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Moroccan oranges with cinnamon is usually served as a dessert salad at the end of a meal, especially when navel oranges are in season. The oranges are peeled and cleaned of all pith, then sliced and garnished with ground cinnamon and orange flower water. Sweet, refreshing and surprisingly delicious.

How can such a simple dessert be so good? If you look at the combination of flavors, you’ll see that they’re a perfect match: oranges, orange blossom water and cinnamon. It’s so Moroccan!

Of course, Morocco is well-known for the quality of its citrus. Usually the oranges are so juicy and sweet that little to no sugar is needed for this dessert.

Sometimes I serve this salad with a good vanilla ice cream—not traditional of course—and you can also tweak it by adding chopped walnuts or dates. They all go together very well.

Round orange slices are arranged in overlapping fashion on a deep blue plate. The oranges are garnished with ground cinnamon.

Moroccan Oranges with Cinnamon and Orange Flower Water

Nada Kiffa | Taste of Maroc

Morocco is widely known for the quality of its citrus, and this easy orange dessert salad is one of many recipes using this bounty of nature.

Moroccan oranges are so sweet and fragrant that we hardly need to add sugar to them. Orange blossom water and cinnamon make it even more exquisite.

You can substitute mandarins or clementines for the navel oranges; it's equally delicious.

4.56 from 18 votes

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Prep Time 5

Chill Time 1

Total Time 1 5

Course Dessert

Cuisine Moroccan

Yield servings

Calories 69 kcal

Ingredients

2 sweet oranges, - preferably Navel
2 to 4 tbsp orange juice, - freshly squeezed
1 tbsp orange blossom water - (pure, not imitation)
1 tsp sugar - (optional; no need if the oranges are very sweet)
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

For garnishing

1 pinch ground cinnamon

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Instructions

Peel the oranges and remove the pith. Slice the peeled oranges anywhere between 0.2" (5 mm) to 0.4" ( 1 cm) thick.
Add the other ingredients and toss the oranges delicately around.
Cover with cling film and place in the fridge to chill and macerate for at least an hour.
Arrange on dishes and give a last sprinkle of cinnamon. Serve cold.

Nutrition

Calories: 69kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 1gSodium: 5mgPotassium: 319mgFiber: 2gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 3795IUVitamin C: 169mgIron: 0.5mg

Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate obtained from online calculators. Optional ingredients may not be included in the nutritional information.

Tried this recipe? We'd love to know!Mention @tasteofmaroc or tag #tasteofmaroc!

About the Author

Nada Kiffa

Nada Kiffa is Contributing Editor at Taste of Maroc. A native of Casablanca with strong Fassi roots, she writes about Moroccan and international cuisine at Ainek Mizanek.

4.56 from 18 votes (16 ratings without comment)

Cathy

Thursday 3rd of August 2023

Living in Morocco twice Rabat and Casablanca (my dad was military)I enjoyed many Moroccan dishes so I’m looking forward to trying this recipe and many others you have posted. My question is where can I find authentic orange water? Thank you

Christine Benlafquih

Hi Cathy. There's a link in the recipe card's ingredient list to buy orange flower water on Amazon. You can also check local or online Middle Eastern, Asian and halal markets. Just make sure you're buying pure orange flower (blossom) water and not imitation.

Ellen

Wednesday 21st of June 2023

Can I use blood oranges?

Of course. I rarely use sugar with navel oranges, but you will probably want to use it if you find the blood oranges are a bit tart.

Alicia

Saturday 23rd of April 2022

How long in advance can you make this? I have a dinner party I’d like to bring this too.

When I make this in advance, I arrange the slices on a platter. I'd sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar on as much as an hour before serving.

Kathleen Lance

Monday 31st of January 2022

I remember having this in Morocco and loving it. I even shared the recipe with a grade school teacher who was doing a unit on international food. Wonderful dessert.

@Christine Benlafquih, can I make in five hours in advance? Or will it break down? Thanks!

I love it, too. So easy and delicious, and no sugar is needed when the oranges are sweet.

Claudia

Monday 15th of April 2019

This dessert is simply amazing. I used red oranges and honey instead of sugar. Delicious! I do not know how Moroccan people serve it but I think it pairs great with a cup of mint tea. P.S: Licourice-Mint tea is Moroccan or rather Egyptian?

Thank you for the recipes.

Hi Claudia. I haven't had licorice added to mint tea, so perhaps that's an Egyptian combo or I just haven't had exposure to it in Morocco yet. We do make a licorice tisane or infusion here that's served cold rather than warm.