This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure and privacy policy.
Have you ever tried orange water? It may sound simple (because it is), but adding sliced oranges and a hint of vanilla to a big pitcher of water makes staying hydrated even easier. It’s perfect for a summer party when you don’t want added sugar.
You’ll also love my lychee eyeball punch for Halloween, or my Basil Lemonade or Easy Mocktail for even more drink ideas.
“I LOVE these flavored waters. I drink way more water now. I take off the rind of the fruit so it doesn’t taste bitter then put it in over night then strain out all the fruit and put it back into my fridge. I find that if I leave the fruit in for a long period of time it just gets too bitter for me.”
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love this Orange-Infused Water
- It’s low-effort. You just need an orange and vanilla extract to get started. My sister-in-law made this for my baby shower over 14 years ago, and it was such a hit that I knew I needed to share it.
- It has no added sugar. This isn’t a sweet drink! It just offers a hint of orange essence, upgrading a pitcher of water at a party.
- It’s easy to customize. You can scale this recipe up or down, and you can add other fruit for color. Try adding a sliced lime, lemon, or cucumber for more depth of flavor.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Fresh Orange. I use one large navel orange per 2 liters of water. If you have smaller oranges, like clementines or mandarin oranges, you may want to use two.
- Vanilla Extract. A little goes a long way in adding an unexpected flavor.
Other than that, you’ll only need water! I also like to serve this with a few fresh herbs for garnish, when possible. Fresh basil or mint is perfect with this.
How to Make Orange Water (Step by Step)
- Start by washing the orange then slice it. I like to keep the pieces about 1/4-inch thick, and then you may need to slice it in half depending on the mouth size of your water pitcher. (You want it to easily fit in and out of the jar for cleaning later.)
- Add the orange slices to a 2-quart pitcher, then add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract and fill the pitcher with filtered water.
- Transfer the pitcher to the fridge and let it chill for 2 to 4 hours, so the orange flavor can infuse into the water.
- Once the water is chilled, it’s ready to serve. I like to have extra orange slices on hand to add to serving glasses. Pour the water over ice and enjoy right away.
Make-Ahead & Storage Tips
You can make orange-infused water up to 2 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. I don’t recommend storing it for more than 36 hours, as the water may become too bitter from the orange peels.
More Drinks To Try
If you try this orange water recipe, please leave a comment and ⭐ star rating below to let me know what you think. Thanks for visiting!
Orange Infused Water
Ingredients
- 8 cups filtered water (2 liters)
- 1 orange , sliced
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a pitcher with 8 cups of water and slice the orange into pieces roughly a 1/4-inch thick. Cut them in half, or in quarters, depending on how large the mouth of your pitcher is. (You want them to be easily removed later for cleaning!)
- Add the vanilla and orange slices to the water, stir well, and let the flavors meld together for 2 to 4 hours in the fridge before serving. Serve chilled, and store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
This combination sounds incredible. I am just not sure how you add the vanilla. Do you use vanilla flavoring? If so about how much? Thank you!
Hi! This recipe calls for a 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, so you can just add that in. Hope you enjoy it!
I’ve drinking plenty water but putting orange slices with ice cubes game changer