Old Fashioned Cherry & Orange Citrus Icing
Brighten Your Winter with These Vintage Cherry and Orange Icing Recipes
Add a burst of sunshine to your winter Desserts
These old-fashioned cherry and orange icing recipes come straight from mid-century newspaper clippings!
where a simple powdered sugar icing/glaze was all it took to dress up cookies, cakes, and sweet breads.
Made with real fruit juice and pantry staples, they’re quick to mix, easy to adjust, and perfect for adding a bright pop of color and flavor to winter desserts.
Whether drizzled over cakes, muffins, donuts or scones, these easy orange and cherry icings will brighten your day with their zesty, sweet flavors. 🍊🍒✨
Old Fashioned Icing For Desserts
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Try Orange Icing on Orange Rolls
These vintage cherry and orange icing recipes were mixed, tested, and photographed by me in my home kitchen.
Every step shown reflects the actual texture, color, and consistency of the icing as it comes together, using simple pantry ingredients and traditional methods.
Testing Notes: Citrus Orange Icing
I tested this orange icing recipe over Bisquick drop biscuits. The biscuits came together easily, and the icing added a light citrus sweetness that helped elevate a simple, no-fuss drop biscuits.
Its bright citrus flavor complements desserts like cakes, cookies, cranberry-orange bread and scones.
Old School Dessert Icing on Breakfast Biscuits
(Gallery photos show the ingredients, mixing process, and finished texture of a homemade orange icing made with powdered sugar, orange juice, and zest.)Recipe #1 Orange Icing
Ingredients:
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
2 teaspoons orange zest
Instructions:
In a bowl, mix all ingredients together until smooth and well combined. Enjoy! 🍊✨
Notes: Makes one Cup and orange juice will make the glaze/icing an orange color, add orange food coloring if you want more of a dark orange color.
🛒Retro Shopping
Available on Amazon: Betty Crocker Bisquick Original Pancake & Baking Mix, Giant Size, 96 oz
Available on Amazon: Krusteaz Cranberry Orange Quick Bread Mix, 18.6 Oz
Testing Notes: maraschino cherry icing
I’ve made this maraschino cherry icing many times, using it on Bundt cakes, doughnuts, and mini pound cakes. It mixes up reliably and has even been made in other people’s kitchens when I needed a quick icing for a dessert I was serving.
Perfect for desserts like cheesecakes, bundt cakes and doughnuts.
(Gallery photos show the ingredients, mixing process, and finished texture of a homemade cherry icing made with powdered sugar, cherry juice, and almond extract.)Recipe #2 Cherry Icing Recipe
Icing will cool and thicken quickly you can place back on heat to melt.
Maraschino cherry juice will make the glaze a pink color, add red food coloring if you want more of a dark pink color.
Easily 2x the recipe depending on how much you need.
Ingredients:
1 Cup sifted powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons Maraschino cherry juice
1/3 teaspoon Almond extract
Red food coloring
Directions
In a small saucepan melt butter on low heat.
Once melted, add in maraschino cherry juice.
Slowly add in sifted powdered sugar one tablespoon at a time and remove from heat.
Combine ingredients then add almond extract and 2 - 3 drops red food coloring.
Blend once more and enjoy!
Storage: Many homemade icing, especially those containing perishable ingredients like fresh fruit juices or dairy, should be stored in the refrigerator.
Place the icing in an airtight container to prevent odors from the fridge affecting its flavor. It's generally a good idea to use homemade icing within a week if refrigerated.
Here are some desserts that shine with orange or cherry icing:
Orange Icing
Orange Bundt Cake: Drizzle orange glaze for a glossy, zesty finish.
Cranberry-Orange Muffins: A light orange icing enhances the tart cranberries.
Gingerbread Cookies: Orange glaze pairs beautifully with warm spices.
Cherry Icing
Black Forest Cupcakes: Add a cherry glaze on top of whipped cream for a sweet-tart finish.
Cherry Thumbprint Cookies: A drizzle of cherry icing makes these bite-sized treats irresistible.
Cheesecake: Use cherry glaze to top a classic New York-style cheesecake.
Closing words:
These icing recipes are quick to mix, easy to adjust, and works well over simple homemade desserts.
It’s a good example of how traditional pantry ingredients were used to stretch and improve everyday baking. Their sweet-tart profiles remind us of fresh picked fruit and homemade treats, making them feel familiar and inviting.
(Print Tip: Be sure to select the exact page you want to print — otherwise it may print the whole post!)
💌 These recipes are part of the Vintage by the Bite collection where 1940s–1960s recipes live on in today’s kitchens.
