Learning how to dry oranges slices is fun for old fashioned garland for Christmas, dried fruit for Christmas decorations, or a simple nature garland and nature crafts for kids any time of year! Here’s how to dry oranges in oven for a holiday decoration, Christmas crafts for kids activities, and even dried citrus fruits snacks and other ideas for what to do with dried oranges slices for the holidays.
How Do You Dry Oranges Slices For Christmas Decorations?
Learning how to dry oranges for decoration is a fun holiday craft. They make a perfect Christmas garland for trees or DIY Christmas garland for fireplace, but we loved it so much that we hung it with our nature crafts in our homeschool room and kept it up all year! So this can be used for more than just a Christmas decoration! It’s a great orange decoration idea!
How do you dry out orange slices?
What is the best way to dry orange slices?
- Carefully slice fresh oranges (like navel oranges or your favorite type of orange / firm oranges) into thin 1/8-inch to 1/4 inch slices using a mandolin or serrated knife.
- Remove seeds from orange citrus slices.
- Blot excess juice from the oranges with a paper towel. Flip and remove excess moisture on other side.
- Place in a single layer on a baking sheet or wire rack. (*See secret tip so oranges won’t stick below!)
- Slowly dry oranges in oven at a very low temperature.
KEEP SCROLLING for the full directions for how to dry out orange slices for decoration, crafts, and eating printable craft card below! Since this uses a sharp knife, we recommend that parents do the cutting if you’re doing this as Christmas kids activities. Get the dried oranges recipe card printable below – including how long to dry oranges in oven, what temperature to dry oranges and more.
How do you dry orange slices and keep the color?
To keep the vibrant color of oranges while drying them, you need to dry orange slices slow and low — meaning low heat in the oven for 2-3 hours (or more!), turning occasionally to dry evenly and prevent slices from burning and maintain that pop of color.
Before we get to how to make dry oranges Christmas decorations, or how to dry an orange slices for potpourri, or drying oranges for snacks, let’s answer some common questions about drying beautiful citrus slices…
What can I do with dried orange slices?
The great thing about dried oranges is that you can use them so many different ways!
Ideas of what to do with dry oranges and fun ways to use dried orange slices:
- Make Christmas garland for Christmas trees or fireplace mantles
- Make nature garland (with pine cones or full oranges garland!) / festive garlands
- Create candied oranges for a sweet treat
- Use them to decorate holiday food recipes
- Put them on Christmas cupcake or cakes
- Place dried oranges in a glass jar with fairy lights for a beautiful holiday table decoration (easy dried oranges decor!)
- Use them in potpourri (one of my favorite ways!)
- Add them to mulling spices for wine
- Use them in mason jars gifts
- Garnish drinks with oranges that have been dried
- Use dried out orange, decorative orange slices, and sliced fresh oranges on holiday cheese boards
- Float them in holiday punch with star anise for Christmas parties
- Use them as a cocktail garnish / use dried orange slices for cocktails
- Add them to hot tea
- Dry oranges for decoration and fun orange slice decor
- Make chocolate dipped dried oranges (I love dark chocolate for this!)
- Eat them for a healthy snack! (Not just for drying orange slices for decoration!)
How To Dry Orange Slices Without Oven
Drying oranges in the oven is one of the easiest ways to get dried oranges. However, you can dry orange slices many other ways. Along with drying oranges slices in the oven, you can also make dried oranges in the microwave, dehydrate dried orange slices, or even use the air-dry method or dry orange slices in the sun!
I’ve never tried orange slices in the air fryer.
The oven method is definitely my favorite way for dry fruits like this.
Dried oranges make great decorations for cloth wrapped gifts. Learn the art of furoshiki here for fun kids activities!
How do you dehydrate oranges for garland?
Learning how to dry oranges for garland (or make dehydrated oranges) is easier than you think. You can dry slices of oranges (peel on) in the oven in a single layer at 200°F for up to 3 hours. Remove from oven once oranges are dry and before they turn dark.
You can easily make dehydrated orange slices with a food dehydrator like this. (For using this method for dehydrating orange slices, follow the dehydrator directions.)
I love dried oranges for decoration for the holidays! They make such festive decor!
ALSO CHECK OUT MORE FUN DIY CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS AND HOLIDAY SEASON CRAFTS:
How To Make Beeswax Holiday Ornaments
How To Make Popcorn Garland With Cranberries for Homemade Christmas Decoration Ideas
Popcorn garland is a great with orange dried slices, too!
Do dried oranges smell good?
DIY dried oranges smell very good when you’re drying the oranges in the oven. The orange essence will fill the entire house! (It’s one of the best part!) Once they’ve been dried, they will still smell good, but it’s not as strong. You can still use dried oranges in potpourri, though (which is a great way to give them as a gift!).
Are dried oranges edible?
Dried oranges are edible (even the orange peels, if you wish), but some find them a little bitter. If you want sweet dry oranges, make candied oranges by boiling orange slices in water and sugar and then drying in the oven. Both regular dried oranges and blood oranges are good like this. You can even add spices like cinnamon!
YOU’LL ALSO HAVE FUN MAKING THESE CHRISTMAS RECIPE PROJECTS WITH KIDS AND CRAFTS FOR WINTER SOLSTICE:
How To Make Sugar Frosted Cranberries
Winter Solstice Craft Projects for December Kids Activities
So, how to dry orange slices for Christmas tree?
How do you hang dried oranges?
Once you dry oranges, allow them to sit at room temperature to cool. Then, pierce the top of the orange with a small nail or pen tip. Then, thread the natural twine through the dried oranges for garland or decorations. You can also loop a ribbon through the middle of the oranges and tie them for decorations and use them for holiday decor.
How long does dried orange garland last?
If you’re wondering how long do dried orange slices last, just know that they can last a long time — sometimes up to 2 years or more, especially if the orange rounds are dried plain and are not candied oranges with sugar on them. (Once you sugar the fruit, it may attract insects to your tree or decorations.)
If you’re looking to make an inexpensive Christmas garland, look no further than nature and the resources around you!
USE DRIED ORANGES TO MAKE A WINTER NATURE MOBILE OR HANGING FRUIT GARLAND LIKE THIS — simple things that are fun for natural elements crafts! (Dried slices of citrus and dry apple slices are beautiful on natural garlands!)
CRAFT TIP: This is an easy project / one of those easy recipes, but the only thing is that it takes a long time. If you’re doing this as a holiday craft with kids, have some backup winter children’s books or kids Christmas books to read while you’re waiting! This can seem like a very long time for kids to wait. It’s a great idea to plan other activities during the drying time.
Also, if you have kids practicing knife skills, this is a great knife set to use for this project. (Then you don’t have to worry about them using a sharp serrated knife.) We dried orange wedges along with slices, but only because my daughter wanted to try dried wedge oranges.
Here’s how to dry orange slices in oven for gifts, nature projects, or even for edible dried orange snacks.
(Don’t miss how to dry orange slices in the microwave after the oven drying directions!)
Let’s get to how to dry orange slices in oven for decoration, dried orange slices garland, and more!
How To Dry Oranges in the Oven
How To Make Dried Orange Slices (Step-By-Step For Drying Oranges In Oven)
If you’re wondering how do you dry oranges in oven and for Christmas decorations, for fruit garland, or to make a natural garland, this is how to go about baking oranges and drying orange peel!
(How to dry sliced oranges from whole oranges is easier than you think and a fun holiday craft with kids!)
How to dry oranges and lemons for Christmas decorations is the same process (and even drying limes).
Follow the same craft directions listed below that’s for how to dry orange slices for decoration.
Also, if you’re wondering how do you make dried orange ornaments, this is the same process. Instead of hooking the dry oranges together to form a garland, just loop twine or a ribbon around them to hang on the tree.
They make really easy DIY Christmas decorations (and beautiful homemade Christmas gifts)!
TIP: Sometimes it’s difficult to cut thin slices of oranges evenly. If you have trouble slicing them by hand, try using a mandolin slicer like this
IMPORTANT: You must use parchment paper to prevent sticking to the cookie sheet! Use large baking sheets so they have plenty of room if you’re making several dried oranges. Also, the best oranges are firm ones that you can cut even slices.
OK, let’s get to how to make dry fruit garland and how to dry oranges (and even other dried citrus for garland). This is my favorite way for how to dry out oranges for easy dried orange slices recipes!
Dried Orange Slices DIY
Equipment
- Sharp knife
- Nail or skewer (to make holes in dried oranges)
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheet
Ingredients
- 1 orange
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°F.
- Carefully slice oranges (circle slices), about 1/4 inch thick. Pick out any seeds from the slices. <br>
- Gently blot orange slices with paper towels to remove excess juice.
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange orange slices in single layer on parchment paper in baking sheet. Do not overlap.
- Place baking sheet in oven. Bake for 40 minutes and flip the orange slices over to the other side. Bake for another 40 minutes and flip the slices over, then back for the last 40 minutes.
- If needed, dry for an extra 30 minutes. When dry, the flesh will be translucent and peel dry (maybe a little dark). DO NOT DRY UNTIL CRISPY.
- Allow to cool before using for crafts or garland or for eating.
Notes
Now that you’ve learned how to bake orange slices, lets talk about microwaving dry orange slice for dried orange slices for decoration, orange slices garland, and eating.
Can you dry oranges in the microwave?
If you’re wondering can you dry fruit in the microwave, the answer is yes. This drying process is a quick way to dry orange slices!
Here’s how to make orange slices in the microwave:
Place your orange (or fruit) slices in a single layer on a paper towel and microwave them at 50% for 5 minutes. Check the fruit slices. If they are still juicy and not dry, microwave for additional 2 minute increments (without them turning crispy!).
Microwaved baked orange slices for decoration and eating!
I hope this helped answer your questions with how do you dry orange slices! Let us know how you end up drying out oranges!
HAVE FUN LEARNING HOW TO DRY ORANGES SLICES IN THE OVEN!
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