Fresh and Easy Orange Bars
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These Fresh and Easy Orange Bars perfectly combine tangy citrus and sweet, buttery goodness! With a crumbly crust and a smooth filling, they’re sure to be a hit any time of the year. Ready to make your own batch of these delicious bars? Let me show you how.
Sheila’s Recipe Snapshot for Orange Bars
I’ll take any chance to use fresh ingredients, like delicious orange juice and fragrant orange zest!
That’s right — nothing compares to the vibrant burst of fresh citrus flavor! There’s a certain joy in squeezing oranges and tasting the zesty brightness they bring to any recipe. In these orange bars, freshly squeezed juice truly shines, striking the perfect balance between tangy and sweet in every luscious bite.
Fresh orange juice is one of my favorite ingredients to use in recipes that call for a citrus kick. I use it in the cake and citrus rum glaze of my homemade Orange Bundt Cake for a rich and zesty dessert that’s always a hit.
It even shines in savory dishes—paired with a spritz of lime juice, it brings out the best in my Orange Mustard-Glazed Pork Chops Recipe.
From tailgating at the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!) to cozy afternoons at home, these orange bars prove that fresh citrus can truly brighten any occasion.
Ingredient Notes for Orange Bars
- Flour | Give the crust structure with all-purpose flour.
- Powdered sugar | Powdered sugar sweetens the crust and helps create a tender, crumbly base for the bars.
- Butter | Unsalted butter cut into small cubes adds richness to the crust, creating a buttery, flaky texture that holds together well.
Filling
- Eggs | Large eggs bind the filling ingredients together, providing structure and contributing to the smooth custard-like texture.
- Sugar | Granulated sugar sweetens the filling and balances the tartness of the orange juice, creating a delicious flavor.
- Flour | All-purpose flour thickens the filling, ensuring it sets up properly into a firm, custardy texture.
- Orange | Orange zest adds concentrated citrus flavor, while fresh orange juice provides tang and juiciness that defines the’ taste.
- Orange extract | Orange extract is an optional ingredient that intensifies the orange flavor, enhancing the citrus profile of the bars.
Variations and Substitutions
- Lemon Bars. Swap the orange juice and zest for lemon juice and zest for a bright, tangy lemon bar variation.
- Gluten-Free Orange Bars. Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
- Add Orange Marmalade. For extra texture, swirl in a few tablespoons of orange marmalade into the filling before baking.
How to Make this Orange Bars Recipe
These sweet and tangy orange bars are simple to make and so delicious. All you need is a little patience and the right ingredients!
PREHEAT AND PREP. Before you begin, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then, line the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, extending it over the sides for easy removal.
BLEND CRUST INGREDIENTS. Next, add the flour and powdered sugar to the bowl of a food processor and pulse 3 or 4 times to mix. Add the butter cubes and process until the mixture resembles small crumbs.
PRESS AND BAKE. Empty the crumbs into the baking sheet and press firmly into an even layer using your fingers or the flat bottom of a measuring cup. Then, bake for 15 – 18 minutes until the crust is light golden brown.
BEAT EGGS. When the crust has about 5 minutes left baking, crack the eggs into a large bowl and beat with a whisk or an electric mixer.
COMBINE FILLING INGREDIENTS. Now, add the sugar and flour and continue mixing until incorporated into the eggs. Pour in the orange juice and zest, along with the orange extract, if using. Complete the yummy filling by mixing it until the ingredients are fully incorporated.
BAKE ASSEMBLED BARS. Then, remove the crust from the oven and pour the filling mixture evenly over the top. Return it to the oven and bake for 20 – 25 minutes until the edges are golden and the center is set.
CHILL & SLICE. Cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight to make cutting into squares easier. When ready to serve, lift the orange bars out of the baking pan onto a cutting board and sift with additional powdered sugar. Using a sharp knife, cut into squares.
More Recipe Success Tips
How to Store Orange Bars
- After letting the bars cool completely on a wire rack, cover them tightly with plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container. To maintain their freshness and texture, you can keep them in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
- For longer storage, you can freeze the bars! Just wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and foil and store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the fridge before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! In fact, this is an excellent recipe to make ahead for parties or as a ready-to-go treat. After slicing, place them back in the fridge to store a few days before serving. If you need to split the recipe prep time, you can prepare the recipe up to baking the assembled bars and store for a couple of days to bake when ready.
If in a pinch, bottled orange juice will do the trick. However, fresh juice gives the bars a much more vibrant flavor.
Make sure the eggs and flour are well mixed, and bake until the center is set. If the filling is still too runny, it may need more baking time.
If preferred, reduce the amount of sugar in the filling to suit your taste, or use a sugar substitute like stevia.
Looking for more Dessert Bars Recipes?
Bars are your go-to simple and crowd-pleasing recipes! For more variations of this easy yet always delicious dessert idea, try Blueberry White Chocolate Cookie Bars, German Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars, and these Peppermint Cheesecake Bars Recipe with Oreo Crust.
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Fresh and Easy Orange Bars
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter cut into small cubes
Filling
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- ⅔ cup fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange extract optional
Instructions
Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing it to extend over the sides for easy removal.
- Add the flour and powdered sugar to the bowl of a food processor and pulse 3 or 4 times to mix. Then, add the butter cubes and process until the mixture resembles small crumbs.
- Empty the crumbs into the baking sheet and press firmly into an even layer using your fingers or the flat bottom of a measuring cup. Bake for 15 – 18 minutes until light golden brown.
Filling
- When the crust has about 5 minutes left of baking, crack the eggs into a large bowl and beat with a whisk or an electric mixer.
- Add the sugar and flour and continue mixing until incorporated into the eggs. Pour in the orange juice and zest, along with the orange extract, if using. Mix again until the ingredients are incorporated.
- Remove the crust from the oven and pour the filling mixture evenly over te top. Return to the oven and bake for 20 – 25 minutes until the edges are golden and the center is set.
- Cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight to make cutting into squares easier. When ready to serve, lift the orange bars out of the baking pan onto a cutting board and sift with additional powdered sugar. Using a sharp knife, cut into squares.
Notes
- You can insert a toothpick into the center to ensure the orange bar recipe is set. If the toothpick comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs, you’re good to go!
- Lemon Bars. Swap the orange juice and zest for lemon juice and zest for a bright, tangy lemon bar variation.
- Gluten-Free Orange Bars. Substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
