How To Make Dried Orange Garland
Dried orange garland is a beautiful natural Christmas decoration that can be used on your Christmas tree, in a window or hung from over archways. Use this easy step-by-step DIY tutorial to make a beautiful dried orange garland for your home during the holiday season.
Yield: 1 garland
Cost: 5
Equipment
- Oven
- Dehydrator or Air Fryer
Materials
- 4-6 Fresh Oranges
- Twine, fishing line, ribbon, or string
- Parchment Paper
- Cookie Tray
- Cookie Drying Rack
- Large Needle
- Sharp knife
- Paper towel
Instructions
In the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 175 F or 225 C
- Using a sharp knife, cut oranges into thin slices. You will want them to be at approx 1/8” thick.
- Line your cookie trays with parchment paper. Blot your sliced oranges prior to lining them on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Be sure to leave a bit of space between each slice.
- Place in the oven and bake for 4-6 hours.
- Once the oranges are completely dry, remove them from the oven and place them on the cooling rack. Let them cool completely.
In the Dehydrator
- Set the dehydrator or air fryer to 135 degrees F. The air fryer should have a setting for this.
- Cut oranges into slices. You will want them to be at least ⅛” thick.
- Arrange the citrus slices on dehydrator trays or on the rack in the air fryer.
- Check the orange slices after 2 to 3 hours.
Stringing The Garland
- Using the needle and thread, poke a hole through the dried flesh of the orange slice and string the oranges onto your desired twine, ribbon, or fishing line.
- Hang your beautiful orange garland somewhere in your home and enjoy!
Notes
- Other types of citrus fruit will work great for this easy DIY too. Blood oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and limes all make a festive garland. Try using both large and small oranges for a garland that is a bit unique.
- It is important to find unblemished oranges. Any marks that show on the outside of the fresh oranges, will also show on the dried oranges in the garland.
- Make sure you slice your oranges perpendicular to the ends of the orange. This will give your orange small triangles that offer the appearance of stained glass once dried and hung in the sunshine.
- Slice all your oranges ⅛” thick. Keep them the same width will ensure they all bake evenly and the thinner-cut oranges will be more translucent once dry.
- If you are baking the oranges, make sure to continue to flip them so that they don’t burn or turn brown on one side.
- Be sure that your oranges are completely dry before you hang them. This will prevent them from molding or from pesky fruit flies from coming into your home.
- To make sure the face of the orange shows when you hang your garland, tie a knot with your twine above the orange slice. Another option is to poke two holes in the flesh of the dried orange and sew in and out.
- Use a clear fishing line to string your dried oranges as a garland. This will make your orange slices look like they are floating.