Orange Slice Bars are an old fashioned recipe using orange slice candy wedges. If you’re a fan of orange slice candies, you’re going to go crazy over these chewy bars. These bars are very over the top kid friendly and a very popular recipe for any age. Give them a try.
There are a couple of directions I could go for a clever opening to this post using references to “orange”. First of all, it’s 5 degrees and snowing in Denver, so 1) I could reference dreaming of Florida sunshine and Sunkist oranges…
2) Yesterday the Broncos played Kansas City, c’mon orange you glad you cheered for the Orange and Blue since we beat the Chiefs to a pulp!
I just can’t I think of anything devilishly clever so I’ll just can the idea because I can’t concentrate… ha..ha…Get it??? I know, I know, you’re laughing so hard you pithed your pants.
When’s the last time you had some of those sugary gooey orange slice jelly candies??? Gawd I used to love those things as a kid. And no wonder I love these orange slice bars. The orange slices are chopped and then soaked in water before mixing with the dough and baking.
The end result is chewy cake like bar that has a crunch of pecan. Dusted with powdered sugar and everyone you make these for will flip.
The hardest thing about this recipe is chopping up those packaged orange slice candies. Even the sharpest of knives doesn’t work well against that taboo high fructose corn syrup. I find that if you place the candy in the freezer for about 30 minutes. They’re easier to chop.
History of Orange Slice Bars
My mom has had this recipe for as long as I can remember. Notes indicate the recipe came from Mrs. Moats. Mrs. Moats lived about a mile from our farm, and had peacocks (who knows why). I remember on Summer mornings you could hear them calling – man those things are loud.
Back in the day, our telephones were connected to about 5 other neighbor’s phones and called a Party Line. Mrs. Moats always listened in whenever we received a phone call. How could we tell it was Mrs. Moats? Every once in a while you cold hear a peacock in the background.
Mrs. Moats was one of those people who always seemed old. For 25 years she carried the appearance of being about 80 years old. Always walked a little hunched over, long gray hair to her waist, that was placed in a very large proper bun on top of her head when she attended church. She was actually quite memorable.
With all that said, I’m sure glad she shared this recipe for Orange Slice Bars. Always a crowd pleaser.
Recipe for Orange Slice Bars
I hope you give these orange slice bars a try, and if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating. And leave a comment about your experience with the recipe.
And if you have a favorite recipe using orange slice candy, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.
- 1 pound orange slice jelly candies
- 6 Tablespoons boiling water
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 1/4 cups sugar
- 4 whole eggs
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup pecans chopped
Cut orange slice candies into eights; pour boiling water over candy slices and let stand 2 hours or overnight.
Cream butter and sugar; add eggs. Sift dry ingredients together; add to creamed mixture. Add orange slices and pecans; put into greased and floured 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 inch jelly roll pan.
Bake for 35-40 minutes at 325 degrees or until done. Sprinkle with powdered sugar while warm. Cut into squares when cool.
doggybloggy says
December 8, 2009 at 1:06 amis the orange skinned and peeled of the white stuff? did you use butter or margarine – you list butter but you say ‘cream margarine’ – I want to make these!
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 1:56 amI do not use Margarine. Butter only. I forgot to change the original recipe from margarine to butter. Sorry. There is no real orange. It’s the Orange slice candy pieces.
doggybloggy says
December 8, 2009 at 1:09 am6 tablespoons of boiling water and 1 pound of orange slices? is that like a third of a cup of water? I have a lot of questions.
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 2:06 amIt’s not real orange slices, it’s those orange slice gooey candies. Sold on the candy isle of grocery stores.
Chilebrown says
December 8, 2009 at 4:29 amI loved those orange candies as a kid. I may have to search them out. Can you buy them at the local grocer?
P.S. I hate the Broncos and John Elway is a (deleted)
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 12:52 pmYes Chilebrown, I find them at Safeway and at Walgreens. As I mentioned in another reply, each year I make them I’m always afraid I won’t be able to find them anymore. AND how on earth can anyone hate our adorable Broncos!!!!! 🙂
noble pig says
December 8, 2009 at 5:28 amOh I love Mom recipes. My Mom doesn;t get here until closer to the holiday but she’ll be cooking!!! These look wonderful.
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 12:50 pmThanks for stopping by Cathy and you know I can’t wait for more of your mom’s recipes. I’m still drooling over the last posts.
Carol says
December 8, 2009 at 6:21 amOrange you going to eat a few slices before cutting them up?
Would chilling the slices in the freezer make them easier to slice?
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 12:49 pmYou know I did Carol! This idea of freezing them abit is genius – that’s why they pay you the big bucks!
DebinHawaii says
December 8, 2009 at 9:11 amMom recipes are always fun! 😉 I have not had an orange jelly slice in ages. I love how creative these are–they look delicious.
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 12:48 pmI can’t believe they still make them. Each year I’m afraid I won’t be able to find them.
Zia Liz says
December 8, 2009 at 4:02 amMy grandfather was a citrus grower for Sunkist in California, and always had these orange slice candies in their home. I think my grandmother even had a similar recipe she made each year for Christmas. Thank you for this post! It brought back lots of lovely memories.
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 12:54 pmVery Cool! In that case, I wonder if this recipe came from the back of a Brach’s Orange Slice package??? I tried to Google Brach’s before I posted this and couldn’t come up with anything. This recipe has to be over 30 years old
Zia Liz says
December 8, 2009 at 10:14 pmDo you know, I wondered later where the recipe might have originated. It’s possible that it came from the candy manufacturer, but hers were always from Sunkist in a big red box. Grandma always called ther bars ‘Lucilles’ because she got the recipe from a friend named Lucille.
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 11:24 pmI like the name Lucilles much better than Orange Slice Bars! How fun to find someone who has had these! They are very tasty.
My Year on the Grill says
December 8, 2009 at 12:33 pmorange you just a little ashamed of your self for bragging about beating up the KC Chiefs this year… Like bragging that Your car beat my bicycle in a road race…
But wait til next year (and next year, I wont need to write the same thing, just assume in mud December, 2010 I tell you to wait til next year again… saves time and energy)
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 12:47 pmLOL Dave, my husband made me take out what I really said about that victory, I did mention you and something about flat out kicking butt. He said I was being mean. Geez. Isn’t that what football rivalry is all about???
dan says
December 8, 2009 at 2:27 pmThose orange slice thingys. YES!
That’s so cool that you decided to whip out an orange slice candy recipe.
Take that, any stuck up sophisticated gourmet bloggers out there!
(Even though all the people who interact on your blog seem way cool. I just had to throw that out there in case anybody turned their nose up)
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 3:01 pmLOL Dan. And LOL about the disclaimer.
buffalo dick says
December 8, 2009 at 2:30 pmI love jellied candies, but the tart, multi flavored ones that look like a slice of fruit are a personal favorite!
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 3:03 pmWell, we could switch out high fructose corn syrup orange candies for the high fructose tart multis and call them: Tart Multi-flavored Bars. Such a versatile recipe. LOL and as always thanks for stopping by BD
Katherine says
December 8, 2009 at 2:40 pmI’ve been hearing about how ya’ll are get slammed with snow and there’s more to come. in a way i wish i could be home creating delicious holiday treats like you!
I associate orange with christmas and this is so perfect. You have inspired me!
leaannbrown says
December 9, 2009 at 4:21 amThanks Katherine. 🙂
Natashya says
December 8, 2009 at 1:02 pmWhat a wild bar! I have never had anything like it. Sounds tasty!
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 1:07 pmThanks for stopping by Natashya
Karen says
December 8, 2009 at 8:27 pmI have nothing clever to say using the word orange. I’ll leave the humor to the experts 😉 These look yum! How do you think these would hold up if packaged in boxes a bit in advance for christmas gifts? I’m looking for ideas here.
And I’m being a good girl and remembering to subscribe to the comments this time!
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 10:34 pmI just came home with a sack full of food gift containers from The Container Store. Do you have a Container Store? Really cute stuff and a fairly decent price. I did cut some of those Orange bars in squares and plan to fill a couple of containers and freeze until Christmas. Yes, they are solid enough not to goo all over a container. This recipe does freeze well by the way. I also have some cellophane type paper to line the gift boxes= CUTE. I’m also going to make some fudge and a recipe called Boston Crème. I love giving food gifts and also receiving them.
Barbara says
December 8, 2009 at 8:38 pmI used to love those orange candies! How clever of your mother to include them in a bar recipe! Can’t wait to try it.
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 10:37 pmThanks for stopping by Barbara!
Joanne says
December 8, 2009 at 3:24 pmOranges are such a weird fruit to me because I associate citrus with summer and yet they are in season in the winter. Odd. But true.
I love these gummy candies. I am so much more of a gummy fan than anything else. Those Sour Patch Kids watermelon gummies – my absolute favorite.
These bars sound delicious. Yay for moms and I can’t wait for that dinner you cooked up!
leaannbrown says
December 8, 2009 at 10:37 pmHmmm, never had the Sour Patch Kids Watermelons – Sounds like a new gummy in my future. 🙂 I love and am addicted to Dots.
Vickie says
December 9, 2009 at 1:37 amI love this post! I almost pmp (pithed my pants) reading all your clever puns! It’s great that you’re making your mom’s recipes and also great that you’re taking her down memory lane. I love traditions. Sounds fun and memorable.
leaannbrown says
December 9, 2009 at 4:19 amThanks Vickie! 🙂
Linda says
December 9, 2009 at 5:21 amSounds really tasty… I’ve never had them… I’ll have to try them
leaannbrown says
December 9, 2009 at 2:14 pmThey are tasty. Thanks Linda
Chris says
December 9, 2009 at 10:19 pmI could never make this because I’d never get past eating the orange slices straight of the bag. That would be like trying to make something out of chocolate covered cherries.
leaannbrown says
December 9, 2009 at 11:21 pmI hear ya Chris. My husband kept sneaking orange slices. I’m actually a Dot fan…a Dotaholic you might say. If these were Dot Bars, I’d be in trouble.
As always, thanks for stopping by!
burpexcuzme says
December 10, 2009 at 6:31 amHaha, how creative and delightful is that? I love chewy gummies…and baked into a cookie bar? Splendid! Orange I glad I stumbled onto this post!
leaannbrown says
December 10, 2009 at 2:36 pmAs always, thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Rebecca says
December 11, 2009 at 10:34 pmlove those orange slices have fun cooking your mums recipes
leaannbrown says
December 11, 2009 at 11:17 pmYou know I will, thanks for stopping by Rebecca
Erica says
December 12, 2009 at 3:05 pmThose bars look and sound wonderful!
George says
December 20, 2009 at 2:35 pmLea Ann… Jelly candies are my dentist favorite treat. He says it’s the candy that keeps him in business!
What a terrific creative recipe. I bet this bars are a real treat, packed with flavor and sweetness. These are definitely going to go on my “to make” list…
Many thanks and “GO Broncos”!
leaannbrown says
December 21, 2009 at 3:16 pmLOVE IT. I had a Jolly Rancher break a tooth one time and my Dentist said the same thing. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog George!
Lea Ann
Patsy Behrendt says
February 17, 2011 at 8:26 amI am so excited to find this recipe!! My Dad grew up very poor and the highlight of his Christmas was these orange slices dipped partially in chocolate!! Orange slices were a staple of my childhood and I never see one that I don’t think of Dad. I can’t wait to try this. Thanks for giving me a brief memory of something I had almost forgotten about!