Orange Lemon Orangies

Averie Sunshine
4.60 from 5 votes
Updated: Mar 06, 2026
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🍊🍋 Orange Bars are like brownies, but made with orange, lemon, and white chocolate! Fast and EASY to make, they’re dense, chewy, and packed with big, BOLD citrus flavor!

Four orange bars on a platter with orange slices.

Easiest Orange Bars Recipe

If you like lemon bars and citrusy desserts in general, these fast, easy, one-bowl, no-mixer orange squares are just the thing for you. They’re dense and chewy, and if you’re looking for traditional lemon bars or fluffy lemon cake, this recipe isn’t that.

It came to be because I adapted a very popular recipe for Lemon Lemonies and created Orangies, so to speak. So many readers have asked me about the Lemon Lemonies recipe, whether it can be made with an orange twist. So, I decided to give that a whirl.

I used orange extract and orange juice in the white chocolate-based batter. Then, the glaze is made with lemon juice, which is obviously more tart and a nice balance to the sweeter orange base. They’re perfect for spring and summer and are always a crowdpleaser for Easter, baby showers, and gatherings!

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make orange dream bars, you’ll need:

  • White chocolate chips 
  • Unsalted butter
  • Eggs
  • Granulated sugar
  • Fresh orange juice: For the best flavor, I HIGHLY recommend juicing fresh oranges. Use your favorite variety, like Blood Oranges or Navel. You just can’t compare the flavor of freshly squeezed juice to the bottled stuff
  • Orange extract
  • All-purpose flour: I haven’t tested this reicpe with a gluten-free flour blend, but it should work as long as you use a 1:1 gluten-free blend
  • Salt
  • Glaze: Confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar), lemon juice, and lemon zest

Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.

A stack of two orange bars, the top bar missing a corner bite.

How to Make Orange Bars

  1. Melt the chocolate and butter in a large bowl in the microwave, stirring frequently to prevent the mixture from seizing.
  2. Let the mixture cool slightly, and whisk in the remaining wet ingredients. Then, add the dry ingredients, whisking just until smooth. I just whisk by hand rather than using a mixer or food processor.
  3. Turn the batter into a prepared baking pan, smoothing it out in an even layer. Bake just until the batter is set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs.
  4. Cool the bars for 2 to 3 hours at room temperature (no ned for the refrigerator) before slicing them. I know the wait is hard, but the bars have a much better texture after they’ve cooled down!
  5. In the meantime, whisk the glaze ingredients in a bowl until smooth, adjusting the consistency as needed. Pour the glaze over the bars, and sprinkle lemon zest over the top of the bars. Use a sharp knife to slice once set, and enjoy! My favorite trick for smooth citrus bars is to run the knife under hot water and wipe it clean after each cut.

Can I Double This Recipe? 

Most likely, yes. You’ll need to bake it in a 9×13-inch pan, and the bake time should be roughly the same. 

A slice of creamy layered dessert with an orange-flavored filling on a white plate, garnished with orange segments.
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4.60 from 5 votes

Orange Lemon Bars

By Averie Sunshine
🍊🍋 Like brownies, but made with orange, lemon, and white chocolate, these orange bars are EASY, dense, chewy, and packed with big, BOLD citrus flavors!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 27 minutes
Cooling Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 32 minutes
Servings: 9 servings

Equipment

Ingredients 

Bars

  • ¾ cup white chocolate chips
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 stick
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 2 teaspoons orange extract, or to taste
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Glaze

  • 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • about 1/3 cup lemon juice, or as necessary for consistency
  • about 1 tablespoon lemon zest, or to taste

Instructions 

Make the bars:

  • Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
  • To a large, microwave-safe bowl add the white chocolate, butter, and heat to melt, about 1 minute on high power. Stop to check and stir and then heat in 20-second bursts, stopping to stir after each burst, until mixture can be stirred smooth. White chocolate is very prone to scorching and seizing up, so watch it carefully and don’t overheat.
  • Wait momentarily before adding the eggs so you don’t scramble them. Add the eggs, granulated sugar, orange juice, orange extract, and whisk until combined.
  • Add the flour, salt, and stir until just combined; don’t overmix.
  • Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.
  • Bake for about 25 to 27 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter; set aside and make the glaze.

Make the Glaze:

  • In a medium bowl, add 2 cup confectioners’ sugar, 1/3 cup lemon juice, and whisk until smooth. As necessary, add additional lemon juice (or sugar) to reach desired glaze consistency. I used slightly over 1/3 cup lemon juice. Glaze should be fairly thin and easily pourable.
  • Evenly pour glaze over bars, smoothing it lightly with a spatula if necessary, but glaze will likely just slide into place.
  • Evenly sprinkle with lemon zest.
  • Allow bars to cool in pan uncovered for at least 2 to 3 hours, (or overnight and cover with a sheet of foil) before slicing and serving so glaze can set up. 

Notes

Storage: Bars will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Adapted from Lemon Lemonies.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 422cal, Carbohydrates: 67g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 71mg, Sodium: 92mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 50g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Orange Bars Pinterest image.
A collage showcasing orange lemon bars, with the title "orange lemon creamsicles" emphasizing the fusion of orange and lemon flavors.

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4.60 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

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Comments

  1. Hi! What if you don’t have the orange extract? I find these are hard to find in stores. Is it OK to opt-out of it because of the fresh oranges?

    Reply

    1. You can always order it https://amzn.to/4khDMre because based on your grocery store, it may not be stocked frequently, although I don’t tend to have an issue where I live. You can opt out of it BUT they won’t have as much of an orange flavor. You could also substitute with lemon extract, but again that’s not going to give you an orange flavor. If you really want an orange flavor, then I would order orange extract or source it in your area.

      Reply

  2. 5 stars
    Averie

    Thanks so much for this yummy recipe. I baked these for my fellow Respiratory Therapists to bring a little bit of sunshine into this scary stressful time While we fight this pandemic on the front lines. Very well appreciated and liked. Thanks. Sue

    Reply

    1. How nice of you to bake for your peers and thank you for the immense service you are doing for everyone right now!!

      Reply

  3. 5 stars
    Averie

    Thanks so much for this yummy recipe. I baked these for my fellow Respiratory Therapists to bring a little bit of sunshine into this scary stressful time While we fight this pandemic on the front lines. Very well appreciated and liked. Thanks. Sue

    Reply

  4. We have a fantastic baker in our office and I requested these for my birthday dessert. They were amazing! So good that they didn’t even make it until noon!! Great recipe!

    Reply

  5. these looked yummy. I baked a batch and turned out great The flavors were right on and so was the baking time Just enough chewiness. I am going to next time try Passion Fruit pulp juice in place of the orange juice We grow Passion fruit and I have tons in my freezer

    Reply

    1. Passion fruit sounds lovely! I bet they will be delicious! Glad you enjoyed this batch, too!

      Reply

  13. Citrus desserts always seem nice right about now when we still have blah winter days. These look like a delicious twist on your lemon lemonies–I remember those!

    Reply

    1. The lemonies have continued to stay popular over the years, glad you remember them! And yes, citrus desserts are great for the winter blah days!

      Reply