With refreshing clementine on the inside and a crisp bite of rich chocolate on the outside, these easy chocolate covered oranges are the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors. They’re also extremely easy to make and are ready in just a few minutes. Perfect for holiday entertaining or anytime you want a sweet snack! {Gluten-free & vegetarian}
Table of Contents
Chocolate Clementines
If you have a sweet tooth and want a healthier way to satisfy it, this is the recipe for you! These chocolate covered oranges are so simple to make, and the classic combination of chocolate and orange together is absolutely delicious!
Plus, it’s a lower sugar snack with fiber and healthy fats to fill you up and Vitamin C to help support your immune system. What’s not to love?
For more chocolate dipped fruit, try out these Chocolate Covered Strawberries with Nuts too!
Why We Love These Chocolate Covered Orange Slices
- Super simple sweet treat
- Looks and tastes decadent
- Fresh alternative to chocolate oranges
- Dietitian-approved as a healthier holiday snack
- No double boiler needed – melt chocolate in the microwave!
- Can be made with any type of oranges
- Make ahead of time for easy entertaining
- Easy dessert recipe for any gathering
- Delicious any time of the year
Ingredient Notes
- Clementines: These need to be peeled and separated into slices. You can also use mandarin oranges or any other type of orange with a thin skin.
- Dark chocolate chips: I used chips with 50% cocoa, but you can use an even higher percentage for a deeper, darker taste.
- Coconut oil: Heated with the chocolate to help coat the orange slices more smoothly and give the chocolate a nice snap.
- Chopped pistachios: For garnish. Optional, but recommended!
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment or wax paper.
- Separate clementines into slices, removing any of the white stringy pieces.
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Heat in the microwave in 30 second increments until chocolate is melted, stirring between each interval.
- One at a time, dip each of the clementines into the melted chocolate until approximately one third of the slice is covered. Place on the parchment paper and sprinkle with some chopped pistachios until the chocolate portion is lightly covered. Continue until all of the slices have been completed.
- Place the parchment lined baking sheet in the fridge until the chocolate has fully hardened, approximately 15-20 minutes.
- Eat immediately, or store in a covered container in the fridge to prevent the clementines from drying out.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Expert Tips
- If you won’t be eating the chocolate dipped clementines right away, be sure to store them in an airtight container to prevent them from drying out.
- Don’t microwave the chocolate for too long, or it may burn. It’s important to check it every 30 seconds and stir it until smooth and creamy. I only needed to microwave mine for one minute total.
Recipe FAQs
Although you can use any type of oranges, I like clementines because they’re naturally sweet and tender, which makes them easy to eat. Plus, they are often seedless, so you don’t have to worry about biting into a hard seed.
You can also use mandarins, cara cara oranges, blood oranges, and more, but the thinner the skin and the fewer the seeds, the better. If you use larger orange slices (like those giant sumo citrus), you will need to melt more chocolate.
You can use any type of chocolate! Dark chocolate has the least amount of sugar and the most amount of antioxidants, but you can also use milk or white chocolate for a sweeter treat.
No, but it’s nice to add a little chopped nuts or a little sprinkle of sea salt for crunch and extra flavor. This makes them taste even more decadent and celebratory. You can certainly make them with just the melted chocolate if you prefer!
Storage Guidelines
Store leftover chocolate-covered oranges in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. It’s important to keep the oranges dry, or the chocolate can become wet and soggy. It can help to line to container with paper towels and place the chocolate clementines on top.
Serving Suggestions
We like to serve these sweet orange slices as a dessert or a fun snack during the holiday season. Pair them with a bunch of fresh fruit or offer them with:
- Healthy Shortbread Cookies
- Snowman Truffles
- Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
- Chocolate Date Peanut Butter Balls
- White Chocolate Coconut Truffles
Recipe Variations
- Coat the whole slice: I usually dip just part of the clementine piece in the melted chocolate, but you can dip the entire thing if you like.
- Get creative with toppings: For extra visual interest, drizzle the slices with melted white chocolate, add your favorite chopped nuts or sprinkles, or flaky sea salt.
- Dip other fruits: If you already have a pot of melted chocolate, try dipping strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and more. This is an easy way to sneak in some extra fruit and it’s fun, too!
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Fruit Christmas Tree
- Holiday Fruit Salad
- Chocolate Stuffed Raspberries
- Christmas Fruit Wreath
- Rainbow Fruit Tray
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Chocolate Covered Oranges
Ingredients
- 4 clementines, peeled and separated into slices
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips, melted (I used 50% cocoa)
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Separate clementines into slices, removing any of the white stringy pieces.
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil. Heat in the microwave in 30 second increments until chocolate is melted, stirring between each time interval.
- One at a time, dip each of the clementines into the melted chocolate until approximately one third to one half of the slice is covered. Place on the parchment paper and sprinkle with some chopped pistachios until the chocolate portion is lightly covered. Continue until all of the slices have been completed.
- Place the parchment lined baking sheet in the fridge until the chocolate has fully hardened, approximately 15-20 minutes.
- Eat immediately, or store in a covered container in the fridge to prevent the clementines from drying out.
Notes
- If you won’t be eating the chocolate dipped clementines right away, be sure to store them in an airtight container to prevent them from drying out.
- Don’t microwave the chocolate for too long, or it may burn. It’s important to check it every 30 seconds and stir it until smooth and creamy. I only needed to microwave mine for one minute total.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in December 2015 and was updated in November 2024 to include more helpful tips and photos.
Can you substitute the coconut oil with something else like whipping cream, or…?
The coconut oil just helps the chocolate melt more smoothly so that the clementine slices are coated more evenly. You can probably skip the coconut oil if you prefer. Hope that helps!
What a cute idea, these look delicious! :)
Thanks Kelly! So easy to whip up too!