• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Sugar And Salt Co.
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Work With Me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Work With Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About Me
    • Recipe Index
    • Work With Me
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » How To's

    How to Make Dried Orange Slices

    November 21, 2022 by Erica Hopper 2 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    • Facebook12
    • LinkedIn
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Learn how to make dried orange slices from the comfort of your own home this year without a dehydrator! These gorgeous dehydrated oranges make the perfect home decor, garnish, even citrus-y snack. Get these in the oven with just 10 minutes of prep.

    How to make dried orange slices, a final styled shot.

    Making a batch of dehydrated orange slices around the holidays is one of my favorite activities! It's easy, fun, and has tons of uses from dressing the Christmas tree, desserts, or cocktails.

    Once you realize how it easy it is to make these at home, you'll skip store-bought forever.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Easy Decor & Garnish
    • Tools You'll Need
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Dried Orange Slices in the Oven
    • How to Use Dried Orange Slices
    • FAQs
    • Tips and Tricks for Success
    • More Recipes You'll Enjoy
    • How to Make Dried Orange Slices

    Why You'll Love This Easy Decor & Garnish

    • Quick and easy - If you're looking for a homemade craft to add a pop of color to your holiday tables or home decor, these dehydrated oranges are the perfect thing. They require just 10 minutes of prep, are easy to make and have a number of uses.
    • They last forever - Dehydrated oranges will last for several months when stored at room temperature. Do this easy project once or twice a year and enjoy dried orange slices all year round!
    • Afforable garnish. Purchasing dried garnishes to dress up your cocktails and mocktails can get pricy. Make them at home for a fraction of the price!

    Tools You'll Need

    • Kitchen knife
    • 3 Baking sheets
    • Parchment paper

    Ingredients

    Fresh navel oranges being sliced for the dried orange slices

    All you need to make dehydrated oranges is 1 ingredient: oranges! My favorite orange to use is navel oranges - they are typically seedless and make for the prettiest oranges!

    If desired, you can use another orange, like blood oranges or cara cara oranges or even another citrus fruit like lemons, grapefruit, and limes.

    How to Make Dried Orange Slices in the Oven

    Image showing the thickness the orange slices should be cut for how to make dried orange slices
    1. Thinly slice the oranges. Slice all 6-8 navel oranges into thin slices, about ⅛-1/4 inch thick.
    Freshly sliced oranges arranged on a tray for how to make dried orange slices
    1. Place the orange slices on a baking sheet. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then lay the oranges in a single layer. It is okay if they are touching, but they should not be overlapping. I ended up using 3 baking sheets.
    The final tray of dried orange slices after the process of how to make dried orange slices
    1. Bake! Bake the orange slices for 2 hours, rotating half way through. After 2 hours, remove the oranges and flip them over. Bake for another 1 ½-2 hours, or until they are dried, the rinds are slightly crisp, but the center is slightly moist (this will continue to dry as the orange slices cool).
    A close up image of the fully dried orange slices in how to make dried orange slices
    1. Store. Store the dried orange slices in an airtight container at room temperature.

    How to Use Dried Orange Slices

    The best thing about dehydrated orange slices is they have a number of uses! One of my favorite ways to use them is in holiday and Christmas decor.

    Here are a few of my favorite ideas to get you inspired, but don't think this list is finite. The uses are endless!

    • Cocktail garnish - I particularly love these in my Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail! They're perfect for mocktails, too.
    • Dessert garnish - Instantly elevate home desserts by dressing them up. Try it with my Gluten-Free Vanilla Orange Cupcakes.
    • Christmas tree garland - String the dried oranges on a piece of twine and dress up your holiday tree. Here is a great tutorial to try!
    • Homemade ornament - Like the garland, dehydrated oranges make a great natural Christmas tree ornament. Decorated your tree with them or hang them on a wreath for a pop of color, too.
    • Gifting name tags - Attach a dried orange slice to a gift for a special touch!
    • Make a potpourri - Place the orange slices in a bowl or bag along with cloves, cinnamon sticks, pine cones and more for a fresh smelling perfume!

    FAQs

    How long do dried orange slices last?

    Dried orange slices will last for up to 6 months when stored at room temperature in a cool, dry place. For the longest lasting results, make sure your oranges are truly dried out once cool. If there is any remaining moisture, they can spoil much more quickly.

    Should dehydrated oranges be refrigerated?

    Although the refrigerator is a great place to store most leftovers, it is not the ideal environment for dehydrated oranges. In order for dried oranges to last, they need to be stored in a dry place. The refrigerator is too moist of an environment for dried oranges and will cause their texture to change unfavorably.

    How can you tell when dehydrated oranges are done?

    When dehydrated orange slices are finished baking they will be crispy on the outer rind, mostly dried, yet slightly moist in the center. As the slices cool, they will continue to dry out completely in the center.

    Why are my dehydrated oranges sticky?

    If they are sticky, they are not done! Oranges that are truly dehydrated will not be sticky at all. If they feel sticky, continue to bake until they are no longer sticky.

    Can I eat dehydrated oranges?

    Sure! If you'd like, you can eat your dehydrated orange slices, the rind included. Try sprinkling them with a little sugar or dipped in dark chocolate for an extra delicious, citrus flavored treat.

    Tips and Tricks for Success

    • Cut the oranges into uniform slices. This is going to help with an even bake. If some of the slices are noticeably thicker than others, they will likely require a longer bake to dehydrate completely. Take your time slicing for the most consistent, even results!
    • Use my bake time as a guide. After roughly 3 ½-4 hours, your orange slices should be dehydrated. With that being said, this can change depending on your climate, oven model, the thickness of the slices, etc. Be ready to adjust the timing as needed and don't be afraid to go over 4 hours if your oranges are still moist and sticky.
    • Don't raise the oven temperature! It can be tempting to raise the temperature in an attempt to dry out your oranges faster but don't do it! Higher temperatures can burn the oranges and cause them to become too crispy too quickly on the edges.
    This is what happens when you overbake dried orange slices
    How to make dried orange slices, a final styled shot.

    More Recipes You'll Enjoy

    • Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates
    • Dutch Oven Pot Roast with Butternut Squash
    • Banana Pumpkin Protein Muffins
    • Dairy Free Overnight Oats with Pumpkin
    Tray of orange slices scattered across it with subtle holiday decor

    How to Make Dried Orange Slices

    Learn how to make dried orange slices from the comfort of your own home this year without a dehydrator! These gorgeous dehydrated oranges make the perfect home decor, garnish, even citrus-y snack. Get these in the oven with just 10 minutes of prep.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
    Servings 8 oranges

    Equipment

    • Parchment paper
    • 3 Baking Sheets

    Ingredients
      

    • 6-8 each medium navel oranges

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 225°F.
    • Thinly slices navel oranges, to between ⅛ - ¼ inch thick, trying to slice them as uniformly as possible.
    • Lay, in a single layer, on parchment-lined baking sheets. Place the orange slices in the oven, and bake for 2 hours, rotating halfway through.
    • Remove the oranges from the oven, and flip over. Return the orange slices to the oven, and bake for another 1 ½ - 2 hours, or until they are dried, and the rinds are slightly crisp, but the center is still slightly moist. The centers will fully dry as they cool.
    • Store in an air tight container for up to 6 months.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    More How To's

    • Lavender French 75
    • Finished bottle of pear syrup for the pear simple syrup recipe
      Pear Simple Syrup
    • Finished Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting.
      How to Make Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. holly

      December 07, 2022 at 10:13 am

      Love the tip about dipping in chocolate and eating. I love leaving them out for the wild animals, squirrels and deer (sans chocolate of course)!

      Reply
      • Erica Hopper

        December 15, 2022 at 1:29 pm

        Oh, that's such a fun idea too!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Erica from The Sugar and Salt Co

    Hi, I'm Erica! Hi! I'm Erica, the creator of the sugar + salt co! With my chef-inspired, gluten free recipes, I take the fear out of the kitchen for the everyday home cook. Thanks for stopping by!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Final image of the gluten free chicken tenders. This image shows some beers that have been partially drunk, and a woman's hand dipping a chicken tender into some dipping sauce.
      Gluten Free Chicken Tenders
    • Finished gluten free pumpkin cheesecake cookies on a tray.
      Gluten Free Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
    • Finished gluten free apple cider donuts
      Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts

    Latest Recipes

    • Arugula Pear Salad
    • Roasted Beet Salad with Feta
    • Butternut Squash and Feta Salad
    • Dairy Free Chicken Salad

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About

    Subscribe

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Work with Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2024 The Sugar and Salt Co.

    • 12Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • LinkedIn
    • Email