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The Scent of the Season: A DIY Dried Orange Garland Tutorial
There’s something truly magical about the holidays, and often, it's the simple, handmade decorations that hold the most charm.
Few things encapsulate that warm, cozy, and festive feeling quite like a garland of dried orange slices. They bring a pop of natural color, a beautiful stained-glass-like glow, and, best of all, a subtle, sweet citrus scent that is the very essence of the season.
Creating a dried orange garland is a wonderfully low-cost, low-effort project that fills your home with the most delightful aroma as they bake.
It only requires a few basic supplies and a bit of time—making it the perfect weekend craft to enjoy while listening to your favorite holiday tunes.
Here is your full, step-by-step guide to crafting this timeless piece of natural holiday decor!
🍊 What You'll Need
For the Dried Slices:
Oranges: 4-6 navel oranges are a good starting point for a moderate-sized garland. You can also mix in blood oranges for a darker, rosy color, or lemons/limes for variety.
Sharp Knife or Mandolin: For cutting even slices
Cutting Board
Paper Towels or Clean Kitchen Towel
Baking Sheets
Parchment Paper (Highly recommended to prevent sticking)
For the Garland Assembly:
Twine, String, or Fishing Line: Natural jute twine gives a rustic, cozy look. Clear fishing line makes the oranges appear to float
Scissors
Pointy Object: A toothpick, wooden skewer, large yarn needle, or thick embroidery needle for poking holes and stringing.
Scotch Tape (Optional): Tightly wrapping the end of your twine in tape makes it much easier to thread through the holes (like a shoelace tip!).
Step 1: Prep Your Oranges
Preheat & Slice:
Preheat your oven to the lowest setting possible, typically between 170°F and 250°F (75°C to 120°C). Lower and slower is the motto here—it prevents the oranges from cooking and turning brown before they are fully dehydrated.
Slice the Oranges: Wash and dry your oranges. Using a sharp knife or a mandolin (for best consistency), cut the oranges crosswise into slices, aiming for a thickness of about 1/8 to 1/4 inch (3-6 mm). The key to even drying is to make the slices as uniform as possible. Thinner slices dry faster.
Blot Away Moisture: Lay the slices out on a paper towel or clean kitchen towel. Place another towel on top and gently press to blot out as much excess juice as possible. This step significantly reduces the baking time and helps the slices dry more evenly.
Step 2: The Dehydration Process
Baking Low and Slow:
Arrange on Baking Sheets: Line your baking sheets with parchment paper. Lay the orange slices on the paper in a single, even layer. It’s okay if they touch slightly, but they should not overlap.
Bake: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven.
Drying Time: The total time will vary based on your oven temperature, slice thickness, and how much moisture you blotted out. Expect a total bake time of 3 to 6 hours.
Lower temp (170°F-200°F): Longer time, usually 4-6 hours. Less risk of burning.
Higher temp (225°F-250°F): Shorter time, usually 3-4 hours. Requires closer monitoring.
Flip and Monitor: Flip the orange slices every 30 to 60 minutes. This ensures even drying and prevents the edges from curling or burning. If your oven tends to have hot spots, you may also want to rotate the position of the trays.
Check for Doneness: The slices are done when they look translucent, are dry to the touch, and feel slightly crisp. There should be no sticky or soft areas in the center. If they are still sticky, keep baking and checking every 15-20 minutes.
Cool: Once done, turn off the oven and let the slices cool completely on the baking sheet or a cooling rack. They will crisp up further as they cool.
Step 3: Stringing Your Garland
The Assembly:
Prep Your Slices: Using a toothpick, wooden skewer, or needle, gently poke two small, parallel holes into the flesh of each dried orange slice. You want the holes close to the peel, but not in it, so they have a bit more strength to hang. Aim for the holes to be about 1/2 inch apart.
Prep Your String: Cut a length of your chosen twine or string. You can make it as long as you need for your desired location (mantel, doorway, window, etc.). If using twine, wrap a small piece of scotch tape tightly around one end—this acts as a makeshift needle and will save you a lot of frustration!
String the Slices: Thread the twine through the first hole from front-to-back, and then through the second hole from back-to-front (like a stitch). This method ensures the orange slice stays facing forward and won't spin around.
Space It Out: Decide on your spacing. You can string them right next to each other for a full, lush look, or leave a 1-2 inch gap in between each slice for a more minimal display. You can secure the placement of each orange by tying a knot on either side of the slice.
Add Embellishments (Optional): This is where you can get creative! In between your orange slices, consider adding:
Cinnamon Sticks (for an even more intense scent!)
Whole Bay Leaves
Pine Cones
Wooden Beads
Sprigs of dried rosemary or fresh evergreen (like cedar or pine)
Ways to Decorate with Your Garland
The Classic Mantel: Drape it with some fresh greenery (fir or cedar) over your fireplace mantel.
Window Display: Hang it in a sunny window! The light shining through the dehydrated citrus turns them into beautiful, glowing stained-glass ornaments.
Kitchen Charm: Drape it across kitchen cabinets, shelves, or over your sink window.
Tree Trim: Use the garland to wind around your Christmas tree for a charming, rustic look.
Separate Ornaments: Tie individual slices with a loop of twine and hang them directly on your tree branches.
A Few Final Tips
Smell Enhancement: While the drying process releases most of the aroma, the finished product will retain a subtle, sweet scent. If you want to enhance it, you can add a drop or two of Orange Essential Oil to the dried peel before stringing.
Storage: If properly and completely dehydrated (bone dry and crisp!), your dried orange slices can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place and reused for several years! If they feel even slightly soft or sticky, they are not dry enough for long-term storage and should be used only for the current season.
What to Do with Leftovers: Even after the season, your dried slices are multi-purpose! Toss them into a simmer pot on your stove top with water, cinnamon sticks, and cloves for a beautiful, all-natural home fragrance.
Enjoy the process and the beautiful, warm glow your new handmade garland brings to your home this season!
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