How to Dry Oranges and Citrus for Holiday Decorating
Use a dehydrator or your oven to turn oranges and other citrus fruits into colorful and oh-so-fragrant holiday decorations (without burning them).
![How to Dry Citrus Slices for Christmas Decorations Dried Citrus Slices on a Platter](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2022/11/4/2/Original_Belle_Fall_Celebrate-Christmas-Diwali-And-Kwanzaa-With-HGTV_43.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1667594181023.jpeg)
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![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/editorial/profiles/editors/Kamron%20Sanders/CI_Kamron-Sanders-Headshot_V.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.91.91.85.suffix/1690406761462.jpeg)
There are few Christmas decorations as classic as a dried orange garland. The festive festoon is the perfect way to give a touch of handmade to your Christmas decor without spending a lot of money or devoting too much time to crafting. And while there are many ways to implement natural items within your home's Christmas look, there's nothing like the fragrant, colorful look of dried citrus. Read on for our favorite ways to make a big holiday impact with dried citrus.
![How to Dry Citrus](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/video/1/13/132/1322/13225550.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.1280.720.85.suffix/1667573133369.jpeg)
How to Dry Citrus Slices
![How to Dry Citrus Slices for Decorations Rows of Dried Citrus on a Cutting Board](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2022/11/4/2/Original_Belle_Fall_Celebrate-Christmas-Diwali-And-Kwanzaa-With-HGTV_37.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1667594324270.jpeg)
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Materials Needed
- assorted citrus fruits
- knife
- dehydrator or oven
- metal cooling rack (oven method only)
1. Slice the Citrus
Start by slicing assorted fresh citrus fruits like grapefruit, orange, lemon and lime with a sharp knife (Image 1). The fruits will lose some color once dried, so, the brighter they are beforehand, the better. Aim for 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch slices, maintaining as much consistency as possible (Images 2 & 3).
![The first step in drying citrus fruits for holiday decorating is to slice the citrus into even slices.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2022/11/4/2/Original_Belle_Fall_Celebrate-Christmas-Diwali-And-Kwanzaa-With-HGTV_33.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1667594322268.jpeg)
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![The first step in drying citrus fruits for budget-friendly holiday decor is slicing the fruits into thin, even slices.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2022/11/4/2/Original_Belle_Fall_Celebrate-Christmas-Diwali-And-Kwanzaa-With-HGTV_35.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1667594323240.jpeg)
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![The next step in drying citrus slices for holiday decor is to arrange the slices on a cutting board to prepare for drying.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2022/11/4/2/Original_Belle_Fall_Celebrate-Christmas-Diwali-And-Kwanzaa-With-HGTV_34.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1667594322929.jpeg)
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2. Place Slices in Dehydrator
Arrange the slices on the dehydrator trays, being careful not to overcrowd them to maintain plenty of airflow within the unit. Place the cover on the dehydrator and set it to a temp between 125 and 145 degrees F. Let the fruits dry for at least eight hours.
![How to Dry Citrus: Place Slices in Dehydrator Placing Sliced Citrus in a Dehydrator](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2022/11/4/2/Original_Belle_Fall_Celebrate-Christmas-Diwali-And-Kwanzaa-With-HGTV_36.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1667594323687.jpeg)
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Food Dehydrators and Accessories
3. Or, Dry Citrus in the Oven
No dehydrator? No problem. Any oven will do the trick. Place the slices on a metal cooling rack and place in the oven at 175 degrees F for three to four hours, flipping every hour to ensure even drying (Image 1). Once dry, let cool at room temperature (Image 2).
![The next step in drying orange slices is to place the slices on a metal cooling rack and put them in the oven at 175 degrees F.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/30/Original_PopFizz_HGTVHappy_Dried-Oranges-1_H.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1606754192868.jpeg)
Yasmin Murphy
![Dried citrus is a great budget-friendly decorating idea for the holiday season. While it may seem difficult, drying citrus is actually fairly simple. Simply slice the citrus in even slices and place it in a dehydrator for at least eight hours. An oven is also a great option for drying citrus.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2022/11/4/2/Original_Belle_Fall_Celebrate-Christmas-Diwali-And-Kwanzaa-With-HGTV_37.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1667594324270.jpeg)
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Note: Not all metal cooling racks are oven-safe, while many are only oven-safe when used at low temperatures. Check to make sure your particular cooling rack will work for this application.
Old-Fashioned Orange Ornaments
![DIY Dried Orange Slice Ornaments Dried Orange Slice Ornaments on Greenery](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/30/Original_PopFizz_HGTVHappy_Dried-Oranges-Ornament-Beauty_H.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1606754375969.jpeg)
Yasmin Murphy
Materials Needed
- dried orange slices
- twine
- scissors
- wooden beads
To craft a charming, old-fashioned ornament, thread twine through the center of a dried orange slice and tie it off. Slide a few wooden beads in various sizes onto the twine and tie off the end with a loop for hanging (Images 1 & 2). Hang on your tree or work into greenery around your home for a timeless Christmas look (Image 3).
![The next step in creating these DIY orange slice Christmas ornaments is to slide the wooden beads onto the twine.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/30/Original_PopFizz_HGTVHappy_Dried-Oranges-Ornament-1_H.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1606754329183.jpeg)
Yasmin Murphy
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/30/Original_PopFizz_HGTVHappy_Dried-Oranges-Ornament-2_V.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1606754368587.jpeg)
Yasmin Murphy
![Drying orange slices is a great way to add beauty and fragrance to Christmas decorations while on a budget. These DIY ornaments are crafted using dried orange slices, wooden beads and twine. The ornaments look great on Christmas trees, greenery arrangements or hanging from garlands.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/30/Original_PopFizz_HGTVHappy_Dried-Oranges-Ornament-Beauty_H.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1606754375969.jpeg)
Yasmin Murphy
Simple Citrus Ornament
![How to Decorate With Dried Oranges Slices Dried Orange Slice Christmas Tree Ornaments](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2022/11/4/2/Original_Belle_Fall_Celebrate-Christmas-Diwali-And-Kwanzaa-With-HGTV_20.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1667595417900.jpeg)
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Materials Needed
- ornament hooks
- dried citrus slices
Love a merry minimalistic look? Simply slide wire ornament hooks directly through the dried citrus slices and adorn your tree with all sorts of fragrant beauty (Images 1 & 2).
![The next step in creating dried orange slice Christmas ornaments is to slide a wire ornament hook through the dried orange slice.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2022/11/4/2/Original_Belle_Fall_Celebrate-Christmas-Diwali-And-Kwanzaa-With-HGTV_38.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1667594324799.jpeg)
Belle Fall
![Decorating for Christmas with dried orange slices is a budget-friendly way to give your home a beautiful holiday look while ushering in seasonal fragrance. To do this, simply slice the citrus fruits evenly and place in a dehydrator for at least eight hours until fully dry.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2022/11/4/2/Original_Belle_Fall_Celebrate-Christmas-Diwali-And-Kwanzaa-With-HGTV_20.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1667595417900.jpeg)
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Tropical Citrus Wreath
![How to Add Dried Citrus to a Christmas Wreath A Christmas Wreath and Garland With Dried Citrus](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2022/11/4/2/Original_Belle_Fall_Celebrate-Christmas-Diwali-And-Kwanzaa-With-HGTV_48.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1667594180273.jpeg)
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Materials Needed
- dried citrus slices
- wreath with greenery
- floral wire
- eucalyptus or other greenery
- wire cutters
Here’s how you can deck out a standard greenery wreath with bunches of dried citrus. Start by overlapping three slices to create a rounded, triangular shape. Connect the slices using thin floral wire and leave a tail sticking out (Image 1). Use the excess floral wire tail to attach the bunches to a wreath for out-of-the-box door decor that you and your neighbors can enjoy (Image 2). If desired, add a few sprigs of eucalyptus for an extra dose of color and texture (Images 3 & 4).
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/30/Original_PopFizz_HGTVHappy_Dried-Oranges-Wreath-1_V.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1606754416137.jpeg)
Yasmin Murphy
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/30/Original_PopFizz_HGTVHappy_Dried-Oranges-Wreath-2_V.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1606754430321.jpeg)
Yasmin Murphy
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/30/Original_PopFizz_HGTVHappy_Dried-Oranges-Wreath_V.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1606754389940.jpeg)
Yasmin Murphy
![Adding dried citrus slices to a Christmas wreath and garland is a great way to add beauty and fragrance to your Christmas decorations. To dry the slices, simply slice citrus fruits into even, thin slices and place in a dehydrator for at least eight hours or until fully dry.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2022/11/4/2/Original_Belle_Fall_Celebrate-Christmas-Diwali-And-Kwanzaa-With-HGTV_48.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1667594180273.jpeg)
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Traditional Orange Garland
![How to DIY a Dried Orange Garland Dried Orange Garland Hanging Above Sink](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/30/Original_PopFizz_HGTVHappy_Dried-Oranges-Garland-Beauty_H.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1606754288831.jpeg)
Yasmin Murphy
Materials Needed
- dried orange slices
- twine
- scissors
- crochet needle
Creating a traditional orange garland is as easy as drying oranges. All that’s left to do is thread twine through several oranges using a crochet needle (Image 1). The trick is to thread in one side and out the other, sticking to a consistent threading pattern to ensure the twine covers all the oranges in the same manner (Image 2). Once you’ve achieved your desired length, or run out of oranges, tie off the ends in a loop for easy hanging and work the garland into your existing Christmas decor to add a pop of color (Images 3 & 4).
![The next step in creating this dried orange slice garland is to thread the twine through the orange slices using a crochet needle.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/30/Original_PopFizz_HGTVHappy_Dried-Oranges-Garland-1_H.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1606754219365.jpeg)
Yasmin Murphy
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/30/Original_PopFizz_HGTVHappy_Dried-Oranges-Garland-2_V.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1606754244133.jpeg)
Yasmin Murphy
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/30/Original_PopFizz_HGTVHappy_Dried-Oranges-Garland-3_V.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1606754263919.jpeg)
Yasmin Murphy
![Drying orange slices is easy and makes for a beautiful Christmas garland. Drying the slices is as simple as slicing fresh oranges into thin, even slices and placing them in a dehydrator or oven. Once fully dry, use a crochet needle to thread the slices onto a long piece of twine.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2020/11/30/Original_PopFizz_HGTVHappy_Dried-Oranges-Garland-Beauty_H.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1606754288831.jpeg)
Yasmin Murphy
Bonus: Use Leftover Slices to Spice Up Holiday Drinks
![How to Add Dried Citrus to Mulled Cider and Wine Citrus Slices in Mulled Cider Pot](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2022/11/4/2/Original_Belle_Fall_Celebrate-Christmas-Diwali-And-Kwanzaa-With-HGTV_42.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1667594182462.jpeg)
Belle Fall
Mulled cider and wine are go-to holiday party drinks for a reason. Not only are they delicious, they also fill your home with the scents of the season, effortlessly setting a merry mood. Elevate your elixirs by tossing in a few leftover citrus slices. This will enhance the flavor and add a touch of beauty to the simmering pot. Don't forget to arrange a few slices next to the glasses for garnishing.
![Citrus Slice Garnishes for Holiday Cocktails Glasses on a Counter With Citrus Slices](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2022/11/4/2/Original_Belle_Fall_Celebrate-Christmas-Diwali-And-Kwanzaa-With-HGTV_46.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1667594181592.jpeg)
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42 Flavorful Cocktail Recipes Perfect for Fall 47 Photos
Gather your pumpkin pie spice, bust out the spirits and mix up one of these autumnal beverages to carry you through every phase of fall, from football festivities to Thanksgiving dinner.
![DIY Dried Orange Decor](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/video/9/94/945/9459/9459890.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.1280.720.85.suffix/1660755467040.jpeg)