Top 12 Delicious Citrus Recipes for the Holidays

The holiday season is a time for festive gatherings, delicious food, and the vibrant flavors that make each celebration special. Citrus fruits, with their bright colors and zesty flavors, are perfect for adding a refreshing twist to holiday dishes. From appetizers to desserts, citrus can enhance the taste and presentation of any recipe. In this compilation, we’ve curated the top 12 holiday citrus recipes that are sure to impress your family and friends. Each recipe showcases the versatility of citrus fruits, bringing a burst of freshness to your holiday table.

Ingredients for Top 12 Delicious Citrus Recipes

1. Citrus Glazed Ham:

• 1 bone-in ham (8-10 pounds)
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1. Lemon-Garlic Roasted Chicken:

• 1 whole chicken (4-5 pounds)
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lemon, quartered
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Grapefruit Avocado Salad:

• 2 grapefruits, segmented
• 2 avocados, sliced
• 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Citrus Marinated Shrimp:

• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Orange Cranberry Relish:

• 2 cups fresh cranberries
• 1 large orange, peeled and segmented
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon orange zest

1. Lemon Bars:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon zest
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1. Citrus Roasted Carrots:

• 2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut into sticks
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Lime and Coconut Macaroons:

• 3 large egg whites
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 cups shredded coconut
• Zest of 2 limes
• 1 tablespoon lime juice

1. Blood Orange Sorbet:

• 4 cups blood orange juice
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

1. Citrus Herb Butter:
   • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
   • 2 tablespoons lemon zest
   • 2 tablespoons orange zest
   • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
   • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
   • Salt to taste
2. Meyer Lemon Tart:
   • 1 pre-baked tart shell
   • 3 large eggs
   • 1 cup sugar
   • 1/2 cup Meyer lemon juice
   • 1 tablespoon Meyer lemon zest
   • 1/2 cup heavy cream
3. Citrus Punch:
   • 4 cups orange juice
   • 2 cups pineapple juice
   • 1 cup lemon juice
   • 1/2 cup grenadine
   • 2 liters ginger ale
   • Orange and lemon slices for garnish

How to Make Top 12 Delicious Citrus Recipes

1. Citrus Glazed Ham:

1. Prepare the Ham: Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C). Place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan.
2. Make the Glaze: In a saucepan, combine orange juice, honey, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, orange zest, and ground cloves. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the glaze thickens slightly.
3. Bake the Ham: Brush the ham with the glaze and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for 2 to 2.5 hours, basting with glaze every 30 minutes.
4. Finish and Serve: Remove the foil for the last 20 minutes of baking to allow the glaze to caramelize. Let the ham rest for 15 minutes before carving.

2. Lemon-Garlic Roasted Chicken:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Season the Chicken: Place the chicken in a roasting pan. Rub the garlic, olive oil, dried thyme, salt, and pepper all over the chicken. Place the lemon quarters inside the cavity.
3. Roast: Roast the chicken for 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
4. Rest and Serve: Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving.

3. Grapefruit Avocado Salad:

1. Prepare Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine grapefruit segments, avocado slices, and red onion.
2. Make Dressing: Whisk together olive oil, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
3. Toss and Serve: Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently. Sprinkle with feta cheese before serving.

4. Citrus Marinated Shrimp:

1. Marinate the Shrimp: In a bowl, combine orange juice, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, paprika, salt, and pepper. Add the shrimp and marinate for 30 minutes.
2. Cook the Shrimp: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the shrimp for 2-3 minutes on each side until pink and opaque.
3. Serve: Serve immediately as an appetizer or over a bed of greens.

5. Orange Cranberry Relish:

1. Combine Ingredients: In a food processor, combine cranberries, orange segments, sugar, orange juice, and orange zest. Pulse until finely chopped.
2. Chill: Transfer to a bowl and chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

6. Lemon Bars:

1. Prepare the Crust: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Mix flour, butter, and powdered sugar in a bowl. Press into a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes.
2. Make the Filling: Beat eggs, granulated sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and baking powder until smooth. Pour over the crust.
3. Bake and Cool: Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool before cutting into bars.

7. Citrus Roasted Carrots:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Prepare Carrots: In a bowl, toss carrots with olive oil, orange juice, honey, lemon zest, salt, and pepper.
3. Roast: Spread carrots on a baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through.

8. Lime and Coconut Macaroons:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C).
2. Mix Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk egg whites and sugar until frothy. Stir in shredded coconut, lime zest, and lime juice.
3. Bake: Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.

9. Blood Orange Sorbet:

1. Make Syrup: In a saucepan, combine water and sugar. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar dissolves. Cool completely.
2. Mix Ingredients: Combine blood orange juice, lemon juice, and the cooled syrup.
3. Freeze: Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

10. Citrus Herb Butter:

1. Mix Ingredients: In a bowl, combine softened butter, lemon zest, orange zest, thyme, parsley, and salt.
2. Shape and Chill: Transfer the mixture to parchment paper, shape into a log, and chill until firm.

11. Meyer Lemon Tart:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Make Filling: In a bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, Meyer lemon juice, lemon zest, and heavy cream.
3. Bake: Pour filling into pre-baked tart shell and bake for 25-30 minutes until set.

12. Citrus Punch:

1. Combine Juices: In a large punch bowl, combine orange juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice, and grenadine.
2. Add Ginger Ale: Slowly pour in the ginger ale and stir gently.
3. Garnish: Add orange and lemon slices for garnish and serve chilled.