The 5 Best Substitutes for Orange Extract

Orange extract is the concentrated flavor of the orange, extracted from the fruit itself and added to alcohol for preservation. It is mostly used in cooking to give a nice burst of orange flavor without using real oranges. Alcohol burns off in the cooking process, making it safe and tasty even for children.

However, it’s not the most common ingredient you have in your pantry, so if you find yourself desperate to try a new recipe that calls for orange extract and you don’t have it, you may need to search your kitchen for a reliable alternative.

So what can you substitute for orange extract?

The top 5 substitutes for orange extract are orange juice, orange zest, orange oil, orange liqueur, or an alternative citrus extract. Each of the potential substitutes has slightly different pros and cons to use and volumes needed to get the right balance in your recipes.

We will talk about all this and more in the next article.

Cooking and Baking with Orange Extract

Orange extract is mostly used in baking, but you can also find it in some savory foods.

Some of the most common recipes with orange extract are

• Orange extract biscuits and biscuits
• Hard candies, dulce de leche and chocolates
• Cheesecakes, cupcakes, muffins and other pastries
• Fruit buns or quick breads
• pancakes and waffles
• Orange marmalade
• Salad dressing
• Stir-fried vegetables or meat
• Orange chicken

Of course, these are just some of the more popular uses for orange extract. If you like the taste of orange, you are only limited by your imagination: try it in all your dishes. You can also use a drop or two of your extract in a cup of tea or even hot cocoa to add a delicious burst of citrus to your drink. 

How much orange extract to use

Orange extract is a surprisingly potent flavor, so very little is needed to get the flavor you’re after. That being said, the best advice on how much orange extract to use is to follow the recipe as closely as possible.

The amount needed will vary depending on the size of the batch you are cooking, the intensity of the flavor in the recipe, and the other ingredients, as the different ingredients will enhance or enhance the flavor of the orange.

For the best flavor possible, when looking for orange extract, always buy a product that has as few ingredients as possible.  In particular, go for one without sugar, as any sweetening must be done in the recipe, not in the orange extract, and added sugar could affect the flavor depending on how much is ordered.

The 5 Best Substitutes for Orange Extract

Each of the substitutes we’ve considered has its own pros and cons, but most will work flawlessly in almost any recipe. The ratio can vary, so here’s a handy reference chart:

Orange juice substitute

Orange juice is often found in refrigerators or inside the oranges you have on the counter, waiting to be squeezed. Availability is undoubtedly the biggest advantage of this replacement.

The biggest difficulty in substituting orange juice for orange extract is the higher liquid content needed to achieve the same flavor. If you are just looking for a touch of orange, your best option is to replace the liquid in your recipe with orange juice.

For example, in a pancake recipe that calls for ½ teaspoon of orange extract and 1 cup of water, substitute 1 cup of orange juice for the water. If you want a stronger flavor, you can combine the orange juice with a little orange zest.

If you have frozen concentrated orange juice, this will give you more flavor without as much added liquid, but it will still not be as strong as the extract.

If your pancake recipe calls for milk instead of water, you shouldn’t necessarily switch to juice, as the consistency may not be the same. Instead, you can use 1 tablespoon of frozen concentrated orange juice and possibly some orange zest as well.

Finally, if you are not in a hurry, you can reduce your orange juice before using it to remove some of the liquid and simply leave the flavor. To do this, add your orange juice to a saucepan and bring it to a boil over low heat, stirring frequently.

There is no exact recommendation on how much to use like this, as the taste and water content will vary depending on how much you reduce it.

You can also add a little zest to the reduction to further enhance the flavor, but you’ll need to taste for the best results. Some trial and error may be required.

Substitute for orange zest

Using orange zest as a substitute for orange extract is a bit simpler than orange juice: 1 teaspoon of orange zest should equal about the flavor of ½ teaspoon of orange extract.  Each orange is going to have a different level of flavor in its peel, so it will vary slightly when fresh.

To ensure you spread the flavor well and not have large pieces of peel in your baking, be sure to use very finely chopped shavings rather than long strips or large pieces of orange peel.

You will also need to be very careful that none of the white pith remains in the bake, as it is usually quite bitter.

Orange Oil vs. Orange Extract

Orange oil is a great substitute for orange extract, because it’s also very concentrated, giving you the extract’s punch.

The downside is that it also adds oil to your recipe, but it’s such a small amount that it shouldn’t affect the outcome of your recipe. Orange oil is not as pure as the extract, but it is usually less expensive per amount required.

The biggest advantage is that you only need 2 drops of orange oil to equalize the flavor of the orange extract.

Orange liqueur substitute

Orange liqueur is another great substitute for orange extract, and the alcohol will continue to burn off during the baking process.

Triple Sec and Curaçao are two types of orange-flavored liqueurs, which are usually made with a neutral spirit such as alcohol. These will give you a flavor very similar to orange extract. Grand Marnier is perhaps the most popular orange-flavored liqueur, but it is made with brandy, which will give your recipe a very distinctive flavor.

The expense of orange liqueurs is undoubtedly the biggest drawback to using them as a substitute in your recipes, but for a one-off emergency, they’ll do the trick without breaking the bank if any orange liqueur happens to be a staple in your personal minibar.

Alternative Citrus Extracts

Using an alternative citrus extract is probably easiest if you already have a variety in your cupboards . You can use any extract you want in the same amount as your recipe calls for, and the flavor will be modified accordingly.

If you use lemon, your pastries will taste more like lemon instead of orange (which can be a good thing if you want to make these delicious lemon bars).

If you use vanilla, you will have a vanilla treat instead of an orange flavored treat. If you want to buy the best vanilla extract, read this article.

How to make orange extract

To make extracts, most home makers use cheap vodka as the alcoholic base. It’s relatively cheap, safe, and the flavor doesn’t have to be anything special, since it burns during cooking anyway.

You will need the peel of an orange. Try not to keep any of the white rind, as it has a bitter taste that you don’t want in your extract.

Place all the zest in a glass or wick jar and cover it with 1 cup of alcohol.  Make sure the orange is completely submerged. If you have a very large orange, feel free to add more vodka.

Close the lid tightly and place the jar in a cool, dry cupboard for at least 2 months.  The longer the solution sits, the stronger the orange flavor will be. When you’re satisfied with the flavor, carefully strain out all the zest and transfer the liquid to an extract jar.

Extract jars are usually made of brown glass with special lids that guarantee a truly airtight seal . The dark glass protects the extract from sunlight.

If you want a visual tutorial on how to make orange extract, I recommend this video from The Stay At Home Chef on YouTube. She shows how to make other types of extracts, so I’ve edited it so that when you hit play on the video below, it starts right when she shows how to make orange extract. Enjoy it!

How to make alcohol-free orange extract

Making non-alcoholic orange extract is fairly easy, although you may have to find the ingredient online or in a specialty store.

You can substitute 1 part water and 3 parts food grade liquid glycerin for the alcohol . Be sure to combine the water and glycerin well before using it by adding it to your citrus rind.

Liquid glycerin will have a more syrupy consistency, but it’s still sugar-free and should pack just as much flavor punch, so you can use it in the same proportion in your recipes.

Related questions

Is orange extract healthy?

Orange extract is essentially the flavor of the fruit and does not carry any positive or negative health benefits. It is neutral for health.

If you want to reap the nutritional benefits of oranges, you better eat the fruit itself, drink the juice, use the peel, or even incorporate orange essential oils into your life in some way.

Does orange extract go bad?

Orange extract is mostly alcohol, which doesn’t spoil, so no, orange extract doesn’t expire, but it can become contaminated if something toxic gets into the extract. For best storage, store the orange extract in a dark glass bottle with a single-use dropper or valve.

This way you can get the extract out, but nothing foreign can get back into the jar. You’ll also want to store it in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight.

Although the extract will not go bad naturally, it will eventually lose its flavor, so the expected shelf life is usually 3-4 years.

Can orange extract be used for skin conditions?

It is more common to use orange essential oil for topical application. The orange extract is all about the flavor of the fruit, while the oil, not surprisingly, extracts the oil from the skin of the fruit.

Orange oil is commonly used for skin conditions , as its nutrients are fantastic for protecting and healing damage of all kinds, from acne to sun damage. It is also anti-inflammatory, which helps fight swelling, and antiseptic, which keeps your skin healthy and clean.