I have never been a very big fan of lemons, so lemon bars have never really been tempting to me. But then, I found this recipe for Orange Brownies and knew I would be a fan! I love the orange flavor in both the bars and the glaze on top – it is so yummy!
The texture of a lemon bar is a thick gooey lemon curd on a crust, but these glazed orange bars are sort of like a cross between that and a brownie, except flavored orange instead! I love how unique these dessert bars are – I’d never had anything like this before I made this recipe!
How to zest an orange
For a long time, I was intimidated about how to zest an orange…I had no clue what that even meant! It is super easy – all you have to do is use a micro grater and grate off the outermost layer of orange.
I had a fairly large orange and was able to get just enough zest for this recipe (2 teaspoons). Just make sure you are only getting the bright orange part and not the white stuff underneath.
How do I zest an orange without a zester?
If you don’t have a zester already, you can often find that your cheese grater has a small section for zesting. You can use this or you can DIY if that still isn’t an option for you.
To DIY this, take an orange and a vegetable peeler. Peel off the outermost layer of the orange and get a long strip of peel. Lay it flat on a cutting board and mince it up as good as possible with a sharp knife. You want to avoid most of the white pithy layer because it’s bitter, but it won’t hurt to have a little in this dish, so don’t stress too hard about it.
Can orange bars be made a day ahead?
Yes, in fact, it may even taste better with the slight chill from the fridge added to the bars! After making the bars, let them cool to room temp and then cover and chill in the fridge overnight. Slice and serve when you’re ready.
Ingredients in Glazed Orange Brownies
-2 cups of sugar
-1 1/2 cups flour
-1 tsp. salt
-1 cup butter, softened
-4 large eggs
-2 tsp. orange extract
-2 tsp. orange zest, divided
-1 cup powdered sugar
-2 Tbsp. orange juice
How to make glazed orange bars
Spray a 9X13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. This time I actually used parchment paper instead, but either way will work.
In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, and salt.
Add in the butter, eggs, orange extract and 1 teaspoon of the orange zest.
Beat at medium speed with an electric hand mixer until it’s well blended and then spread the batter into prepared pan.
Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. The bars should be golden brown and set in the center. Immediately after taking them out of the oven, pierce the bars several times with a fork to help them to avoid sinking.
In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, orange juice and remaining teaspoon of orange zest.
Stir until smooth and then pour the glaze over the bars. Cool and cut into squares.
Glazed Orange Brownies
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cup flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup butter
- 4 large eggs
- 2 tsp orange extract
- 2 tsp orange zest divided
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp orange juice
Instructions
- Spray 9X13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or use parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour, and salt.
- Add butter, eggs, orange extract and 1 teaspoon of the orange zest.
- Beat at medium speed with an electric hand mixer until well blended. Spread batter into prepared pan.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Bars should be golden brown and set in the center. Immediately after taking them out of the oven, pierce the bars several times with a fork to help avoid sinking.
- In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, orange juice and remaining teaspoon of orange zest.
- Stir until smooth and then pour the glaze over the bars. Cool and cut into squares.
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Do I need to refrigerate orange bars?
Orange brownies are fine to be stored at room temperature, but will last even longer if stored in the refrigerator. If you’re going to eat them within a couple of days, room temperature is fine, but they can stay good in the refrigerator for up to a week.
How do you store orange brownies?
Orange bars should be stored in the fridge if you have intentions of eating them within a week, but any storage longer than that should be done in the freezer. They can last in the freezer for up to 4 months if sealed in an airtight container or well wrapped.
Love oranges? So do we! All of our favorite orange flavored recipes!
- Easy Orange Sherbet
- Orange Creamsicle Fruit Dip
- Orange Cream Fruit Salad
- Cranberry Orange Cobbler
- Mandarin Orange Cake with Pineapple
- Orange Rolls
- Orange Chicken
- Orange Cheesecake Brownies
- Orange Juice Bread
- Easy Orange Sherbet
- Homemade Orange Julius
- Chocolate Orange Cookies
- Orange Chiffon Cake
Glazed Orange Brownies are full of orange flavor in a soft and chewy dessert bar recipe. These orange brownies are even more delicious with a simple orange glaze on top! 
Jessica says
I would have never thought to put orange on brownies, but now I don’t think I’ll ever go back. Bright, fresh and awesome!
Miranda says
Second time making these! I used twice the zest because I just can’t get enough of that orange flavor. The first time I made these they were gone in just two hours at work. Your recipe’s a hit!