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.
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.
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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
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
- Thinly slice the oranges. Slice all 6-8 navel oranges into thin slices, about ⅛-1/4 inch thick.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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How to Make Dried Orange Slices
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.
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