free cheesecake that pairs the toasty flavor of tahini with delicate orange blossom aroma.