Simple and easy to do-dried whole oranges and slices are always a beautiful thing to include in holiday decor. And winter decor for that matter. To be honest, I use dried orange slices year round with anise pods for a charming little touch on side tables. You can purchase them at various places to keep it simple or you can easily dry your own to enjoy as well. I had a ton of questions about making dried oranges so thought I would put up a post quickly about it- you can also find detailed instructions in my Christmas book.
This is a wreath I made several years ago that uses fresh and dried elements. Whole oranges and slices are both included along with other dried citrus- and I love how it turned out.
For my book, I created a new wreath inspired by the dried citrus. This one has a bunch of pinecones mixed in as well.
Whether you are look at creating a wreath, decorating a tree or making a garland- or just scattering dried citrus here and there for a festive touch. It is so easy to make your own if you would like to- and it smells amazing in the house while you are doing it.
Whole oranges & Slices
First things first- whole oranges. You might have seen pomanders which are dried oranges with cloves in designs and patterns. They are beautiful as well- but today we are talking about simple sliced whole oranges and slices of oranges.
How To
Preheat your oven from 175- 200 f and take your whole oranges and simply make slits all around them. You can slice about 1/4″ deep but not much further and don’t connect all the slices at the top or bottom- you want the orange to maintain the shape. Place the whole orange on parchment paper or aluminum foil on a baking tray and bake for about 12-24 hours or until they are dry. The larger the orange- the longer it takes. I have also done this same thing with small tangerines, limes and lemons, etc. for a different look.
For the slices- simply cut your orange into slices and place them on the tray to bake. They will not take nearly as long- probably only about 3 hours depending on how thick the slices are and how juicy the oranges are.
Remember to flip both whole and sliced oranges about 1x per hour so that they dry more evenly. When they are dry- cool them at room temperature before using them for potpourri, ornaments, garlands etc.
Simple and sweet and so easy to make. They will last and last as long as they are dry enough and you should be able to enjoy them for several years.
Get the Look
- Dried Whole Oranges
- Dried Orange Slices
- Dried Whole Lime
- Dried Lemon Slices
- Burnt Orange velvet ribbon
- French Country Cottage Christmas Book
- Olive Green Velvet Ribbon
Happy Thursday all!
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