How to Make Dried Orange Slice Garland

Last Updated on September 29, 2023 by lindseymahoney

Dried orange slice garland is all the rage this holiday season and I am loving this trend! I happily hopped on this bandwagon and made some dried orange slices of my own to decorate our home.

How to make dried orange slice garland for the holidays

Today I am sharing my tutorial on how to make dried orange slice garland. As a bonus, I am sharing three additional ideas when decorating with dried oranges for the holidays!

This decor is not only beautiful but made with natural materials that can be composted right back into the earth. It is also an easy DIY for beginners or a fun project to do with the kiddos during Christmas break.

Let’s get started!

How to Make Dried Orange Slice Garland | DIY

[Affiliate links included in this blog post, thanks for supporting Building Bluebird!]

Orange Garland Source List

Oranges: I purchased naval oranges
Sharp knife
Parchment paper
Cookie sheet
Butchers twine – you can find this at your local grocery or on Amazon
Needle (or in my case, a paper clip!)

First, determine where you want to displace your orange slice garland.

Wrapped around the tree?
Draped across your mantel?
Attached to a staircase banister?

Once you know where the garland will hang, you will know the amount of garland required for this festive DIY.

1 | Cut the Orange Slices

You will also want to decide how the oranges will be spaced across the string.

The orange slices can butt up right next to each other or have a few inches between each. Based on the length of your garland and desired spacing, use a kitchen knife to cut your orange slices.

I cut 4 oranges with slices about 1/3 inch thick. Slices too thick will make it difficult to dry out and slices too thin can burn the oranges.

Place parchment paper on a baking sheet and spread the orange slices onto it.

2 | Bake the Orange Slices

Set your oven to its lowest temperature. The lowest for mine was 170 degrees. Place the oranges in the oven and set the timer for 45 minutes and flip the slices over.

Continue cooking the slices and flipping them every 45 minutes until they are completely dried out.

It can take anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on your oven and temperature – it took me 4 hours.

3 | String the Orange Slices Together

With the dried orange slices ready to go, begin threading each slice with butchers twine.

You will need something sharp to thread the twine and a larger needle is ideal. Because I could not find a needle, I improvised and used a paper clip. I pulled open one side of a paper clip and tied the butcher’s twine to one end.

Thread the twine on one end of the slice to the other and continue to the next slice.

Enjoy Your Dried Orange Slice Garland!

You now have a festive, natural garland to decorate for the holidays that smells delicious too!

[mv_create key=”22″ type=”diy” title=”How to Make Dried Orange Garland at Home” thumbnail=”https://buildingbluebird.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/How-to-Make.png”]

Bonus | Three Alternative Ways to Decorate with Dried Oranges

Holiday Wreath

Take one or two slices and attach them to your holiday wreath. I added a magnolia leaf, cinnamon sticks, and a single orange slice to my holiday wreath this year.

Wrapping Presents

Using that same butcher’s twine, wrap it around a present a few times and attach an orange slice and tree trimmings. This gives a present that added flair to really look special.

Orange Slice Ornaments

How to make dried orange slice garland for holiday decor

Use any leftover dried orange slices to decorate your tree! This is such a fun and simple way to fill your tree and add some color.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long with dried orange slices last?

Dried orange slices tend to last 2-3 years before they begin turning pretty brown.

This does not mean that the orange slices are rotten, however, and you can continue decorating with them for many years as long as you are ok with the color.

Think of the dried oranges like potpourri that can sit on display for years.

How do you hang dried oranges?

The best way to hang dried oranges will depend on where it is going. If the orange slice garland is decorating the Christmas tree, it simply hangs on the branches.

Orange slice ornaments can be hung on branches using ornament hooks. Various types of wire are really useful when hanging garland or attaching dried oranges to other decor.

I use picture wire or floral wire to attach the oranges to wreaths or along a banister.

Do dried orange slices attract bugs?

As long as each slice is completely dehydrated, it will not attract any bugs or fruit flies.

Does orange slice garland have a scent?

When you cook the orange slices, your house will smell fabulous.

Once the orange slices are dehydrated, they still have a faint citrus smell which is very pleasing. To create a stronger scent, consider adding cloves to the orange slices or attaching cinnamon sticks to the garland.

Can I make dried orange slices with an air fryer?

Yes! I have never dried orange slices this way, but it is absolutely possible.

Some air fryers have a button to dehydrate food. If yours does not have this option, cook the slices at a lower temperature (170 degrees) and check on the slices periodically, then flip until they are completely dried out.

Check out this air fryer tutorial over on Robin’s Southern Nest.