Marmalade is one of California's great culinary traditions. And while we'll never argue against spreading it on warm toast, it deserves a much bigger role in your holiday kitchen.
Old California Botanicals' small-batch California citrus marmalades — made from tree-ripened citrus grown in Redlands and recognized with eight international awards — bring brightness, depth, and genuine California character to holiday cooking. Here are seven ways to put them to work this season.
1. Marmalade Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies
The classic holiday cookie gets a California citrus upgrade. Press a thumbprint into each shortbread round before baking and fill with a small spoonful of marmalade. The butter and citrus play beautifully together, and the jam sets into a glossy jewel in the center.
Best variety: Mandarin Marmalade — its delicate sweetness and soft set make it perfect for baking.
2. Marmalade-Glazed Ham
The holiday table centerpiece deserves better than a packet of pre-made glaze. Mix marmalade with a little whole grain mustard, brown sugar, and a splash of bourbon. Brush over the ham in the final 30–45 minutes of roasting. The citrus caramelizes into a lacquered, bittersweet crust that makes the whole kitchen smell like a California grove.
Best variety: Minneola Tangelo Marmalade or Duncan Grapefruit Marmalade — both have the bitter complexity that cuts through the richness of ham perfectly.
3. Cranberry Sauce with Pomegranate & Marmalade
Standard cranberry sauce is one-dimensional. Add marmalade and pomegranate juice and it becomes something worth making a tradition. The marmalade brings sweetness and body, the pomegranate adds depth, and the orange peel gives it a complexity that makes everyone ask for the recipe.
Best variety: Navel Orange Marmalade — the classic pairing with cranberry. Or try Mandarin for something a little softer.
4. Turkey Sandwich with Marmalade & Brie
The day-after sandwich is one of the great rewards of Thanksgiving. Leftover turkey, good bread, Brie, and a generous spread of marmalade instead of cranberry sauce. The citrus cuts the richness, the bitterness balances the savory, and suddenly leftovers are the best meal of the holiday.
Best variety: Melogold Grapefruit Marmalade — its bright tartness is a natural with turkey and creamy cheese.
5. Marmalade Spiced Cider or Mulled Wine
Stir a spoonful of marmalade into a pot of hot apple cider or mulled wine along with your spices. It dissolves into the liquid and adds a citrus undercurrent that ties the whole drink together — and gives it a richness that plain sugar can't match. Garnish with an orange slice for effect.
Best variety: Duncan Grapefruit Marmalade — unexpected, complex, and spectacular in warm drinks.
6. Marmalade Gingerbread Cake
Fold marmalade into your gingerbread batter and use it as a glaze on top when the cake comes out warm. The citrus lifts the spice and adds a subtle bitterness that keeps the sweetness in check. It also keeps the cake remarkably moist for days — if it lasts that long.
Best variety: Meyer Lemon Marmalade — its floral notes and soft set work beautifully in baked goods.
7. Marmalade on Ginger Snaps with Aged Cheddar
The easiest holiday appetizer you'll ever serve. A crisp ginger snap, a slice of aged sharp cheddar, and a small spoonful of marmalade. The combination of snap, spice, salt, and citrus is genuinely addictive. Put it on a holiday cheese board and watch it disappear first.
Best variety: Minneola Tangelo Marmalade — its sweet-tart complexity is the ideal foil for sharp cheese.
Give California's Finest Citrus This Holiday Season
Every one of these recipes works better with marmalade that starts with exceptional fruit. OCB's marmalades are made from tree-ripened California citrus — grown in Redlands, harvested at peak season, and cooked in small batches to preserve every nuance of flavor the grove put into the fruit.
This year we're especially excited about two new varieties joining the collection:
- Mandarin Marmalade — Made from California Satsuma mandarins. Delicate, aromatic, and unlike any marmalade most people have tasted.
- Duncan Grapefruit Marmalade — Bracing, complex, and beautifully bitter. Made from a heritage California grapefruit variety.
- Melogold Grapefruit Marmalade — The sweeter, more approachable grapefruit. Stunning color, stunning flavor.
They're available in small quantities while the harvest lasts.
The Gift That Belongs in Every Holiday Kitchen
A jar of OCB marmalade is one of the most useful gifts you can give a cook. It's also one of the most beautiful — our packaging reflects California's agricultural heritage, and it looks as good on a holiday table as it tastes on everything you put it on.
Our OCB Gift Box Sampler pairs marmalade with our other California botanical products for a complete introduction to everything we make.
And if you're sending gifts to multiple people? Our multi-address shipping lets you check out once and send to everyone on your list.
Shop All OCB California Marmalades →
Shop the OCB Gift Box Sampler →
