Dried oranges are exquisite, easy to make, and require no specialized tools or equipment. They can serve both decorative and culinary purposes. And I’m sharing the secret for making dried oranges look almost as vibrant as fresh.
On the door of the bakery in Colonial Williams hung the most spectacular Christmas wreath filled with small gingerbread men and houses, bundles of cinnamon sticks, and dried oranges. The oranges stood out from the rest of the wreath as they glistened like shards of glass. They were so unusual and beautiful. I had never seen dried oranges before.
When was the first time you were introduced to dried oranges? Maybe you are like me, and dried oranges feel like an old friend, a blast from the past! And now they are back! And I’m embracing them and using them in my Christmas decor this year.
Have you ever dried oranges. It’s so easy. And decorating with them is very economical and creatively beautiful. I’ve been so excited to write this post for you because I have found a way to keep this dried fruit vibrant so it retains much of its original color. Let’s get on the dried orange bandwagon!
A Little History
The tie between Christmas and oranges spans a few hundred years. But drying fruit was an everyday practice for centuries. It was a matter of preservation and sustainability. They were first used to eat. I tried a few of the varieties I dried without the peel, and they are delicious!
In times past, people decorated their homes with things they had. Things from outside and things they would make. In Colonial Williamsburg, this tradition of using natural elements to decorate for the holiday season continues. Studded oranges were used as Christmas decorations and to lightly perfume the air with the sweet smell of oranges and the exotic scent of cloves. Dried oranges were used to decorate evergreen boughs and make them into garlands. So we have a long history of drying oranges.
Why You Will Love Making Dried Orange Slices
- Drying oranges are so economical.
- They are easy to dry.
- Dried oranges retain much of their nutrients.
- Their stained glass look is beautiful.
- They can be used as decor or in recipes.
- Dried oranges have an extended shelf life.
- They can be used as part of a craft or to decorate your fall and Christmas home.
Ways To Dry Orange Slices
There are three primary ways to dry oranges: to dry them naturally, in the oven, or in a food dehydrator. The goal is to dehydrate or remove the moisture from this citrus fruit to preserve it.
How To Start
All the methods for drying oranges start the same: Slice oranges into 1/4-inch rounds using a sharp knife, pat them dry with a soft cloth or a paper towel, and place them in a single layer on a rack.
Drying Naturally
To dry sliced oranges naturally, put the wire rack on your kitchen counter. Turn them every day. They will take several days or longer to dry.
Oven Drying
Probably the most popular way to dry oranges is in the oven. This is so easy! Put the wire rack on a parchment paper lined rimmed baking sheet and dry (bake) them in a low oven, turning often, until they dehydrate.
Food Dehydrator
The easiest way to dehydrate orange slices is by using a food dehydrator, the most modern method of the three. Place the orange rounds on the dehydrator’s rack. Follow the directions for your dehydrator. Turn them every hour until they are dehydrated.
How I Dried Oranges
My goal for drying oranges was to have beautiful dried oranges that retained much of their color and had a stained glass look without browning.
After lots of research and trial and error, I found two best ways to dry oranges. My friend Katie let me borrow her food dehydrator, and this method was so easy! I set the dehydrator at 135° and dehydrated the oranges until they were almost dry, about 3 hours. Then I finished drying them on a rack on my kitchen counter.
The second way I found success in drying oranges was to dry them in the oven at a low temperature. I took them out of the oven when they were just about dry and finished drying them on my kitchen counter.
No matter how you dry oranges, you are in for a treat. Your home will smell delicious, and you will have a beautiful stain-glass piece of dehydrated fruit to use as part of a craft, decor, or to use in a recipe.
Here’s What You Will Need
The ingredient list is very simple! You will need oranges. However, any citrus fruit, like lemons, limes, and grapefruit, can be dehydrated using the same instructions.
You will also need one more thing…
Secret To Vibrant Dried Oranges
The secret to vibrant-looking orange slices is confectioner’s sugar. Liberally sprinkle the sugar on the cut orange slices once they have been dried off with a paper towel and put on a rack.
What If My Dried Slices Are Tacky?
If your dried oranges are sticky or tacky, they are not completely dry. Continue to dry them. I like to finish drying them on a rack on a kitchen counter or other flat surface.
Tips For Success
I’ve made quite a few batches of dried oranges. Here are some of the things I found most helpful to make them turn out their best.
- Enjoy the process, and don’t rush it.
- Closely watch the oranges. You will be rewarded with vibrant and not browned dried beauties!
- Slice the oranges thin. I found that 1/4-inch works best. I used several different knives, but a sharp, serrated knife works best.
- If you have a professional-grade mandoline, use it carefully. I cut half the oranges with mine, and it was so easy, albeit a bit scary. I have a healthy fear of my mandoline. Grip the fruit very tightly, almost squeezing it, and run it swiftly over the blade.
- Make sure to use the confectioner’s sugar. Use about 1/2 cup of sugar for one full rack of oranges. Use a small strainer to sprinkle the sugar.
- The dried citrus I liberally sprinkled on both sides with confectioner sugar dried much brighter and had a little shine. And they have a sweeter taste, too. Pretty and yummy, a win/win.
- Take your time with the drying process. If you use an oven to dry oranges, start with a very low oven. I started drying the oranges at 170° for one hour, then 180° for another hour, and then for 190° until I was happy with how they looked. A hotter over risks burning the fruit.
- Turn the oranges frequently. This is for three reasons. First, so you can see how they are drying. Second, turning them dries them more evenly. Reposition and turn the oranges and turn around the tray. And third, you can see when it is time to take the orange slices out of the oven so they don’t get too brown.
- I took my dehydrated slices out of the oven before they were completely dry and finished drying them the rest of the way on my kitchen counter.
- The dried slices might have some of the confectioner’s sugar stuck to them. I used a damp paper towel and rubbed any excess sugar off the peel. If any sugar crystals form on the flesh, brush it off with a pasty brush.
- Use different varieties. I used navel oranges, valencia, and care cara, whose flesh is similar to blood oranges.
Different Varieties
Different orange varieties dry differently. Each variety has different amounts of juice and different skin and flesh. Experiment with several varieties to find the ones you like best.
I dried three varieties in the oven and in a food dehydrator. Each variety has a unique appearance. The Cara Cara orange’s flesh deepened to almost red. The navels became bright sunny orange, and the valencia deepened to a beautiful deep orange. What a fun experiment.
Ways To Use Dehydrated Orange Slices
There are so many ways to use dried oranges. They are not only versatile, natural decorating elements, but they can also be used in many culinary applications. Here are ways to use them…
Christmas Decorations
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT- Make a small hole in the slice with a large needle close to the peel. Thread a pretty ribbon or twine through them, and tie them on your Christmas tree or wreath. They make sweet and inexpensive ornaments.
CENTERPIECE AND MANTEL DECOR-Tuck oranges into Christmas greenery. They look beautiful, and the color is surprising.
GARLAND-String oranges together and make a garland. Add things like small pinecones, beads, bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise to the garland.
SIMMER POT-Fill your home with the scents of Christmas. Add the dried oranges to a simmer pot.
GIFT IDEA– Put dried oranges along with other dried simmer pot ingredients in a pretty jar to make a sweet gift.
WREATH– Make a wreath. String dried slices together like you are making a garland, then tie the ends together to make a wreath.
CHRISTMAS POTPOURRI– Mix essential oils like citrus, spruce, and cinnamon with simmer pot ingredients to make a Christmas-inspired potpourri.
EMBELLISH GIFTS– Tie an orange or two to a gift.
Culinary Uses
A DELICIOUS SNACK– Dried oranges make a great take-anywhere snack.
COOKING AND BAKING– Add cut-up dried oranges to things you cook and bake for a citrusy twist. Infuse muffins, quick breads, or cupcakes with finely chopped dried fruit. Also, use dried oranges mixed into vegetables or used in sauces. And add them to trail mix or granola.
CHOCOLATE-COVERED ORANGES– Dip half of an orange into dark chocolate for a pretty and delicious sweet treat.
GARNISH– Use dried oranges as a co*cktail garnish. Add them to mulled cider or sangria.
How To Store Dried Oranges
Once oranges are dried, they can be stored in an airtight container. Jars with tight-fitting lids work well. Store them in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.
If you are going to use the dried slices for culinary purposes, oranges will last, if properly dried, a year or two years. Slices used to decorate, they will last indefinitely.
If you can see or smell mold on your oranges, throw them away. They probably were not completely dry when stored.
Instructions-How To Dry Oranges To Keep Their Vibrant Color
- Preheat the oven to 170°.
- Wash and dry fresh oranges.
- Slice them into 1/4-inch rounds and put them on a double layer of paper towels.
- Pat the oranges with another paper towel to soak up any juice.
- Put the oranges in a single layer on an oven-safe baking rack.
- Liberally sprinkle the orange slices on both sides with about 1/2 cup of confectioner’s sugar. I did this over my sink.
- Put the rack on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Put the baking sheet in the oven for one hour.
- Increase the oven temperature to 180° and dry the oranges for another hour.
- Increase the oven temperature to 190° and continue to dry the oranges. Keep an eye on them and turn them every 30 minutes until they are just about dry. This will take about 2 1/2-3 hours.
- Take them out of the oven when they are just about dry. Put them on a drying rack on a counter until they are totally dry.
- Use or store.
Drying oranges is such a festive and fun DIY! I hope you will dry oranges and use them this holiday season.
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Questions About Drying Oranges
There are three things to help keep oranges from turning brown. Sprinkle them liberally on both sides with confectioner’s sugar before putting them in the oven. Dry them at a low temperature, about 180-190°. And keep a close eye on them. Dried oranges do tend to darken over time.
Sticky or tacky dried oranges are usually a sign that they have not dried completely. You can either put them back into the oven or put them on a drying rack on the counter so they can dry the rest of the way naturally.
Dried oranges can last a long time, often more than a couple of years, if they have been completely dried and are stored in an air-tight container in a cool, dark place. If there is any sign of mold on them, then discard them and make more.
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Happy Crafting!
