This year dried oranges seem to be everyone’s favorite holiday decor accessory and I am HERE for it! I happily hopped on this bandwagon and made some dried oranges of my own! Today I am sharing my tutorial on how to make dried orange 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 and recycled right back into the earth. It is also a great DIY for beginners or a fun project to do with the kiddos during Christmas break. Let’s get started!
How to Make Dried Orange Garland | DIY
Step 1 | Cut the Oranges
Determine the length of your garland and the spacing of the orange slices. Cut enough orange slices based on the length of your garland.
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 the cookie sheets and spread the orange slices on the sheets.
Step 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 the slices are completely dried out. It can take anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on your oven and temperature – it took me 4 hours.
Step 3 | String the Orange Slices Together
With the dried orange slices, you will begin to string them together.
I pulled open one side of a paper clip and tied the butcher string to one end. You can decide how closely you want your oranges to sit next to each other on the string.
Enjoy Your Dried Orange Garland!
You now have a festive, natural garland to decorate for the holidays!
Product 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!)
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
Use any leftover dried oranges to decorate your tree! This is such a fun and simple way to fill your tree and add some color.
Check out my full Holiday Home Tour for more budget-friendly ideas when decorating for the holidays!
Pin the Image Below!
Want to save this project for later? I’ve got you covered! Use the pin I created below to quickly find this tutorial whenever you are ready to create.
