Orange Squash
Orange squash is a homemade citrus cordial made with fresh oranges, lemon, water, granulated sugar and citric acid. The Thermomix TM7 grates the zest, grinds the sugar and heats the syrup with controlled precision, delivering a bright, tangy concentrate you dilute with still or sparkling water. Ideal for summer drinks, parties and preserving the season's citrus harvest.
About this recipe
Orange squash Thermomix TM7 style is the homemade answer to shop-bought cordial: a concentrated citrus syrup of oranges, lemon, water, granulated sugar and citric acid that keeps for weeks in sterilised bottles. Searching for an orange squash recipe that actually tastes of fruit rather than flavourings ends here, because this all-in-one kitchen machine grates the zest directly into the bowl, so the fragrant oils land in the syrup instead of on your worktop. The texture is a light, pourable syrup with flecks of zest, and one spoonful transforms still or sparkling water into a summer drink within seconds. It is the perfect make-ahead project for garden parties, children's birthday tables or a quiet weekend of meal prep, and thanks to the preserving power of sugar and citric acid you can enjoy seasonal oranges long after the harvest. Dilute to taste, still or fizzy, and never buy squash again.
Preparation tips
- Use unwaxed oranges and lemon, or scrub the skins thoroughly under hot water, because the zest carries most of the aroma in this squash and any wax residue would dull the fresh citrus flavour.
- Pour the cooled syrup through a fine sieve or muslin before bottling to catch the grated zest, then fill sterilised glass bottles and store them in a cool, dark cupboard for several weeks.
- For a kid-friendly party version, mix one part orange squash with three parts sparkling water and freeze some of it into ice cubes with a mint leaf for extra festive appeal without extra sugar.
- Substitute half the oranges with blood oranges in winter for a ruby-red cordial, or replace the lemon with lime for a sharper, more tropical squash profile.
Recipe variations
- Alcohol-free cocktail base: blend the finished orange squash with sparkling water, a dash of pomegranate juice and crushed ice for a festive mocktail the whole family can enjoy at celebrations.
- Seasonal berry variation: stir a handful of sieved raspberry purée into the cooled syrup for a pink summer squash, or add a strip of fresh ginger to the oranges while heating for a warming winter cordial.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Weigh the granulated sugar directly into the mixing bowl, where the built-in scale of the Thermomix measures every gram accurately for consistent syrup sweetness. [Built-in Scale]
- The TM7 grates the orange zest finely in seconds, releasing aromatic oils that give this squash its intense, fresh citrus character. [Multi-Function]
- Heating the sugar and water in the Thermomix happens with precise temperature control, so the syrup dissolves completely without burning or crystallising. [Precision Control]
- Mixing the citric acid through the cooled syrup in the Thermomix takes moments, distributing the tang evenly for a balanced, shelf-stable cordial. [Built-in Scale]
- Grinding coarse sugar to a finer texture in the TM7 speeds up dissolving, giving your orange squash a silky consistency ready for bottling. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- oranges
- lemon
- water
- granulated sugar
- citric acid