Blood Orange Flavored Ice Cubes

Blood orange flavored ice cubes add a refreshing, energizing boost to your drinks. All you need are two ingredients: oranges and blood oranges. Reduce waste by making these ice cubes when you have an abundance of oranges to use up. They're easy to make and can keep in your freezer for months, adding color and flavor to your drinks well past citrus season.

This recipe came about when it became clear we weren't going to be able to eat all of our beautiful blood oranges and oranges before they went bad. We'd gotten them at a good price, but were now running out of time to use them. Getting fruit at a good price isn't really a good price if you don't eat them all, right? So I needed to figure out how to get the most out of them.

What we appreciate about these ice cubes

Prolonging the enjoyment of blood oranges beyond their season

Adding a controllable amount of flavor to water, sparkling water, mocktails, or cocktails

Little time investment required to squeeze the oranges and fill the ice tray

Adding something special to a drink can happen at any moment, since they last a long time in the freezer, especially if the tray is sealed

A lovely color is added to drinks

Saving money by using less expensive oranges for part of the juice in place of blood oranges, since blood oranges are colorful and flavorful enough to still shine

Avoiding tossing out oranges we might not eat in time also saves us money, by "saving them" as ice cubes.

These beautiful ice cubes would be delicious in one of my flavored waters or cocktails/mocktails.

Jump to:

• What we appreciate about these ice cubes
• Ingredients
• Additions (optional)
• Equipment
• Instructions
• Storage
• FAQ
• Water flavors
• Mocktails and cocktails to pair with
• The Recipe
• Food safety

Ingredients

You only need oranges and blood oranges for this recipe.

Blood oranges: Because blood oranges tend to be more expensive, we are only using a couple and using less expensive oranges to fill the rest.

If you'd prefer to use only blood oranges, of course that works, too. The color and flavor will be stronger.

Oranges: Use a good juicing orange to combine with the blood oranges, or simply the least expensive orange available.

See recipe card for quantities.

Additions (optional)

To make these ice cubes even more wonderful, it's fun to add small bits of orange peel or fruit, such as sliced kumquats, to the juice in your ice tray. Kumquats are often available around the same time blood oranges are.

Fresh herbs, such as mint, are another nice addition.

Equipment

Here's what you will need to make these flavored ice cubes:

Cutting board and knife for slicing the citrus

Juicer of some sort (I just use a little hand juicer, as pictured)

Liquid measuring cup to collect and measure the juice (optional but helpful

Spoon and prep bowl to clear the pulp from your juicer (optional but helpful, depending on your juicing method)

Ice cube tray (the kind with a lid, preferably, for long-lasting freezer storage)

Instructions

This recipe is very basic, yet the results are fantastic!

Juicing Tip

A liquid measuring cup can help you collect the juice as you juice the oranges, rather than pouring the juice directly into the ice tray from your juicer. That way, the colors of the oranges and blood oranges combine to make a pretty pink-red-orange color - plus there's less mess.

Storage

The ice cubes are best used within a month or two; however, they can last in your freezer for months, especially if sealed.

FAQ

Water flavors

Try pairing these ice cubes with a flavored water:

Mocktails and cocktails to pair with

Enhance these drinks even more by adding blood orange ice cubes!:

The Recipe

Food safety

See food safety guidelines at USDA.gov.