This holiday, spread a little cheer and add a little fragrance to the room with this simplesliced and dried orange garland. Using a bag of oranges and a few simple kitchen supplies you likely already have on hand, you can quickly craft your own sweet rustic-inspired decor.

What is a dried orange garland for?

In some families and cultures, making an orange garland during the holidays is traditional. And this craft is something parents and grandparents wish to pass down to the children. Crafts are a great way to spend time together, especially during the holiday season. Orange garlands are also a very easy and safe project to do with kids.

How many oranges do you need for the garland?

You’ll need anywhere between 25 and 40 oranges, depending on how long you want your garland to be. And you want to cut the orange slices to be ¼ to ⅛ inch thick.

Does dried orange garland smell?

For some, dried orange garlands smell like coming home. But yes, they do provide a wonderful citrus smell throughout the area you place them in. Dehydrating them is when they smell the best.

What other fruit can you add to dried orange garlands?

You don’t have to only use dried orange slices on your garland. You can add other fruit like:

ApplesCranberriesPears

You can also use other varieties of oranges, like blood oranges, for more color. And you could also add whole walnuts still in their shells.

Should I add spices to my dried orange garland?

Spices are an excellent addition to your orange garland. You can use spices like:

CinnamonCinnamon sticksStar aniseBay leavesNutmegDried poppy heads

You can tie some of these whole spices together for adorable additions to your garland.

How to Store Your Dried Orange Garland

If you want to reuse your dried oranges next year, storing it the right way is very important. The best way to keep the garland is in a plastic ziplock or airtight container with pieces of newspaper in between the oranges to absorb moisture. Then store the container in a cool dark space.

It’s always an option to remake the garland every year because the orange slices lose their wonderful smell in storage. And it’s super easy to compost the orange slices as long as you use compostable strands to string the garland together.

Supplies you’ll need for a dried orange garland:

OrangesKnifeCutting boardOvenOven rack or cooling rackTwineLarge knitting needle

How To Dry Oranges For Garland:

Step 1: Prepare the oven

First, preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2: Slice oranges

Carefully slice the oranges into 1/2 to 1/4 inch thick slices. And discard the ends that are the rind only.

Step 3: Put them on a cooling rack

Arrange your orange slices on a cooling rack in a single layer, so they bake evenly. If you don’t have cooling racks, you can place the slices directly on your oven rack so long as they won’t fall through the slats if they shrink up somewhat in size.

You can also use a baking sheet with parchment paper. You’ll just need to continuously flip them so they dry on both sides.

Step 4: Baking process

Bake the oranges for approximately 4 hours. Flip the oranges approximately every hour. Keep a close eye on your slices and pull out some of the thinner or smaller slices as they will start to dehydrate first.

Step 5: Complete the dehydration process

Once the oranges are finished cooking completely, remove the cooling racks from the oven and let them cool. Then transfer the oranges from the cooling rack onto an unused and room temperature baking sheet.

Let them sit on the baking sheet for 30 minutes to one hour. This should complete the dehydration portion of the project. You can stop here and set aside the oranges for later if you are unsure what you want to create with the oranges.

How To Craft The Orange Garland:

Step 6: Weave the garland

Using your dried orange slices, you can easily craft a garland or ornament using a small knitting needle and twine. Weave your needle in and out of each dried orange slice and leave plenty of spacing between each so that the garland has some give and is not too stiff.

Or you can cut small pieces of twine or fishing line. Then, use the needle to penetrate the twine into each completely dried oranges and tie the twine in a loop to create your orange garland decoration. No matter how you use them, whether on the mantle or a Christmas tree, your house will look and smell great with a perfect dried orange garland.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ

How long do dried orange garlands last?

They will definitely last through the holiday season. Some people have kept and used them for over five years. How long the garlands last depends on how you store them.

Does dried orange garland attract bugs?

Bugs are atrracted to the juice. So, as long as your orange slices are completely dry after dehydrating them, they will not attract bugs.

Can you keep dried orange garland?

Yes. You can save and reuse your garland for anywhere from 2 to 5 years. However, it might lose its smell in storage.

Can you buy and use dried oranges for the garland?

Yes. Many stores sell dried orange slices you can use for your garland.

Conclusion

DIY dried orange garlands are a wonderfully simple and fun project you can do together as a family to create memories and unique decorations for the holiday season.