Homemade Dried Orange Garland
A step by step Dried Orange Garland tutorial -
simple enough that even the kids can join in!
No seriously, this one is so simple. Im not sure why we haven’t made these before now, but my kids and I had a great time making these as part of our 24 days of Christmas!
(If you missed the details on that check out that blog post HERE.)
A Dried Orange garland will be something we make yearly in the Christmas seasons to come!
The Oranges make a great addition to your mantle, draped or hung on your tree - or even as a sweet addition to your Christmas Packages! They can be used in so many ways - Heres some of our favorites.
My favorite thing about these dried orange garlands is how AMAZING they smell.
Of course they smell great when drying but to my surprise they remain fragrant after they’re dried as well! Id often catch their fragrance in passing, they add such a beautiful sweetness to all the holiday aromas.
Dried orange garlands are also so affordable - especially in the grand scheme of all the holiday buying. Most of the items you probably have lying around, I know for myself all that I needed to purchase to bring this garland to life was the oranges themselves. HALLELUJAH.
Heres a list of supplies Needed:
Cookie Sheets - because the drying process can take some time, the larger the better, for being able to dry as many as possible in one go.
Knife - Make sure you have a nice sharp knife for slicing the oranges THIN. The thinner you are able to slice, the faster they will dry. You could also use a mandolin to slice the oranges, but a knife worked great for us.
Parchment Paper - I really like the ease of these sheets . They’re pre-cut and no fuss -but any parchment paper will keep the oranges from sticking to your cookie sheets while drying
Oranges - I’d opt for nice dark, firm oranges. The orange color will be brighter once dried, and the firmness will allow ease for slicing.
Twine or Yarn - This is really a preference of your own! You could stay white/neutral or really play with fun color to match your holiday decor. Some red velvet ribbon would be really beautiful to hang them as ornaments on your tree!
Large Eye Sewing Needle - You could use a regular needle depending on your string - but a large eye makes using twine or thicker ribbon much easier!
Cinnamon - optional
Sprinkling a bit of cinnamon over the oranges makes the smell 100/10
PREP: Begin by preheating your oven to 250. Prepare your cookie sheets by lining them with a sheet of parchment paper.
SLICE: Thinly slice your oranges into about 1/4 inch slices. (again the thinner the better!) Lightly pat them with a paper towel to remove what moisture you can. Lay them on the baking sheet in a single layer with none of the oranges touching. This would be when you sprinkle with cinnamon, highly recommend.
BAKE: Bake in your preheated oven for about 3 hours. Flip your oranges every hour to ensure they’re drying evenly on both sides.
COOL: once dried, remove the oranges from oven an allow them to completely cool. Once cool you can get to work creating your lovely garland!
ASSEMBLY: to assemble cut yourself a piece of your yarn to the desired length of your garland. Feed the end through your needle. To spring your oranges - pierce down through one side of your orange, and then back up on the other side. Continue this process till you have the length of garland you desire! I tried to incorporate different sizing throughout - but this was the part the kids had most fun with!
Frequently asked questions:
What Can I Use the Oranges For?
Of course you can use them for a garland - string them across your mantle, drap them down your Christmas tree, or layer them with greenery on your holiday table scape! They can also be strung individually and hung from your Christmas tree as ornaments or added to the tops of your Christmas packages for a personalized touch.
Can the be oranges be stored?
Yes! This can be done as a yearly activity or you can store them and bring them out to decorate the following year. Store them in a non-air tight container to allow them to breathe while stored.
If you dont want to store them, but dont want to waste - Try adding them to trees or shrubs near your bird feeders to gift the woodland critters a treat of their own!
What kind of oranges should I use?
This is really a personal preference. You can dry any kind of orange - or grapefruits for that matter! but I prefer a Naval orange. Choose ones that are firm and have thicker skin. The firmness makes them easier to slice, while the thick skin will give you more color!