It's easy to dry orange slices yourself to use as fall or Christmas decoration or to add to homemade potpourri.
I love making my own Christmas decor and I usually make these DIY Dried Orange Slices at least once a year to use as DIY Christmas ornaments, in crafts, or even as a garnish for Christmas gifts tied up with cinnamon sticks and twine or ribbon.
They are perfect for garlands or hanging on the Christmas tree-you can even use them to make your own bowl of potpourri for your home or for gifting. Here is how I dry orange slices without a dehydrator, it's so easy!
How to Dry Orange Slices
(se the bottom of the post for detailed instructions.)
- Preheat your oven.
- Prepare your pan with nonstick spray, parchment paper or a baking mat. You can also place a rack on the cookie sheet to elevate the slices and speed up drying time.
- Slice oranges. The thinner the slices, the faster they will dry.
- Place oranges in a single layer on the prepared pan.
- Bake for up to 6 hours or until completely dry.
The key to a good result when drying fruit in the oven is using a very low temperature for a very long time. If you happen to have a food dehydrator, it will automatically do this. (You can use this method to dry other citrus fruit like lemons and limes too!)
I dry my fruit over the course of 6 hours. Don't attempt to raise the temperature to make it faster-you risk baking them instead of drying them!
After the 6 hours remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool. Then you're ready to use your oranges around your home!
What would you use these dried oranges for? Let me know in the comments!
FAQs
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place when not in use.
Up to two years depending on how they are stored and used.
The orange slices will mold if you do not completely dry them out in the oven.
potpourri, decorating, wreaths, garland, making homemade tea, or garnishing cocktails
Dried Orange Slices
It's easy to dry orange slices yourself to use as fall or Christmas decoration or to add to homemade potpourri.
Materials
- oranges
Tools
- baking pan
- silicone mat or parchment paper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 Celcius).
- Prepare your pan with nonstick spray or a baking mat. This helps avoid a sticky mess when it’s time to remove the oranges from the pan.
- Slice oranges into ¼″ slices or thinner. The thinner the slices, the faster they will dry.
- Place oranges in a single layer on the prepared pan, ensuring they do not touch.
- Bake for up to 6 hours or until completely dry.
Skip to Instructions
Sue says
What is the best way to slice the oranges to 1/4” slices? By hand with a knife or a mandolin?
Kelli says
Hello! I am making homemade orange and vanilla body scrub and body butter for my family this year. Do you think putting a dried orange slice on top inside of the canisters as decoration will be ok? Will they rehydrate or sink down you think?
thank you!
Kaylin says
I am using the slices to decorate a tree branch instead of putting up a christmas tree!
Melissa Riker says
lovely!!!
Joyce green says
Hello, I have been drying Orange and apples for year, I just love them! My problem is after about 5 months my oranges get meal worms! I make sure there completely dry and have even sprayed them with polyurethane with no success. Any suggestions?
Melissa Riker says
Where are you keeping them? I've never had this happen to mine, but I don't keep them out year round.
Jane says
Responding to people who ask questions in the comments is a great way to engage with your readers 😉