How to make your own dried oranges

Taryn Davies
Published: November 7, 2016

It might only be November, but if you’re looking to get into the Christmas spirit making dried oranges could be the answer.

Not only will they fill your home with a delicious scent, but they’re easy to make, very cheap and make a great decoration, not just at Christmas but throughout the year in your home.

Dried orange slices are perfect to adorn your candles, potpourri, wreaths and floral arrangements throughout the festive season, so here’s our step-by-step guide to making your own.

You will need

  • Oranges – any size or type will do
  • Sharp knife
  • Tea towel or kitchen paper
  • Chopping board
  • Wire rack
  • An oven

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Step By Step Guide For Making Dried Oranges TheFuss.co.uk

Step-by-step: How to make dried oranges

Step 1: Carefully slice your oranges width ways, you approximately want them around 1-2cm thick.

Step 2: Places your slices onto a wire oven rack, avoid using a baking tray are your slices will stick and burn.

Step 3: Place the rack into a cool oven, typically 80-110C.

Step 4: Allow them to dry out for about two to three hours, it could be longer if you’ve gone for thicker slices, just make sure you check on them.

Step 5: Remove from the oven and allow them to cool before you do anything with them. You might find that they’re still a little tacky, but they’ll soon dry out.

Extra additions for your dried oranges

To make your dried oranges a little fancier you could try dusting them with icing sugar or pushing cloves into the skin for extra design details.

To decorate your slices with cloves, simply push each clove through the orange flesh with your fingers, with the star facing upwards. Try them in any formation you like, you could create a circle, try a creative pattern or spelling out your initials/family name if you have the space.

Or you could try giving your orange slices a shiny effect by using icing sugar before you let them dry in the oven. All you have to do is sprinkle the slices with the sugar and follow the steps above. They might have more of a tendency to stick once you’ve coated both sides in the sugar, but just turn them regularly in the oven to avoid that.

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A Guide To Making Your Own Dried Oranges TheFuss.co.uk

What to do with your dried oranges

Once you’ve created your dried oranges there are a number of ways you can use them in the home.

String them into a garland, or string them individually and use them on your Christmas tree.

Create your own potpourri by mixing them in with pine cones and cinnamon sticks, candy canes make it Christmas ready – This makes a beautiful centrepiece for your Christmas table.

Storing your dried oranges

Once you’ve made them, they actually last really well, as long as you store them properly. Don’t put them in a cardboard box, you’ll need an airtight plastic container.

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