Orange 12 Oz Recipe

Prepare oranges

Wash the oranges thoroughly under cool running water. Roll each orange firmly on the countertop with the palm of your hand to soften and loosen the juice.

Cut and juice

Cut each orange in half crosswise. Using a citrus juicer (manual or electric), juice the halves into a bowl or measuring cup. You should extract roughly 10–12 fl oz (300–360 ml) of juice from 3–4 large oranges; if needed use a 4th orange to reach 12 oz.

Strain (optional)

If you prefer pulp-free juice, pour the freshly squeezed juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean container, pressing gently on the pulp to extract as much liquid as possible.

Adjust sweetness and texture

Taste the juice. If it tastes a bit tart and you prefer sweeter juice, dissolve up to 1 tsp granulated sugar in 2 tbsp cold water and stir until fully dissolved, then whisk into the orange juice. If juice is very strong, add up to 1–2 tbsp cold water to mellow the intensity.

Chill and serve

Fill a 12 oz glass with 4–6 ice cubes. Pour the prepared orange juice into the glass, leaving a small gap at the top. Stir briefly to chill and combine. Garnish with an orange wheel or twist and a mint sprig if desired.

To make an orange wheel: slice a 1/4" thick round from an extra orange. For a twist: cut a long thin strip of peel with a vegetable peeler, avoiding too much white pith. Place the wheel on the rim or float it on top, or twist the peel over the glass to release oils and tuck it on the rim. Add the mint sprig alongside for aroma.