Easy DIY on Drying Oranges and How to Use Them in Your Christmas Decor!

Have you tried drying oranges in your oven? It’s super easy and makes for a fun DIY craft. I dried oranges and used them on a wreath, in a centerpiece and as a place card holder. Here’s a step by step on drying oranges and how to use them in your Christmas decor!

How to Dry Oranges

Drying oranges is so easy and something you can do while you are wrapping gifts, watching a movie or just doing things around the house.

Just take your oranges and cut them into thin pieces. For this example I used 3 medium sized naval oranges. You are going to want to keep the orange slices all uniform in width so they dry at the same time. 

Next, make sure the slices dry out a bit by blotting them with paper towels.

Take a cookie sheet and cover it with parchment paper.

Put the orange slices side-by-side so they are not touching on the parchment paper.

Slowly bake the oranges at 200° for 3 to 4 hours until they are completely dry. I turned mine over after each hour to make sure they didn’t burn. Check them after 2 hours just to make sure your oven doesn’t run hot. Mine took between 2 and 3 hours, but I’ve read some ovens take up to 4 hours.

Let them cool completely before using them in your arrangement or decor. 

Dried Oranges as a Place Card Holder

I have already used my dried orange slices so many times! The first time was for a fall table scape. I attached an orange slice to a pretty gold painted pinecone and attached a place card with simple satin ribbon. They turned out so lovely! They would be perfect for Christmastime as well.

Pinecone and Orange Wreath

Next, I just took a small wreath I’ve had for years that had seen better days. I used a hot glue gun to attach some dried orange slices and pinecones. Then I tied a pretty plaid bow on the top and hung it on a blue and white platter in my kitchen. So pretty, inexpensive and easy!

Fruit, Pinecone and Dried Orange Centerpiece

My mom has always loved using fruit in her Christmas decorations. She has made some beautiful wreaths and arrangements using fruit, and she inspired me to do the same! I have a long bread board that works perfectly as the base for the arrangement, but you can use whatever tray you already have.

I just took the breadboard and set it on a table in our basement. Then I looked at what I had and started adding a little bit at a time until I loved the way it looked.

I started with some greenery as a base. Then I took a bunch of faux and real fruit and added it a little bit at a time. Start with the center and work your way out to the ends of the tray. (If you do use real fruit, don’t forget to check it periodically to make sure it’s not getting moldy or rotten.).

For the orange slices, I used a hot glue gun to glue 3 slices together and added those in 4 spots. The orange color is such a nice addition to the arrangement. Last year I made a similar arrangement without oranges and I like this years better!

(Finley is always by my side for moral support and encouragement :)

In case you love the look of dried orange slices, but don’t want to DIY, here are some I bought that look, and smell, great!! They can also be used on a charcuterie board, or as a garnish on a cocktail. I use the faux artichokes in a blue and white bowl on my ottoman year round. The faux pomegranates are really beautiful as well! Here’s a link to buy most of the items seen above on my Amazon Storefront.

As always, I am thankful for you! This blog is such a fun and creative outlet for me…thanks for following along!

Merry Christmas friends!

Julie

If you click on links through this post I will earn a small commission. Thanks for supporting Southern Mountain Girl!