Dried orange garlands

What it is

Slices of orange dried until translucent, strung together with cinnamon sticks and star anise, make a fragrant, glowing garland that fills a home with the scent of the season and costs almost nothing, and the craft is centuries old. Dried orange garlands are the practice of slicing and drying oranges, then threading them into decorative garlands, often with spices and other natural elements, for seasonal and festive display. It is a simple, deeply satisfying, and natural craft, especially loved at the festive season, that turns inexpensive fruit into beautiful, compostable decorations with a wonderful warm fragrance.

The appeal is natural beauty, scent, and thrift. A garland of dried orange slices glows amber when light passes through it, looks gorgeous strung along a mantel or in a window, and smells gently of citrus and spice. The materials cost very little, often just a few oranges and some kitchen spices, and unlike plastic decorations, the finished garland is entirely natural and can be composted afterward, making it a sustainable, old-fashioned alternative to shop-bought decor.

The process is mostly drying, which is easy if not always quick. You slice oranges evenly, then dry them slowly, in a low oven, a dehydrator, or even over days near a radiator, until they are completely dried out and slightly translucent. Even, fairly thin slices and thorough, low-and-slow drying are the keys, since slices that are too thick or not fully dried can go mouldy. Once dried, you simply thread them onto twine, perhaps alternating with cinnamon sticks, star anise, bay leaves, or dried apple.

The honest trade-offs are that drying takes time and patience (and a too-hot oven scorches the slices), that incompletely dried fruit can spoil, and that the garlands are seasonal and eventually compost down. But the materials are cheap and natural, the craft is simple and wonderfully fragrant, and stringing your own dried orange garland is a beautiful, sustainable, and time-honoured way to decorate, especially for the festive season.

How it works

Slice your oranges evenly, since consistent slices dry uniformly. Cut oranges into rounds of even thickness, fairly thin but not so thin they fall apart, using a sharp knife. Even thickness matters because uneven slices dry at different rates, leaving some still moist. Blot the slices with kitchen paper to remove excess juice, which speeds drying. Decide whether you will dry them in a low oven, a dehydrator, or slowly near a heat source, and prepare any spices like cinnamon sticks and star anise to thread alongside.

Dry them low and slow until completely dry. Arrange the slices in a single layer, on a rack or lined tray, and dry them at a low temperature: in a cool oven over a few hours, turning occasionally, in a dehydrator, or over several days near a radiator. The aim is slices that are fully dried, slightly translucent, and no longer moist anywhere, since any remaining moisture can lead to mould later. Keep the heat gentle, since too hot an oven scorches and curls them rather than drying them evenly. Patience here is what gives good results.

Thread the garland and display it. Once the slices are completely cool and dry, thread them onto twine or string using a large needle, piercing through each slice, and alternate them with cinnamon sticks, star anise, bay leaves, or dried apple slices for variety and extra fragrance. Space them as you like and knot the ends. Hang your garland along a mantel, stair rail, or in a window. The common mistakes are uneven or too-thick slices, drying too hot so they scorch, and incomplete drying causing mould. Slice evenly, dry low and slow until fully dry, and thread carefully, and your garland will glow and smell wonderful.

Benefits

Glowing, Natural Decorations Wonderful Warm, Spiced Fragrance Costs Almost Nothing Fully Compostable and Natural Beautiful for the Festive Season Looks Gorgeous in a Window

What you need

Here's what to gather before you start. The essentials are marked.

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Oranges: sliced into even rounds

A sharp knife: for clean, even slices

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Sharp knife

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Kitchen paper: to blot excess juice before drying

An oven, dehydrator, or warm spot: to dry the slices slowly

Twine or string: to thread the garland

A large needle: to pierce the dried slices

Spices: cinnamon sticks, star anise, or bay leaves to add

FAQs

How do I dry the orange slices?

Low and slow until completely dry. You can use a cool oven over a few hours (turning the slices occasionally), a dehydrator, or simply leave them over several days near a radiator or warm spot. The aim is slices that are fully dried, slightly translucent, and not moist anywhere. The key is gentle heat, since a too-hot oven scorches and curls them rather than drying them evenly. Slicing them to an even thickness first helps them all dry at the same rate.

Why did my garland go mouldy?

Almost certainly because the slices were not dried completely before threading. Any remaining moisture in the fruit can lead to mould once the slices are strung up and displayed, so they must be fully dried out, with no damp areas, before you thread them. Slices that are too thick are especially prone to retaining moisture in the centre. Drying low and slow until thoroughly dry, and checking each slice, is the way to prevent mould and make the garland last.

How long do the garlands last?

A dried orange garland made from fully dried slices can last the whole season and often beyond if kept dry, gradually fading in colour and scent over time. Because they are natural, they are not permanent like plastic decorations, but that is part of their charm, and at the end you can simply compost them. Storing them somewhere dry between seasons helps, though many people enjoy making a fresh batch each year for the renewed colour and fragrance.

Can I add other things to the garland?

Yes, and it is part of the fun. Dried orange slices pair beautifully with cinnamon sticks, star anise, bay leaves, dried apple slices, pine cones, or sprigs of greenery, all of which add visual variety and extra natural fragrance. Simply thread or tie them in among the orange slices as you build the garland. Mixing in spices in particular enhances that warm, festive scent. Keep any additions natural so the whole garland remains compostable at the end of the season.