I have wanted to make a dried orange garland for a few years now and I finally did it this year! I am in love! It is really easy to make and will last for the entire holiday season. This would be great to do for a girls night or a craft with your family (just make sure you bake the oranges before your friends show up).
If you love Christmas as much as I do, check out our blog post on how to decorate you mantel for Christmas. I am all about the Christmas decorations.
How long does dried orange garland last?
Your dried orange garland could last for a few years if you dehydrate your oranges properly. You have to bake the orange slices at a low temperature for at least a few hours, turning the orange slices every hour.
You also have to store your orange garland properly. The oranges have to be completely dry and no moisture in sight! I prefer to make a new garland every year because it's fun!
Does dried orange garland smell?
Dried orange garland smells amazing at the beginning and then it slowly loses its scent over time. It will smell neutral after a few days. You can also use real pine as your greenery to give your space a fresh pine smell.
When you are baking your orange slices, your home will smell amazing! The sweet scent of oranges roasting is incredible.
How do you make dried orange garland?
GET YOUR SUPPLIES: To make your dried orange garland, you will need a few things- a bag of oranges, cinnamon sticks, twine or string, pine cones and pine/cedar branches. I like using real pine or cedar but here is a good fake option as well- grab some HERE.
STEP ONE: Bake your orange slices. Pre-heat your oven to 225°F. Slices at least 5 oranges (however many you want for the size of your garland). Slice the oranges about .25in wide. Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper. If you don't have parchment paper, you can set the oranges directly on the cookie sheet, but watch them carefully so they don't burn.
Bake your oranges at 225°F for 2.5-3 hours and turn them every hour. They can burn pretty easily, so make sure you check them every 30 mins or so. Once they are done, let them cool for 30 mins.
STEP TWO: String your garland. Get your twine ready and cut it to the size you need. Poke small holes at the top of your orange slices with a knife or the tip of your scissors.
Grab your cinnamon sticks, pine cones and cedar/pine branches.
Start stringing! To string the cinnamon sticks, pine cones and branches you have a few options- you can use wire to wrap around the cinnamon sticks and then wrap it around the string. You can also just wrap the string around the sticks as you go, just make sure it is really tight (this is what I did). You can use wire or string for the pine cones and branches.
It is up to you how you want the string and what you want the final dried orange garland to look like. I followed a pattern: dried orange slice, cinnamon stick, pine cone and then cedar branches.
You can add more or less, depending on your styles. I like to add more cedar in mine because I like a fuller look.
STEP THREE: Hang your garland and enjoy! I hung my garland with scotch tape 🙈 haha. But you can use command hooks or whatever else you can find.
xoxo
Mas & Liz
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