How to Dry Orange Slices for Holiday Decorations (Oven or Dehydrator)

Last Updated on November 7, 2024

Come learn how to dry orange slices two ways: in the oven, or using a food dehydrator. Dried orange slices are the perfect eco-friendly decorations for Christmas and winter holidays, bringing a beautiful natural pop of color and cheer to your home – all for minimal cost and effort. Use them to adorn festive garlands, wreaths and centerpieces, or as ornaments, garnishes, in potpourri, and more.

It’s really easy to dry orange slices, and they make your home smell amazing in the process! This article will also answer frequently asked questions about making dried orange slices, including their history, shelf life, air drying, and storage. I’ll also show you several cute ideas for how to decorate with dried oranges – like how to make a dried orange garland!

RELATED: Love drying fruit? Come see our best tips on dehydrating apples, dehydrating apricots, or making dried persimmons – another delicious winter season treat!

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Why decorate with dried oranges for Christmas or winter?

Oranges are associated with winter holidays for a number of reasons. First of all, the majority of citrus ripen during the winter season. Here on the Central Coast of California, our neighborhood trees are dripping with oranges from November through spring! 

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, fresh oranges were rare and viewed as a luxury item to splurge on at Christmas time. Folks would give them as gifts, often tucking them into their children’s stockings as a nod to the “sacks of gold” that old Saint Nick would deliver down the chimney. 

Long before American Christian traditions, cultures around the world adorned their homes with elements of nature as part of Winter Solstice celebrations, including bows of greenery, wreaths, and garlands with dried fruit. Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, marking the time when the days once again grow longer. Oranges, being just about as bright and cheery as fruit can get, are thought to represent the sun and the return of light.

What kind of oranges are best to make dry orange slices?

Classic Navel or Valencia oranges are best. They are large, round, and uniform in shape, and make the most beautiful dried orange slices. Choose oranges with the deepest orange color rind for the most vibrant results. Also, firm oranges will be easier to cut into uniform thin slices than softer fruit. 

We’ve also used blood oranges to make dry orange slices before. The stunning red and purple centers look amazing! Yet because they’re already darker in color, it’s especially important to not accidentally overcook or burn them, since they’ll look even more brown than the orange ones. 

Really, you can use these methods to dry any type of citrus – including lemons, limes, or grapefruit! Note that smaller “orange” citrus fruits like tangerines or mandarins typically have thinner rinds and more membranes inside, so they may be less attractive when dried.

How to make dried orange slices stay orange? 

To keep a nice bright color, it’s best to dry orange slices on the lowest temperature possible. They will turn brown if they’re accidentally overcooked or burned. Dry orange slices will also naturally turn more brown and darken over time, but should look nice and last for several years.

If you have one handy, I suggest using a food dehydrator to make the most fuss-free and bright-colored dry orange slices. Since you can dry the oranges at a lower temperature than the oven, it’s virtually impossible to accidentally burn them. They also stay more flat instead of possibly curling slightly. 

How to Dry Orange Slices

Supplies

• Oranges
• Sharp knife and cutting board
• An oven, plus baking sheets lined with parchment paper
• OR a food dehydrator
• Lint-free cloth towel or paper towels for blotting 

Instructions

Step 1: Slice the Oranges

Begin by cutting your oranges into thin slices. Aim for ⅛” to ¼” thick. As best you can, try to cut each slice the same thickness. The more thin and even you cut them, the faster and more uniform they’ll dry. Also, cut across the “equator” or center of the orange (as opposed to top stem to bottom) to reveal the perfect cross-section. 

Tip: Now is a good time to preheat your oven to 200-225°F. See more information about the temperature range to follow.

Step 2: Blot and Spread

Before putting the orange slices onto trays, it’s best to blot them to remove excess juices first. This helps them dry much faster, and also stick to the trays less. Some folks use paper towels for this. Instead, I like to lay out a lint-free tea towel, set several slices on top, then fold it over to blot the tops. Don’t push hard or squish them! Just enough to soak up some juice. (Tip: When you’re done, rinse the towel well with water before adding it to your laundry pile.)

Next, spread the orange slices out on either a baking sheet or your food dehydrator trays. If you’re using the oven method, line the baking sheet with parchment paper first. Oranges get sticky! Lay the slices out in a single layer, not overlapping.

Step 3: Dry Orange Slices

In a Dehydrator:

• To dry orange slices in a dehydrator, set the thermostat to 130-135°F. 
• If your machine doesn’t have a precise temperature control, choose 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 (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 of the machine for more even airflow.

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.
• Carefully flip the slices every hour or so to promote even drying. 
• Once they are done, transfer the dried orange slices to a cooling rack.

A note on oven temperature: Every oven is slightly different, so you may need to experiment with what temperature works best for you. In our current oven, I found that 200°F felt like it was taking a bit too long, but when I turned it up to just over 225, the oranges quickly started turning more brown. So, I turned it back down to about 215 for the remainder of the time. This particular batch took about 4 hours. At that time, I removed the dry ones (which was most of them) and let a few remaining thicker slices continue to dry for another half an hour.

*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.

Ways to decorate with dried orange slices

Dried orange slices look even more beautiful and festive when they’re lit from behind, so I try to strategically place them in front of lights on the Christmas tree or garlands! They also look stunning hanging in a sunny window.

• Add twine or string to your dried orange slices by making a small hole near the top, and tie a knot around the rind if needed (since it’s the most sturdy part). Dried orange slices may also have a natural hole in the center that you can insert string through instead.
• Attach a few dried orange slices to evergreen wreathes or garlands using twine, wire, or pipe cleaners. See photos below, and learn how to make a DIY vine wreath here.
• Turn dried orange slices into Christmas ornaments using ribbon, twine, string, or straight onto a metal ornament hook. Get creative and add bows, bells, beads, feathers, or other fun additions.
• Create a DIY dried orange garland by stringing your orange slices on twine or string, either alone or together with popcorn, wood beads, cinnamon sticks, pinecones, or similar seasonal items. These are beautiful on a Christmas tree, streaming down a stairwell banister, strung across a sunny window, doorway, or fireplace mantle.
• Combine dried orange slices with natural greenery like pine or cedar, sprigs of rosemary, rustic pine cones, branches, acorns, chestnuts or walnuts to create a festive centerpiece, such as in a shallow bowl or tray.
• When wrapping gifts, affix them to the package with twine in lieu of curling ribbon or a bow.
• Last but not least, stick a dry orange slice or two inside your favorite tea, holiday cocktail, or mocktail for a beautiful citrusy flair.

Can you air-dry orange slices?

Theoretically yes, you can air-dry orange slices, but only under ideal conditions. They will need to be spread on wire rack, screen, or other surface that allows for air circulation on all sides, and set out in warm, arid conditions with ample airflow – such as outside on a breezy summer day, in a warm attic space with fans, or similar. 

Yet in the middle of winter, those conditions are difficult to achieve in most places. Heck, we can’t even do that in the summertime here! If the orange slices don’t dry fast and warm enough, they will surely mold first. That is why we recommend using an oven or food dehydrator to dry orange slices, rather than passively air drying them at room temperature. 

How long do dry orange slices last?

Dried orange slices will last about two or three years. That is, they’ll look their best for the first couple of years, and start to turn increasingly dark and brown thereafter. Yet that doesn’t mean they are “bad” or unusable after that time! We’ve hung much older dried orange ornaments on our holiday tree before. Many folks enjoy the aged rustic look of older ones.

Once you’re done using the dried oranges for decorations, simply toss them in your compost heap. Or, give them one final shot to fulfill their festive destiny and add them to a pot of stovetop potpourri with other seasonal aromatic goodies before hitting the compost. 

How to store dried orange slices

Store dried orange slices in an air tight container such as a large mason jar or inside ziplock bag. (You may want to lightly pad them between layers of newspaper or tissue paper if you use a bag.) Store them in a cool, dry, dark location, and somewhere they won’t easily get crushed or break, such as tucked in a storage tote with your other fragile holiday decor. We usually leave a jar in our pantry to add to hot tea! If With proper storage, fully dried orange slices should not grow mold.

And that is how to dry and decorate with beautiful orange slices!

Gosh those are pretty, aren’t they? I hope you have as much fun making and decorating with dry orange slices as I had putting this post together for you. If you found these tips useful, please feel free to spread the love by pinning or sharing this article – and leave a review below! I can’t wait to see what you all come up with. Have a wonderful winter holiday season.

Looking for other clever ways to use oranges (and any citrus), or ideas for other holiday crafts? Check out:

• Homemade Citrus Vinegar Cleaning Spray: Natural, Non-Toxic & Effective!
• How to Make Dehydrated Lemon Powder + 13 Ways to Use It
• Fire Cider Recipe for Immune Health
• How to Make Blown Egg Ornaments
• 17 Wonderful Winter Garden Activities (Projects) To Do Indoors
• DIY Beeswax Wraps (Reusable Food Wraps)
• How to Make Easy Dried Persimmons
• How to Make Pressed Flower Pumpkins (Decorate Botanical Leaf Pumpkins)
• Fruit & Veggie Stamped Kitchen Towels Tutorial

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How to Dry Orange Slices (Citrus) in the Oven or Dehydrator

Dried orange slices are a beautiful, inexpensive, eco-friendly addition to winter holiday decor. Come learn how to dry orange slices in either the oven or a food dehydrator, plus ideas for how to decorate with them! Use this tutorial for lemons or grapefruit too.

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time3 hours hrs

Course: Drinks, Holiday Decor, Holiday Dish

Keyword: diy holiday decorations, dried citrus slices, dried orange slices, dried oranges holiday decor, dry oranges, how to dry oranges, natural holiday decorations, orange slices christmas

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 

Ingredients

• Oranges (or lemons, grapefruit)

Instructions

Prep

• Begin by cutting your oranges into thin slices. Aim for 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. 
• Before putting the orange slices onto trays, gently blot them with paper towels or a cloth towel to remove excess juices and expedite the drying process.
• Next, spread the orange slices out on either a baking sheet or your food dehydrator trays. If you’re using the oven method, line the baking sheet with parchment paper first. Oranges get sticky! Lay the slices out in a single layer. It’s okay if their sides are touching, but they should not overlap.

Drying Oranges in a Dehydrator

• Set the thermostat to 130-135°F. If your machine doesn’t have a precise temperature control, choose 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 (e.g. if it has a top or bottom fan), you may want to rotate the trays after several hours to promote even drying. I don't need to rotate ours since the fan is in the back of the machine for even airflow.

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.
• Once they are done, transfer the dried orange slices to a cooling rack.
• Enjoy!

Ways to decorate with dried orange slices

• Add twine or string to your dried orange slices by making a small hole near the top, and tie a knot around the rind if needed (since it’s the most sturdy part). Dried orange slices may also have a natural hole in the center that you can insert string through instead.
• Attach dried orange slices to green wreathes or garlands using twine, wire, or pipe cleaners.
• String up dried orange slices as tree ornaments using ribbon, twine, or string. Get creative and add bows, bells, beads, feathers, or other fun additions
• Create a dry orange garland by stringing your orange slices on twine or string, either alone or together with popcorn, wood beads, cinnamon sticks, pinecones, or similar seasonal items. These are beautiful on a Christmas tree, streaming down a stairwell banister, strung across a sunny window, doorway, or fireplace mantle.
• Combine dried orange slices with natural greenery like pine or cedar, sprigs of rosemary, rustic pine cones, branches, acorns, chestnuts or walnuts to create a festive centerpiece, such as in a shallow bowl or tray.
• When wrapping gifts, affix them to the package with twine in lieu of curling ribbon or a bow.
• Last but not least, stick a dry orange slice or two inside your favorite tea, holiday cocktail, or mocktail for a beautiful citrusy flair.

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.