Marmalade works in holiday cooking as a glaze, a filling and a sweetener. Seven ways to use it: shortbread thumbprint cookies, glazed ham, cranberry sauce, day-after turkey sandwiches, spiced cider or mulled wine, gingerbread cake and a ginger snap appetizer. Bitter jars like Minneola tangelo and Duncan grapefruit suit savory dishes; softer Mandarin and Meyer lemon suit baking.
We'll never argue against marmalade on warm toast, but it deserves a bigger role in the holiday kitchen. Old California Botanicals' small-batch marmalades are made from tree-ripened citrus grown in Redlands, and received 8 honors at the 2026 World Marmalade Awards. Here's how to put them to work.
How do you make marmalade thumbprint cookies?
Press a thumbprint into each round of shortbread dough before baking and fill it with a small spoonful of marmalade. The butter and citrus work well together, and the marmalade sets into a glossy center.
Best jar: Mandarin Marmalade, for its delicate sweetness and soft set.
How do you glaze a ham with marmalade?
Mix marmalade with a little whole-grain mustard, brown sugar and a splash of bourbon. Brush it over the ham for the final 30 to 45 minutes of roasting. The citrus caramelizes into a lacquered, bittersweet crust, and the kitchen smells like a California grove.
Best jar: Minneola Tangelo or Duncan Grapefruit. Both have the bitter complexity to cut through the richness of ham.
Can you put marmalade in cranberry sauce?
Yes. Add marmalade and pomegranate juice to your cranberry sauce. The marmalade brings sweetness and body, the pomegranate adds depth, and the orange peel gives it the complexity that gets people asking for the recipe.
Best jar: Navel Orange Marmalade, the classic partner for cranberry. Or try Mandarin for something softer.
What goes on a day-after turkey sandwich?
Leftover turkey, good bread, Brie, and a generous spread of marmalade in place of cranberry sauce. The citrus cuts the richness and the bitterness balances the savory.
Best jar: Melogold Grapefruit Marmalade, a natural with turkey and creamy cheese.
How do you use marmalade in mulled wine or cider?
Stir a spoonful of marmalade into a pot of hot apple cider or mulled wine along with the spices. It dissolves and adds a citrus undertone that ties the drink together, with more body than plain sugar. Garnish with an orange slice.
Best jar: Duncan Grapefruit Marmalade, unexpected and complex in warm drinks.
Can you bake marmalade into gingerbread?
Fold marmalade into the gingerbread batter, then use more as a glaze while the cake is still warm. The citrus lifts the spice and adds a little bitterness that keeps the sweetness in check. It also keeps the cake moist for days, if it lasts that long.
Best jar: Meyer Lemon Marmalade. Its floral notes and soft set work well in baking.
What is the easiest marmalade appetizer?
A crisp ginger snap, a slice of aged sharp cheddar and a small spoonful of marmalade. Snap, spice, salt and citrus together. On a holiday cheese board, these tend to go first.
Best jar: Minneola Tangelo Marmalade. Its sweet-tart complexity stands up to sharp cheese.
Which new marmalades are there this year?
Three varieties joined the collection, in small quantities while the harvest lasts:
- Mandarin Marmalade: made from California Satsuma mandarins. Delicate and aromatic.
- Duncan Grapefruit Marmalade: bracing and bitter, from a heritage California grapefruit variety.
- Melogold Grapefruit Marmalade: the sweeter, more approachable grapefruit.
Is marmalade a good gift for a cook?
A jar of marmalade is one of the most useful gifts you can give a cook, and our labels draw on California's farming heritage, so it looks right on a holiday table. The Gift Box Sampler pairs marmalade with our other California goods. Sending to several people? Multi-address shipping lets you check out once and send to everyone on your list.
Frequently asked questions
What marmalade is best for glazing ham?
A marmalade with some bitterness, such as Minneola tangelo or Duncan grapefruit, cuts through the richness of ham. Mix it with whole-grain mustard, brown sugar and bourbon, and brush it on for the last 30 to 45 minutes.
Can you use marmalade instead of cranberry sauce?
Yes. Marmalade works in place of cranberry sauce on a turkey and Brie sandwich, and it can also be stirred into cranberry sauce with pomegranate juice.
Which marmalade is best for baking?
Softer-set, gentler jars like Mandarin and Meyer lemon suit baking, from shortbread thumbprints to gingerbread cake.
