DIY Dried Orange Slices & Garland

I use dried orange slices for garland and as bowl filler during the holidays

If you’re wondering how to dry orange slices, the good news is that it literally couldn’t be easier.

I’ve been drying orange slices for holiday ornaments and DIY orange garland for years. It’s one of my favorite ways to decorate for the holidays because it’s timeless, chic, and natural. Plus, an entire dried orange garland costs just pennies to make.

Here’s my process for drying orange slices, plus how to turn them into ornaments or your own dried orange garland.

How to dry orange slices – What you’ll need

  • Large oranges, as many as you like. 1 Orange makes ~8-10 slices. I usually do 2-3 at a time.
  • Sharp knife, I like to use a Santoku knife
  • Baking sheet(s)
  • Parchment paper

How to dry orange slices – steps

Step 1

Cut oranges into 1/8″ slices. I prefer thinner slices, because thick ones take too long to dehydrate.

Step 2

Line your baking sheet with parchment paper, and arrange orange slices on the sheet in a single layer.

Step 3

Set your oven on dehydrate, or to 225 degrees F, and bake for 3-4 hours, flipping oranges over halfway through.

You’ll know they’re done when the oranges are feel almost dry to the touch. Some wet/stickiness is OK, but if they’re still holding a lot of water, give them more time.

Let dried oranges cool completely, and they’ll be ready to use!

How to make a dried orange garland

My favorite way to use my orange slices is to make a dried citrus garland. They’re just so timeless and simple. It’s also the easiest Christmas DIY ever, so if you want to partake in some holiday crafting without doing anything too involved, this is perfect. Kids can help, too!

To make a dried orange garland, you’ll need twine and a chopstick (or another pointed object to make a hole in the oranges).

I poke a hole near the top of the orange slice, thread the twine through, and tie it off, then repeat. I like to tie each orange slice so they don’t move and stay evenly spaced.

That’s it. Really. You can also add in other citrus fruits, or dehydrated pear or apples, or cinnamon sticks. I tend not to use cranberries only because they go bad and then you have to throw away the whole garland, but if you’ll only be using it for a year, you can add in cranberries, too.

Here’s an Instagram Reel I made that shows just how easy this is:

How to use dried orange slices

In addition to using dried orange slices for garlands, I also use them a bunch of other ways during the holidays. A few of my favorite ideas:

-Ornaments. You literally stick an ornament hook through the top of each orange slice and hang it on the tree. They look awesome, especially if you keep the them natural and decorate the rest of your tree with pinecones, wood beads, or cranberry garland.

-Bowl filler. I toss a bunch of these in a bowl with pinecones or a bead garland for a natural little display.

-On gift tags. Adding these to some twine and wrapping it around a gift will make everyone think you’re Martha Stewart.

How long do dried orange slices last?

Dried orange slices last for years. I have the first garland I made six years ago and it still looks great. Definitely don’t throw them out at the end of the holiday season!

Similar Posts

One Comment

  1. Pingback: The Best Pura Scents For the Holidays and Winter (Plus 3 Scents I Didn't Love) - Kaitlin Madden

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *