Making these dried orange slices are one of my favorite Christmas traditions. They are so cheap and easy to make and can be used in so many ways. They make the house smell incredible the whole time they are drying and have a lingering aroma even once they are dry! Once we are done with them, we can compost them or hang them out for the birds and squirrels to enjoy as well.
Once you make these, they will be staple in your natural decor! Have fun!
How to use dried orange slices
I am forever finding new ways to use these oranges. You can:
Make a wreath out of the slices. Cut a ring of cardboard then hot glue the slices onto it to make a wreath. Decorate with ribbon, and bits of winter greenery.
String a bunch of them together and create a garland. This can be wrapped around a tree, placed over a doorway, or hung at the top of a window. The window is our favorite place because when the sun shines through the slices they look like stained glass, and it is stunning.
Attach them to brown paper packages tied up with string. A sprig of evergreen and an orange slice make for the loveliest decoration while being oh so simple.
With a ribbon, string, or piece of twine, turn them into ornaments. We have done this for our tree for years and it is one of our favorite decorations.
Add them to a wreath of fresh greenery. That’s what we did with our homemade wreath for the front door. We added on a bunch of orange slices and little pinecones, and it has lasted us all winter long.
Tools
Cutting board
Serrated knife – You can also use a chefs knife, but I find the serrations just make it a little bit easier for me personally.
Parchment paper
Towels or paper towels – We have a bunch of reusable paper towels that we used for this project so we didn’t waste as many paper towels.
Sheet trays
Cooling grid (optional)
String, ribbon, or twine. – I love using butcher twine because I use it for baking and decorating, and it is very cost effective.
Lets get crafting!
Start by washing and slicing 4 oranges. Make the slices as even and consistent as possible, aiming for 1/4 inch slices.
Blot them with a cloth or paper towel to absorb the excess juice.
Lay them in an even layer on cutting board or on a piece of parchment paper on the counter.
Sprinkle each orange slice with sea salt. Flip them all, and sprinkle with salt again.
Allow the orange slices to sit for an hour or two then blot again on both sides.
Place the oranges in an even layer on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake at 200 for 3 hours, flipping each orange slice every half hour.
Bake for another hour, checking and flipping them every 10-15 minutes. If they are not perfectly even, some will bake faster than others. So, remove the orange slices that start to brown or are dry.
Allow them to fully cool then poke a hole in them near the peel and thread through with a string or twine.
Keys for success
Don’t skip the salt step. It seems silly, but this helps to draw out more of the water and sugars which cut down on the drying time and reduce the browning. This means they can keep their bright color while being fully dried.
That last hour or two, check them often for dryness. If they seem close, pull them. You can always re-bake them for five to ten minutes, but once they are dry, they brown pretty quickly.
Variations
If you want something with a bit more magic, you can do so much more than just dried orange slices. Get a few lemons, limes, grapefruit, and blood oranges as well. Salt, blot, and dry them the same way as the oranges, and then you have so many different colors. This is super fun in a garland over the window because as the sun shines through them, it captures the colors of each slice.
Thank you for checking out this recipe! I would love for you to leave me a comment and let me know how you liked it!
Dried orange slices
Simple decor, that is compostable and beautiful. These can just be made in the oven and will make your house smell divine!
Materials
- 4 Oranges (can also use other citrus fruits)*
Tools
- Cutting board
- Serrated knife
- Parchment paper
- Towels or paper towels
- Sheet trays
- Cooling grid (Optional)
- String, ribbon, or twine
Instructions
- Start by washing and slicing the oranges. Make the slices 1/4 inch thick and as even as possible.
- Blot them with a towel or paper towel to absorb the juice.
- Lay them in a single layer on a cutting board or a piece of parchment paper on the counter.
- Sprinkle each slice with sea salt, flip, and salt again. This pulls out more of the juice and sugar- don't skip this step.
- Allow them to sit for 1-2 hours for the salt to work its magic.
- Blot them on both sides again and place them in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Bake them for 3 hours, flipping them every half hour.
- Bake for another hour, but check them for dryness and flip them every 10-15 minutes. Pull the ones that are dry and place them on a plate or cooling grid.**
- Allow them to fully cool before poking a hole in them.
Notes
*This recipe works just as well with lemons, limes, grapefruits, and blood oranges. Get creative and enjoy.
** Depending on how thick or even the slices are, some will bake faster than others.
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