Ah, yes. Dehydrated oranges. Every one and their is dog is making dehydrated orange slices for Christmas (or orange garland), and for that reason I’ve been resisting it for a few years. Then I gave it some deeper thought… I was resisting it because it’s trendy, and I want to be disciplined about things like trends. I’d rather do things “the old fashioned way” – popcorn garland, salt dough ornaments, orange and clove pomanders, paper ornaments, etcetera. And then I realized, dehydrated fruit is “old fashioned”. Fewf! I actually really like this trend and now that I’ve concluded that dehydrated fruit is straight up primal, I’ll bite.
The beauty of dried orange slices is that they are so versatile! They can be strung into an elegant garland, hung like an ornament on the Christmas tree, or used in crafty projects like a classic evergreen wreath.
How to Make Dehydrated Oranges
You can dehydrate any type of orange, or citrus. I used navel oranges.
Step 1:
Slice the oranges.
It is often recommended to thinly slice the oranges, but I wanted a hearty “quality” orange slice, so I left them pretty thick (about 1/4 inch). Thinner slices will takes less time to dry, crack open more in the middle, and be more translucent. Thick orange slices will take longer to dry, hold their shape more, and be richer in color.
Thick or thin – both are absolutely charming.
Step 2:
Place the orange slices on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Dehydrate in the oven at 200F for 2-4 hours, or until they are dry. The drying time will vary depending on the type of orange you use and how thick the slices are.
Once they are dry, they are ready to be strung into garland, or used to decorate around your home!
Tips:
You’d think the smell of oranges dehydrating would be scrumptious, but I don’t really think it smells that fantastic. So sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon on them to make the aromatic experience more enjoyable.
Don’t stop at oranges! Dehydrated festive red cranberries, the organic shapes of ginger slices, or apple loops and spirals can all be used as #classicchristmas decor.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
For more Christmas inspiration, check out my video where I show you how to make three different infusions that are perfect for last minute Christmas gifts!
Watch on Odysee: https://odysee.com/@alexanderfarm:0/last-minute-gift-ideas---3-easy-infusions:1
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like these:
How to Make Classy Paper Ornaments
How to Make Classic Popcorn Garland
How to Make Orange and Clove Pomanders
How to Make (High-End) Salt Dough Ornaments
How to Make (Real) Vanilla Extract
