How to Make a Dried Orange Garland (Oven or Dehydrator) ~ Homestead and Chill

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Want to create your own beautiful, natural holiday decorations? Come learn how to make a DIY dried orange garland in this step-by-step guide. They’re easy to make using either the oven or a dehydrator and only a handful of supplies. This sustainable craft project is one of my favorite winter holiday season traditions!

Catching light like candied stained glass, dried orange garlands look absolutely stunning strung across a sunny window, glowing on a Christmas tree with lights, and more. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to make one – along with several ideas for how to hang and decorate with them, tips for storage, and how to make them last.

RELATED: Looking for more natural holiday decor ideas? Come learn how to make a fall leaf garland or DIY grapevine wreath! Our guide on how to dry orange slices also highlights other ways to use them: as Christmas ornaments, in simmer pot recipes, table centerpieces, wreaths, and more.

A dried orange garland is strung across an open window with twine. Beyond the window are various oak trees in the background.

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Drying oranges in the oven vs dehydrator

To make a DIY dried orange garland, you can dry fresh orange slices in either an oven or a food dehydrator. Both options work great! The most notable difference is the final color, shown below. Or, you could buy already-dried orange slices to make a garland.

Drying oranges in the oven is faster, but is easier to accidentally overcook or burn your oranges, resulting in a darker color. Even on the lowest temperature setting and with a very watchful eye, oven-dried orange slices will always turn out slightly more brown than those dried in a dehydrator – but still look beautiful and rustic!

On the other hand, using a dehydrator to slowly dry the fruit at a lower temperature will result in lighter, brighter colored dried orange slices, nearly preserving their raw natural color. Starting light means the garland will look better and last longer over time (up to a few years) since it will gradually darken and turn more brown. While it takes a little longer, a dehydrator requires less oversight than the oven. Just set it and forget it!

Many dried orange slices line a washed concrete surface showing some that have been dried in an oven and those that have been dried in a dehydrator. The top of each side has been photoshopped with the words "oven-dried" on one side and "dehydrator" on the other to illustrate the difference in color as the oven-dried ones are slightly darker in color.

Supplies

Fresh oranges (or pre-dried orange slices). You can use other types of dried citrus in your garland too, such as mandarins, lemons, limes, or blood oranges. I personally love to use grapefruit for a beautiful pop of pink!
Sharp knife and cutting board
Jute twine, string or ribbon of choice
Lint-free cloth towels or paper towels for blotting
Oven method: baking sheets lined with parchment paper or a wire baking rack
OR a food dehydrator
Optional: mini clothespins to clip the oranges to the twine, or even to a strand of petite twinkle lights

A white ceramic bowl with a copper rim and handles is full of a variety of dried citrus slices. Fresh rosemary, a candle, and a string of black wooden beads adorn the area around the bowl.

Instructions

If you’re making your garland using already-dried oranges, skip straight to step 3.

1) Prep Oranges

First cut the oranges into thin even slices, approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Try your best to cut them all the same thickness so they’ll dry evenly.
Your dried orange garland will look the best if the oranges are cut across the middle “equator” instead of top-to-bottom, revealing the perfect cross-section.
Lay the orange slices out in a single layer on a cloth towel or paper towels. Then use another towel on top to gently blot them and remove excess moisture. Don’t smash them though!
Finally, transfer the oranges to either food dehydrator trays, a wire baking rack, or baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Spread them out in a single layer, not overlapping.

A cutting board with a white towel contains slices of fresh lemon, grapefruit, and orange on top of it. Fresh rosemary sprigs adorn the area surrounding the cutting board.

2) Dry the Orange Slices

In the oven:

Dry the orange slices in the oven on 200 to 225°F for several hours, until they’re fully dry*. (See notes below). I found 215°F is the sweet spot for my oven! 200 was taking forever, but 225 made them more brown.
It should take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours to dry, depending on your oven and thickness of the orange slices.
Carefully flip the oranges every hour or so to promote even drying (unless using a wire baking rack).
Once they’re done, transfer the oranges to a cooling rack.

A cutting board with some citrus scrap material sits next to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper that has a few orange slices atop it while a tea towel has orange slices laid on its surface while the other half of the towel is used to blot the freshly cut slices.

In a dehydrator:

To dry orange slices in a dehydrator, set the thermostat to 130-135°F (a “fruit” setting or medium heat).
If your machine doesn’t have a precise temperature control, check them after an hour or two to ensure they’re not turning brown and adjust as needed.
Allow them to dry until no moisture remains. (See notes below.) In my machine, most orange slices dry within about 8 hours, but if there are a few damp pieces left I turn it down to 125F for a few more hours to finish off.
Depending on your dehydrator (e.g. if it has a top or bottom fan), you may also want to rotate the trays after several hours to promote even drying. I don’t find the need to do this with our Excalibur since the fan is located in the back with even airflow.

With either method, the orange slices are considered “fully dry” once they appear dry, and the thickest parts of the fruit are no longer gooey or soft to the touch. It is okay if they feel ever-so-slightly sticky still, since they will continue to dry and harden once they’re removed from the heat. If you plan to keep your garland for many years, make sure the oranges are extra dry so they won’t mold in storage!

A dehydrator tray is full of dried orange, lemon, and grapefruit slices.

3) Add Twine

Now it’s time to string the dried oranges onto twine to create a garland. There are a number of ways to accomplish this, so I’ve shared my favorite simple method and tips here, along with a few alternative styles in the section to follow!

Begin by cutting a piece of twine as long as you’d like your garland to be, plus some extra length – just in case.
Use the tip of a pen, chopstick, a thick nail, wood skewer, or other slender pointed object to make two small holes in each orange. (I used a kitchen probe thermometer.) Creating two holes instead of one helps the orange slices hang in a nice straight line along the garland.
Poke the holes through the orange slices near the rind (the strongest part) and about an inch or two apart.
Thread one end of the twine through each hole in the orange slice, and then gently pull to the end of your garland.
Repeat the process and continue to add more dried oranges to the garland, spacing them however far apart you prefer. Keep them close together for a very full look.

A small metal stake is being used to create holes in a dried orange slice. Many other dried citrus slices are below along with a roll of twine. — I recommend poking holes in two separate “sections” of the orange flesh (separated by white membrane) which offers strength and prevents tearing.

A hand is holding one orange slice that has two holes made in it with twine inserted through each hole. Other slices of citrus are attached to the length of twin in the same manner.

Dried citrus slices are strung across an open window using jute twine.

Alternative Methods

There are plenty of other clever and creative ways to make a DIY dried orange garland. You can attach the orange slices to twine using mini clothespins, connect the oranges end-to-end using smaller sections of string (shown below), or even hang the garland vertically – such as several sections hanging vertically in a window like a dried orange curtain or mobile!

Dried orange slices strung together with green ribbon are laid out on a white surface.

Dried orange slices strung together using jute twine using small clothespins to attach the slices.

5) Enjoy!

Now it’s time to find a special place to hang and admire your beautiful new DIY dried orange garland! I always hang a couple in our living room windows near the Christmas tree, which is also adorned with matching orange slices and blown egg ornaments. Here are some other pretty ideas:

Where to hang a dried orange garland

Wrapped around a Christmas tree
On a fireplace mantle
Strung across a sunny window, or hung vertically
Down a stairwell banister or other railing
Hung on the front door
Draped across the front of a bookcase, cabinet or other shelving
Wrapped around a wreath
Across an open doorway or nook
From a chandelier
Thoughtfully laid out as a part of a tablescape centerpiece
Use several strands to create a dried orange mobile

A Christmas tree is in the corner of a room, it is full of dried orange slices, lights, and many different types and colors of ornaments. — Our tree, adorned with dried orange ornaments and a garland in the window.

Storage and Shelf Life

To keep your dried orange garland for next year, store it in a cool, dry, dark location where it won’t get crushed. You can carefully fold and stack the garland into a bag, or lay it out to store flat. Either way, I recommend protecting the fragile oranges with tissue paper or other cushioning.

FAQ: How long do dried orange garlands last?

Dried orange garlands can last for many years! With proper drying and storage, they should not mold. However, the oranges will gradually turn more brown and darken over time – so it’s a personal decision as to how long you enjoy yours. Some folks love the look of more aged, rustic brown dried oranges!

A dried orange garland made of dried oranges and dried grapefruit slices strung together with jute twine. A bowl of dried citrus slices and fresh rosemary are next to the garland.

Easy peasy. I hope you enjoy your beautiful natural homemade garlands as much as I do. Please spread the holiday joy and leave a review, or ask any questions you may have below!

Don’t miss these related posts:

Dried citrus slices are laid out with a roll of twine nearby along with a bowl full of dried citrus slices.

DIY Dried Orange Garland (Oven or Dehydrator)

Come learn how to make a beautiful DIY dried orange garland using the oven or a dehydrator, plus tips how to hang and store them. This is an easy and sustainable natural holiday craft idea!

5 from 1 vote

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Cook Time 1

Drying Time 5

Equipment

Sharp knife and cutting board
Baking sheet lined with parchment paper (for oven method) OR a food dehydrator
Lint-free cloth towel or paper towels for blotting
Twine, string, or ribbon of choice
Mini clothespins (optional)

Ingredients

Fresh oranges (or lemons, grapefruit, limes, blood oranges, etc)

Instructions

Prep

Cut the oranges into thin slices, ⅛” to ¼” thick. Try to cut each slice the same thickness for even drying. Cutting across the “equator” or center of the orange (as opposed to top stem to bottom) to reveal the perfect cross-section.
Gently blot them with paper towels or a cloth towel to remove excess juices and expedite the drying process.
Spread the orange slices in a single layer on either a parchment-paper lined baking sheet or food dehydrator trays.

Drying Oranges in a Dehydrator

Set the thermostat to 130-135°F (a “fruit” setting or medium heat). When in doubt, check them after an hour or two to ensure they’re not turning brown and adjust as needed.
Allow them to dry until no moisture remains** (See notes below.) In our machine, the orange slices were mostly dry within about 8 hours, though a few damp pieces remained, so I turned the temp down to 125F and let it continue to run overnight to finish off.
Depending on your dehydrator, you may want to rotate the trays after several hours to promote even drying.

Drying Oranges in the Oven

Dry the orange slices in the oven on 200 to 225°F for several hours, until they’re fully dry* (see notes below). It should take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours, depending on your oven and size of orange slices. I found the sweet spot in our oven to be 215F, where 200 was going too slow but 225 was turning them brown.
Carefully flip the slices every hour or so to promote even drying, then transfer to a cooling rack once complete.

Create a Garland on Twine or String

Cut piece of twine as long as you’d like your garland to be, plus some extra length – just in case.
Use the tip of a pen, chopstick, a thick nail, wood skewer, or other slender pointed object to make two small holes in each orange. Creating two holes instead of one helps the orange slices hang in a nice straight line along the garland.
Poke the holes through the orange slices near the rind (the strongest part) and about an inch or so apart.
Thread one end of the twine through each hole in the dried orange slice, and then gently pull to the end of your garland.
Repeat the process and continue to add more dried oranges to the garland, spacing them however far apart you prefer. Keep them close together for a very full look.

Hang and Enjoy

Hang your dried orange garland across a sunny window, on the Christmas tree, down a stair railing, on the fireplace mantle, on the front door, across a bookshelf, as part of a tablescape, and more. You can also hang your garland (or several strands) vertically!

Storage and Shelf Life

Store flat in a cool, dry, dark location. Use tissue paper or other cushioning as needed to protect the dried oranges. If dried and stored properly, a dried orange garland can last many years. However, they will all naturally turn a darker brown color over time.

Notes

**For either method** The orange slices are considered “fully dry” once they appear dry, and thickest parts of the fruit are no longer gooey or soft to the touch. It is okay if they feel ever-so-slightly sticky still, since they will continue to dry and harden once they’re removed from the heat.

Keyword diy christmas decor, diy dried orange garland, diy holiday decorations, dried orange garland, dried orange slices, natural holiday decorations

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2 Comments

Dani

December 3, 2024 at 2:07 pm Reply

So detailed as always. Thank you! I have a batch in the dehydrator as I type.
I have an inexpensive round tiered dehydrator, and it takes quite a bit of time for all of the layers to dry out thoroughly.
My dry time is usually a couple of days rotating the tiers every so often.
Definitely need to upgrade the dehydrator situation!
- Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
  
  December 3, 2024 at 3:12 pm Reply
  
  Hi Dani, we used to have a Nesco food dehydrator (probably similar to yours) but once we got an Excalibur dehydrator, we haven’t looked back!