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18 Brilliant Ways to Substitute for Orange Juice

Need a good substitute for orange juice? Here are 18 ingredients you can use to replace orange juice in a pinch, plus 4 delicious recipes!

Here are 18 brilliant ways to substitute for orange juice if you’re in a pinch or don’t like the taste.

You’ll find the best substitutes for baked goods, marinades, smoothies, cocktails, and more. Plus, I share 4 delicious recipes that call for orange juice so you can try out your favorite stand-ins.

Orange Juice 101

Cut and whole oranges next to a glass pitcher of orange juice.

Fresh orange juice is the quintessential morning beverage. But, it’s also a key ingredient in dessert recipes, marinades, and salad dressings mixed with olive oil and herbs.

This healthy juice is packed with Vitamin C, antioxidants, and micronutrients like folate and potassium.

Oranges and various orange juice products are readily available in stores. And you can find juice with pulp, pulp-free, reduced sugar, mixed with other juices, in concentrated form, and more.

But if you don’t like citrus fruits, have an allergy, or simply run out, there are several easy substitutes that can take its place.

The Best Substitutes for Orange Juice

1. Orange Extract

Two glass bottles of orange extract surrounded by whole and cut oranges on a table.

Orange extract has a stronger citrus flavor than regular orange juice. And it consists of water, alcohol, and orange rind oil.

Because it has a stronger flavor, consider toning it down with added water. You can use orange extract as a 1-to-1 substitute for marinades, sauces, dressings, and baking.

However, if you use it for a baking recipe that requires acidity, you’ll need to add a squeeze of lemon.

RELATED: 15 Easy Ways to Substitute for Almond Extract

2. Citric Acid

Citric acid in a bowl on top of cutting board surrounded by whole and cut lemons.

Citric acid is a great substitute for baked goods that rise like cakes, muffins, and breads. It’s also a good substitute for those who don’t like orange flavor.

When baking, substitute orange juice with 1/4 teaspoon of citric acid per cup of sugar.

3. Orange Concentrate

Glass of orange juice concentrate with ice cubes surrounded by slices of orange.

You can use this substitute for almost any recipe. Orange Juice concentrate is regular orange juice, processed to have the water content removed.

Substitute 1 cup of orange juice with 1/4 cup of orange juice concentrate and 3/4 cups water.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Glass jar of apple cider vinegar with cork top next to whole and sliced apples on wooden table.

Here’s a great non-citrus substitute for orange juice – apple cider vinegar! Just add a sprinkle of sugar or sweetener to mask the sour notes.

Mix equal parts vinegar and water to the required amount of orange juice for the dish.

5. Orange Marmalade

Small mason jar filled with orange marmalade next to green garnish on a wooden table.

Marmalade has a sweet flavor and thick consistency that’s great for marinades and sauces. And you can add some vinegar or lemon juice to help cut the sweetness.

Start with a 2 to 1 ratio (orange juice to marmalade) and add some extra liquid if needed.

6. Grand Marnier

Glass flask of Grand Marnier next to a wine glass on a wooden table.

You can use Grand Marnier to substitute for orange juice in chicken recipes, marinades, and sauces. However, it does have a less intense orange flavor. So, you may need to increase the ratio if possible.

Grand Marnier is a cognac liqueur and does contain alcohol, so keep that in mind when cooking.

7. Orange Zest

Woman uses a grater to zest an orange over a white plate on a table.

Zest is the colorful part of the orange peel. And it has an intense orange flavor and slightly bitter aftertaste.

You can use orange zest as a substitute in recipes that don’t require the liquid from the orange, but only the orange flavor.

You’ll need 1 teaspoon of orange zest per 2 tablespoons of orange juice.

8. Lemon Zest

Woman uses a microplane grater to zest a lemon over a table with lemons on it.

You can also use lemon zest the same way you would orange zest. However, your dish may have a more tart and sour taste.

You can compensate by adding additional sweetener or liquid depending on the recipe.

Use 1 teaspoon of lemon zest for every 2 tablespoons of orange juice.

9. Pineapple Juice

Glass of pineapple juice with green leaf garnish next to whole and cut pineapple.

Pineapple juice is an excellent orange juice substitute and has a similar tangy-sweet flavor. It works perfectly as a substitute in smoothies and your favorite cake recipe.

Use pineapple juice to substitute for orange juice 1 to 1.

RELATED: 17 Awesome Ways to Substitute for Pineapple Juice

10. Orange Liqueur

Bottle of orange liqueur next to cocktail in glass and cut oranges and lime.

Orange liqueur has a mild orange flavor. And it works great for beverages, desserts, and some baked goods.

However, it does contain an alcohol content of 30-40% so be aware of that when cooking.

Use orange liqueur as a 1-to-1 substitute for orange juice.

11. Grapefruit Juice

Small glass of grapefruit juice on a burlap coaster next to slices of grapefruit.

If you don’t mind the slightly bitter taste, you can use grapefruit juice in place of orange juice for baking, smoothies, and sauces.

It has a fresh citrus flavor that works well with similar ingredients. However, you may want to add sugar or another sweetener to tone down the bitter notes.

Use grapefruit juice as a 1-to-1 substitute.

12. Lemon Juice

Two glasses of lemon juice on a wooden table surrounded by whole and sliced lemons.

Here’s a similar citrus fruit you can use to replace orange juice. Lemon juice is much more tart, but it has similar flavor notes.

This substitute works well for marinades to tenderize the meat, salad dressings, and grilled recipes. But you may need to add a little sweetness like a drizzle of honey.

RELATED: 17 Easy Ways to Substitute for Honey

13. Lime Juice

Whole limes surround a wooden cutting board with two juiced limes and a bowl of lime juice.

You can use lime juice to substitute for orange juice the same way you would lemon juice. It’s another great meat tenderizer and marinade ingredient for the grill.

You can also use lime juice for salad dressings and citrusy sauces.

14. Meyer Lemons

Sliced and whole Meyer lemons on and around a wooden cutting board with wooden juicer.

If you’ve never heard of Meyer lemons, they’re a hybrid fruit native to China. And it’s a mix between lemon and mandarin.

Meyer lemons are less sour than regular lemons, so they’re a great orange juice substitute. You can use them anywhere you would orange juice. And they’re especially great for smoothies.

If you’re using more than a couple of tablespoons, you might need to add some sweetener with water to minimize the tartness.

RELATED: The Best Meyer Lemonade Recipe

15. Coke

Close up of a bottle of Coca-Cola with a red label and white words.

If you’re in a pinch, you can use coke to substitute for orange juice. It might not seem like the most obvious replacement, but it’s a great leavening agent for baked goods.

Your cookies and cakes will come out super airy and fluffy!

Use as a 1-to-1 substitute, but be sure to reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe as coke is very sweet!

16. Orange-Flavored Soda

Several glass bottles of orange soda in a wooden box without their lids.

While orange soda doesn’t have the fresh citrusy taste of orange juice, it does have a similar orange flavor.

You can use orange soda as an orange juice substitute for baked goods, similarly to coke.

But it’s best for recipes that require less than ½ cup of orange juice as it’s particularly sweet.

17. Buttermilk

Buttermilk pours from a glass jug into two small cups on a tiny wooden cutting board.

Buttermilk is a great replacement for orange juice in baking recipes. And perfect if you don’t like orange flavor. You can use buttermilk as a 1-to-1 substitute.

And if you don’t have any on hand, you can add a teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar to regular milk or almond milk to create a suitable replacement.

However, it’s not a good replacement for orange juice in recipes for a glaze.

18. Tamarind Paste + Water

Tamarind paste in a large white bowl next to tamarind pods on a table.

Here’s a unique orange juice substitute that may take you out of your comfort zone a bit. But, it’s a great replacement for baked recipes.

Tamarind paste comes from the sour and sweet sticky fruit from the tamarind tree. And it’s popular in Asian and Latin cuisine.

You can find it in specialty foods stores and sometimes in the world foods section of a regular grocery store.

To use tamarind paste as an orange juice substitute, reconstitute 1 tablespoon of the paste with 1 tablespoon of water in a one-to-one ratio, plus a tablespoon or two of sugar or sweetener.

FAQs

What’s the best orange juice substitute for orange chicken?

Apple cider vinegar mixed with sugar makes a great substitute in an orange chicken recipe.

Mix equal parts vinegar and water to the required amount of liquid for the dish. Then add in some sugar or sweetener to taste.

You can also use orange marmalade thinned with water.

What can I substitute for orange juice in a cookie recipe?

The best substitutes for orange juice in a cookie recipe are orange soda (for recipes calling for less than 1/2 cup) or freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice with a sprinkle of sugar.

How much orange extract equals orange juice?

Replace 1 teaspoon of orange juice with 1/5 teaspoon of orange extract.

Yummy Recipes to Try

Here are some easy and delicious recipes that call for orange juice to try out your favorite way to substitute above!

Persimmon Salad with Goat Cheese and Oranges

Persimmon salad with oranges, almonds, and cranberries on white platter with plates and fresh ingredients nearby.

Crockpot Cinnamon and Honey Carrots

Small white baking dish with brown sugar cinnamon carrots and fresh parsley on top.

Delicious Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes and Apples

Slow cooker sweet potatoes and apples in white pumpkin dish with white pumpkin decor nearby.

Grilled Sausage Kabobs with a Honey Mustard Glaze

Grilled sausage kabobs with yellow squash, zucchini, and potatoes on a white plate.

Orange Julius

Two glasses of Orange Julius with striped straws and orange segments, all on wood cutting board.

George Moy

Monday 19th of September 2022

I’m wondering on using orange juice (the drink you get in a container) versus a fresh fruit,since the recipe calls for the juice from the fruit for a glaze that goes on top of the cake,right now I’m in a pinch of making this jello cake because of high prices it makes it harder to buy a bag of oranges or just one orange to make a glaze for this cake.

Jessica Ashcroft

Monday 19th of September 2022

I would think if you used 100% orange juice without added sugar, it would be an excellent substitute for the fresh juice!