Our little farmhouse is looking quite festive dressing in all of its Christmas attire! I immensely enjoy how our home looks at this time of year. Stockings, twinkle lights, candles, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, and garlands all work together to create a cozy environment like no other.
I recently shared some inspiration for how I decorate our home in a primitive and simple style during the Christmas season. You can read that post here: Simple and Primitive Christmas Decorations. In that entry, I shared the idea of using dried oranges as Christmas decorations, so I want to share how to properly dry orange slices. The process is quite easy and inexpensive, but the results are charming!
Continue reading if you’d like to learn how to dry orange slices in the oven. I’ve listed all the needed supplies and step-by-step instructions below. This is a charming and inexpensive way to decorate for the holidays. It’s become a favorite tradition of for our family during this time of year! I’ll even share. a few ways you can decorate your own home with them. Enjoy!
How to Dry Oranges
Needed Supplies
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheet
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Paper towels or kitchen rag
- Oranges
Drying Instructions
- Begin by heating the oven to 200 degrees F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut the orange(s) into 1/4 inch slices.
- Dab each side of the slice with a paper towel or kitchen rag in order to remove excess moisture.
- Fill the baking sheet with the slices. Leave about 1/4 inch of space between each slice.
- Bake for 2-4 hours or until the edges begin to lightly brown. Flip about halfway through to bake evenly.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
Creating an Orange Garland
Needed Supplies
- Dried orange slices
- Twine or string
- Needle
- Cranberries, plaid fabric bows (optional)
Instructions
- After the slices have cooled, begin stringing them on a material of your choice (I prefer a thin strand of thread so I can stick them with a needle)
- Intermix the orange slices with cranberries, plaid fabric bows, or any other desired items. Get creative with this part of the process!
- Tie a loop at each end of the strand for hanging.
- Drape over the branches of the Christmas tree, hang within the window, mantel, or within a wreath.
If you make this DIY and love how it turned out, feel free to come back and comment about your experience. I’d love to see your creation and how you used it in your Christmas home!
More on Christmas
- Simple and Primitive Christmas Decorations
- 10 Bible Verses for Christmas
- Old Fashioned Christmas Pot Pourri
- DIY Embroidery Hoop Ornament for Christmas
- 10 Handmade Christmas Gift Ideas