How to Make Dried Orange Slices
One of my favourite things to use for decorating at Christmas are dried orange slices. They are perfect for Christmas Crafts, Decorations, Wreaths and Floral Arrangements. This is our step by step guide to making your own!
In my spare time I love to make things – floral arrangements, wreaths, decorations, curtains etc! I have even been trusted enough to do all the flowers for both my sister’s and brother’s weddings (they were very brave asking me to that for them!!!). Usually I but most of my supplies from a wholesaler but recently I started to think about making my own supplies.
I love to use fruit and vegetables in my displays and dried orange slices are a favourite of mine to use at Christmas. They are also really easy to make and a lot cheaper than buying ready made ones. For a step by step guide to a simple way to use your dried orange slices take a look at our post about how to make dried orange and cloves Christmas decorations.
How to Make Dried Orange Slices
What you need:
- oranges
- oven
- oven rack
What you do:
- cut the oranges into slices approximately 2cm thick.
- place the slices onto an oven rack – not a baking tray as they will stick and burn!
- place in a cool oven – I use 120 degrees celsius
- allow to dry for about 2-3 hours – cool and slow is key
- leave in oven until cool
- use in garlands, wreaths, decorations, potpourri etc. I often attach them to a wire to be used in floral arrangements.
Be creative!
Ciara x
I have ALOT of Christmas boards on Pinterest, this is only one – ideas that I will be using to decorate Our Little House in the Country this year!
Our Little House in the Country 
What a fab idea 🙂 one to add to my xmas board :-)xx
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Brill post, I did these last year and they were a little ‘overdone’ shall we say! I must be more patient! X
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How do you know when they are ‘done’? I have tried this method but 10 days later they are still soft and the inside is damp and sticky. I don’t want them to go mouldy as I want to make them into decorations!
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Hi Jenny, I usually put mine in the airing cupboard for a few days after drying them in the oven for several hours, this tends to dry them fully. Hope that helps. I also try to wipe as much juice as possible off each slice with paper towels before putting in the oven, which I omitted from the instructions, oops! Thank you for your question.
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I think I’ve read so many beautiful or age posts now that I’m smelling oranges.
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Great idea.. I have made these before and they smell lovely. Before drying sprinkle with a little icing sugar and it adds a shiny to them. Thanks for you page.
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Thank you Julie and thanks for that tip, I must try it! X
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Oh wow. I am just planning to make my Christmas wreath for this year snd these orange slices will be fab!! Cant wait.
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How long will the orange slices last after drying? ..thanks so much
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Hi Kimberly, if dried well they should last about 2 months sometimes alot longer. I did these 6 weeks ago and they’re still perfect 🙂
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I have some that I did two years ago for Christmas. I stored them in the hot press during the year to see if they would last…..and they did!
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Can you use this method to make lemon slices ??
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Hi Michelle, yes, it should also work with lemons 🙂
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great post, thank you so much! do you know if these would be okay for outside if sprayed with some kind of finish? (to keep bugs/insects away)
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I’ve used them outside on wreaths etc and they were fine- I didn’t spray them or anuthing but perhaps a clear spray varnish or the likes might be worth a try! 🙂
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I just bought dried orange slices for my Amazon Parrot, Loro, at the pet store. Very expensive for several slices. So I googled dry orange slices and found your web site to be the one I needed to make my own for him. He is 49 years old. I only feed him the best and nutritious treats as well as Parrot food. His life expectancy is 75 to 100 years old. God put him In my hands to take care of. Pet store prices are so ridiculous. I need to provide him with good home made treats. I got him when I was a teenager at a Woolworths store my mother worked at. He was only 6 months old. 36 dollars cage and him. I have never responded to a website before but feel so grateful to have found this one. I will be back for more tips and recipes. Sorry I don’t have a nice logo to go along with my reply
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Hi Cherie, thank you so much for your lovely comment and I’m so glad to have been of help. Wow, 49 years! What a wonderful companion Loro has been to have in your life. My children were fascinated when I told them about your message and my little girl in particular would love a parrot! God bless and thank you so so much for your message. Ciara x
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wonderful sight and suggestions thank you
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Thank you for your kind words Lynne.
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great I was looking for a “how to” do this. apple slices how long do you think for them?
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Hi Marion. I think apples take a really long time, from memory I think about 6 hours at 100 degrees C or about 200 F. Hope that helps.
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My oranges dried well but don’t have a good aroma. What did I do wrong?
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Hi Sharon, I’m sorry to hear that. I’m not sure though, perhaps the oranges didn’t have a particularly strong scent to begin with? Sometimes I add a drop or two of orange essential oil to mine if they don’t have a strong aroma.
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My bread recipe calls for chopped dried oranges. Would these work for that
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I don’t see why not- sounds delicious!
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Can you put clives in the orange slices before drying them in the oven? Thank you
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Yes, I think so Ruth. Thanks for visiting!
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HI, just found your site. Can you also dry them for long term storage for food? TIA!
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I’m a bit confused. I need to put them on the oven rack at 120° for 2-3hrs?
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Hi Caroline, yes, in a cool oven- 120 degrees Celsius for as long as possible- it’s a slow process but any warmer and they’ll burn. Hope that helps?
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Wonderful idea have my whole family getting together this year and going to make it extra special and festive with these orange and lemon slices in my centrepiece for the table.
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What do you mean by cool oven?
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I’ve put my oranges into a good oven oven night but they still appear squishy and soft? What else shall I do?
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orange, lemon, lime, what about grapefruit? anyone tried it?
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Thank you for your lovely site! I want to try drying orange slices for a family ornament making activity this year at our public library.
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These are amazing. My house smells delicious! Next I’m going to try doing whole oranges after slicing a design in them. Have you done this before? I’d love any tips. I’m planning on starting with very low temp and being very patient. I’ll be stringing some cranberries while waiting.
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Decorations? I found this online because I EAT them 🙂
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ive been drying oranges like this for years to hang on my christmas tree. before they completely dry and are still soft. put your string or hook through them and hang them in front of lights on your tree. the light shines through the meaty part of the orange and makes them glow. they are really beautiful. and they will finish drying hanging on the tree.
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Super advice! Thank you and merry Christmas!
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Tried with 120 celsius, and the slices turned brown very quickly. Perhaps 90 degrees is enough? Anyone that knows how to preserve them so that they last for several Christmases? Going out to buy more oranges to try with. Is it possible with mandarins as well?
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Lower temp and longer time is best- 90 possibly better. I’ve only ever tried full mandarins and works well.
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That’s what I was thinking. I usually dry things at 50-80 celcius or about 120-180°F. That being said, I don’t know how patient I would be, drying something with so much water content 😉 I’m probably going to crystallize mine because my mom just found out she developed diabetes and gave me her huge stash of sugar! Yay for me? Lol
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I love this! Thank you so much for sharing! This idea is so simple, and yet the result is so beautiful!
I was looking for citrus decoration ideas and came across this post. So happy to have discovered you!
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I LOVE THIS!!!! I’m planning to start a blog…..such great inspiration Our Little House in the Country!!! Very lovely.
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Great recipe. We tried it today as we wanted dried oranges as garnish for our cocktails. Only remark, the recipe says to cut 2cm thick slices, we sliced them 2mm thick.
Drying them took 3 hours and they were delicious.
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