14 Orange Desserts to Celebrate Citrus Season

Orange Cornmeal Cake

Grab your cast iron skillet to make this fresh orange dessert recipe. Layer the citrus slices in the bottom of the pan, then pour the cornmeal cake batter on top. The result is a beautiful, rustic treat that you'll have to snap a picture of before cutting the first slice.

Orange-Almond Cake with Cranberry Curd

Say hello to cooler weather with this orange dessert recipe. The combination of orange and cranberry blends fall and winter flavors into a super-delish dessert that's not overly sweet. Sprinkle sliced almonds on top just before baking for added crunch and nutty flavor.

Blood Orange Bars

Fresh-squeezed blood orange juice gives these luscious baked bars just a touch of tartness. Piled onto a buttery crust, this blood orange dessert gets an extra hint of sweetness from a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

Test Kitchen Tip: If blood oranges aren't available, substitute regular oranges for an equally delicious citrus-packed sweet.

Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake

Keep this orange cake recipe in your back pocket for the holidays or a special occasion. Thanks to orange zest and dried cranberries, each bite is studded with fruity flavor, and the indulgence doesn't stop there. Melted white chocolate also gets mixed into the sweet batter, and a champagne glaze on top really gets the party started.

Easy-Orange Carrot Cake

Classic carrot cake gets an orange dessert twist in this rich recipe. In addition to your usual shredded carrots and spices (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger), add orange zest and juice to the batter. Then top the cake with fluffy sour cream frosting flavored with fresh oranges for a new spin on an old favorite dessert.

Orange-Chocolate Chip Muffins

Chocolate chips pair with a silky orange-flavored batter for melt-in-your-mouth muffins that are decadent for breakfast or delicious as an orange dessert. A buttery streusel topping of chopped walnuts and mini chocolate chips finishes the muffins with a crunch.

Orange-Kissed Chocolate Brownies

A double dose of chocolate and orange makes for ultra-luxe brownies the whole family will fall for. Try making a double batch—this orange dessert can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just let them thaw at room temperature for a few minutes before serving.

Triple-Citrus Pound Cake

A citrus medley makes this one of the best orange desserts you'll find. Brighten traditional pound cake with shredded lime peel, orange peel, and grapefruit juice. The triple-threat dessert can be made and frozen up to a month in advance.

Buy It: Nordic Ware Bundt Pan ($38, Target)

Citrus Granita

Craving something a little lighter than ice cream? Italian shaved ice becomes a refreshing summertime dessert when blended with orange juice, lemon juice, and chunky chopped orange. Garnish this frozen orange dessert with citrus wedges and fresh mint sprigs.

Orange-Ginger Ricotta Tart

Whip out this show-stopping orange fluff dessert the next time company comes calling. Ricotta cheese makes every bite silky smooth, and a topping of melted orange marmalade and orange slices creates an impressive display.

Orange Bowknots

Pastries can always double as a delicious orange dessert. Serve these stunning bowknots at breakfast, or save them for when you're craving something sweet. Three types of orange (juice, peel, and icing) give each pastry triple the bright, citrusy flavor.

Orange Cream-Pop Cupcakes

Re-create the dreamy flavors of childhood cream pops with these fun summery cupcakes. A blend of cheesecake pudding and orange gelatin creates the tasty cupcake batter. Then complete this orange creamsicle dessert with fluffy frosting flavored with orange peel.

Orange-Kissed Vanilla Bean Pillows

Fresh vanilla bean and shredded orange peel fill these light-as-air cookies with a delicate sweetness. Roll each in a homemade vanilla sugar coating to up the delish factor even more. It's a good thing this orange dessert recipe makes 36 cookies because it's impossible to stop after just eating one.

Frosted Blood Orange Cookies

Ditch the sprinkles and top this bright orange dessert with candied citrus pieces. The sugary peels give a sweet crunch to refreshing summer cookies. Not to mention it's a fun way to add even more zest to your cookies.