How to Make a Dried Orange Garland for the Holidays

I live in an old home with very limited storage, so I have to be a minimalist when it comes to my seasonal decor. That’s why I love decking the halls for Christmas with anything that I can recycle or compost at the end of the season, such as dried orange garland.

In fact, I’ve been making my own dried orange garland for about seven years now, and it’s one of my favorite traditions. I always look forward to the amazing smell it fills my home with during the process, and I love putting on a classic Christmas movie to watch while I string the pieces together. I usually drape it over my mantel, below our bar shelves, or in a window.

I’ve learned a thing or two about how to end up with the perfect set over the years, so I put together this tutorial on how to make a dried orange garland so you can, too.

Materials

I love that I can make this DIY Christmas craft using what I already have on hand, and all I ever need to buy is a few oranges from the store. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Three to four oranges
• Cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Paper towels
• Two cookie sheets
• Parchment paper
• Scissors
• String (I love using striped baker’s twine)
• Thick embroidery needle

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Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 200°F.
2. Slice your oranges horizontally about 1/4 inch thick.
3. While still on the cutting board, blot away excess juice from both sides of the slices using paper towels.
4. Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper and arrange the orange slices on them. It is okay if they touch.
5. Once the oven is preheated, put the cookie sheets inside.
6. Bake for a total of at least three hours, but flip the orange slices and swap the sheet on the top rack with the one on the bottom rack at the 1.5-hour mark. This will ensure even baking. If too much juice remains in the center and they look too light in color, continue to bake them and check on them every 15 to 20 minutes to prevent burning.
7. Once the slices reach your desired color and dryness, let the orange slices cool on the counter.
8. Using the thick embroidery needle and string, string the slices together until your garland reaches the desired length. Cut the string, and hang the garland where you please.

3 Ways to Customize Your Orange Garland

Add Cranberries and Popcorn

Take a nod from the Victorian era and string on even more edible goods to your DIY garland. Fresh cranberries and popcorn will add another layer of color and texture to your garland. Just keep in mind that you will need to discard the garland at the end of the season since the cranberries won’t store well like the oranges.

Try Drying Different Kinds of Citrus

You can experiment with different varieties of citrus fruit to add some variety to your dried orange garland. For more of a red or pink look, opt for blood oranges or grapefruit. If you want to make a pattern with different sizes, dry some lemon slices to pair with your orange slices.

Opt for Ribbon Instead of String

Add a little extra color to your dried orange garland by attaching the slices together using ribbon. Instead of using a needle to make the holes in the slices, create a slit with a knife on either side of the slice that is large enough for the ribbon to go through. For some added flair, tie bows on either end of the garland when complete.