Festive Citrus Treat Delight (Printable Version)

A bright, zesty citrus creation ideal for festive gatherings and joyful celebrations.

# What You'll Need:

01 - 3 medium navel oranges, peeled and segmented

02 - 2 medium grapefruit, peeled and segmented

03 - 1 medium lemon, juiced

04 - 2 tablespoons honey

05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

06 - 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves, chopped

07 - Zest of 1 orange

01 - Peel and segment the oranges and grapefruit, removing all pith and membranes for a clean, tender texture.

02 - Place the citrus segments in a mixing bowl; drizzle with lemon juice, honey, and vanilla extract. Gently toss to combine evenly.

03 - Cover and refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

04 - Before serving, sprinkle chopped mint leaves and fresh orange zest over the citrus blend for a refreshing finish.

01 -

It fills your kitchen with the most intoxicating citrus aroma that lingers for hours, making everyone who walks in ask what you're making
The bright, zesty flavor cuts through heavy meals perfectly and feels both indulgent and surprisingly light
It's the kind of treat that looks fancy enough to impress but comes together with simple pantry ingredients you probably already have

02 -

Room temperature ingredients are not a suggestion—they're the difference between silky batter and separated curdled mess, and I learned this the expensive way
The moment you over-fold the batter is the moment you doom the texture, so stop folding the second you don't see streaks of flour anymore
Fresh citrus zest degrades quickly, so zest your fruit right before mixing rather than prepping it hours ahead

03 -

If your batter breaks when adding eggs, add a tablespoon of flour to stabilize it—Carmen taught me this trick and it's saved me countless times
The zest is where ninety percent of your flavor lives, so don't be timid when zesting and don't skip this step for bottled alternatives