Chocolate Covered Oranges are a simple and delicious dessert. They're made with just 4 ingredients and only take 15 minutes to prepare.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I always look for healthier dessert options, especially during the holiday season. What better way to enjoy fruit than dipping it in chocolate? Chocolate dipped anything is always a win in my book.
We've all heard of chocolate covered strawberries, but have you tried a chocolate covered orange slice? The flavor combination is incredible!
I love making these during the winter when citrus is at its freshest, though you can easily find mandarins all year round. They're perfect for the holidays, especially Christmas and Valentine's Day.
They're quick and easy to make with just 4 ingredients. You can choose your favorite way to melt the chocolate, whether in the microwave or stovetop (my preferred method). I've described both methods below.
Need more chocolate inspiration? Try these Chocolate Dipped Sugar Cookies or this Oat Milk Hot Chocolate.
When is Citrus in Season
If you're looking for the perfect recipe for citrus season, this one's for you! Most citrus is in season from November through March. During this time, you'll find more citrus varieties in your local grocery stores, and they'll be much fresher and more flavorful.
Ingredients
Just a handful of easy-to-find ingredients come together in this recipe.
- Mandarin Oranges: Large mandarin oranges, peeled and separated into segments. You could substitute for your favorite orange variety, like Sumo Citrus, naval oranges, or Cara Cara oranges.
- Chocolate Chips: Opt for a semi-sweet or dark chocolate. These balance out the sweetness of the orange perfectly. You can substitute for your favorite milk chocolate.
- Coconut Oil: A teaspoon of coconut oil to melt with the chocolate. Adding coconut oil helps create a smooth texture, gives it a little shine, and helps it harden and set quickly.
- Flaky Sea Salt: A sprinkle of flaky sea salt perfectly balances the sweetness of the chocolate and orange. (optional)
*The full ingredient list with amounts is in the recipe card below.
How to Make Chocolate Covered Orange Slices
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Peel the oranges and separate into segments, placing them in a bowl or on a plate.
- Using a double boiler or microwave, melt the chocolate and coconut oil in a bowl, stirring often. If using a microwave, stir every 20-30 seconds to ensure it does not burn. Remove the chocolate from the heat immediately so it doesn't seize.
- Holding one side of the orange slice, dip halfway into the melted chocolate. Let any excess drip back into the bowl, then place the chocolate covered orange slice on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining oranges. Sprinkle flaky sea salt over the top of the chocolate, if desired.
- Leave at room temperature for 30 minutes or chill for 15 minutes to allow the chocolate to set.
Expert Tip: To melt chocolate using a double boiler, fill a small saucepan with 1-inch of water. Place a heat-proof glass bowl on top, leaving a few inches between the water and the bottom of the bowl. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Add the chocolate and coconut oil to the bowl. Stir constantly, using a silicone spatula or spoon, until melted. Read more about how to melt chocolate.
Variations
- Sprinkle on some toppings. For a delicious twist, sprinkle some chopped peanuts, pistachios, mini chocolate chips, flaky sea salt, crumbled toffee, festive sprinkles, or shredded coconut over the chocolate.
- Use a different chocolate flavor. Use baking chips, chocolate chips, or your favorite chocolate bar on these oranges. I love to make these with dark chocolate chips to balance out the sweetness of the orange.
- Drizzle some melted white chocolate over them.
- Use a different variety of oranges. I love making these with mandarins, but they're also great with Sumo citrus, clementines, tangerines, naval oranges, and cara cara oranges.
- Make them vegan. To make them vegan, be sure to use vegan chocolate.
Serving Suggestions
Chocolate Dipped Orange Slices are a delicious and light holiday snack or dessert. Serve them for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even Valentine's Day.
They also make a great afternoon snack or brunch dessert. These oranges are the perfect pick-me-up for the winter blues.
Make Ahead and Storage
Make Ahead: I don't recommend making these ahead of time. Chocolate covered fruit is best served fresh on the day it's made. The moisture in the orange can cause too much condensation if left too long in the refrigerator.
To Store: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
To Freeze: Though you can freeze these, it will change the texture of the oranges, and they may dry out. If you choose to freeze them, flash freeze them on the parchment-lined baking sheet for 30 minutes before transferring them to an airtight container or freezer bag.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Yes! The sweetness and tanginess of oranges pair perfectly with the richness of chocolate. Opt for a semi-sweet or dark chocolate for a bit of bitterness to balance out the sweetness in the orange.
To prevent condensation between the chocolate and fruit, be sure your fruit is at room temperature before dipping it into melted chocolate. This helps the chocolate stick to the fruit better.
Chocolate covered oranges should sit for 30 minutes at room temperature or 15 minutes in the refrigerator before eating. This allows the chocolate to set.
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📖 Recipe
Chocolate Covered Oranges
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Set Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: about 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Melt
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 3 large mandarin oranges, room temperature
- ½ cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- flaky sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Peel the oranges and separate into segments, placing in a bowl or on a plate.
- Using a double boiler* or microwave, melt the chocolate and coconut oil in a bowl, stirring often. If using a microwave, stir every 20-30 seconds to ensure it does not burn. Remove the chocolate from the heat.
- Holding one side of the orange slice, dip halfway into the melted chocolate. Let any excess drip back into the bowl, then place the chocolate covered orange slice on the parchment lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining oranges. Sprinkle flaky sea salt over the top of the chocolate, if desired.
- Leave at room temperature for 30 minutes or chill for 15 minutes to allow the chocolate to set.
Notes
To melt the chocolate using a double boiler, fill a small saucepan with 1-inch of water. Place a heat-proof glass bowl on top, leaving a few inches between the water and the bottom of the bowl. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Add the chocolate and coconut oil to the bowl. Stir constantly, using a silicone spatula or spoon, until melted. Remove from heat.
These are best served fresh on the day you make them. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Nutritional Values (per serving) are approximates only.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 slices
- Calories: 132
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 131.2 mg
- Fat: 6.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2.4 g
- Protein: 1.8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Robin says
Hello. Can I substitute sunflower oil for coconut oil? Thanks for fabulous recipe.
Nicole says
Hi Robin! I wouldn't substitute sunflower oil for the coconut oil in this recipe. You can leave the coconut oil out altogether instead. The coconut oil makes the chocolate a little more smooth, but it also helps it harden/set faster and sunflower oil wouldn't help it set any quicker. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature. I hope this helps!