Dried Orange Slice Ornaments

I’m a little late on this I know, but hey, you can file it away for next Christmas if your interested in making some of these for your tree next year.

Anywho….

This year I wanted to make some ornaments for our old-fashioned cedar Christmas tree, and in searching the internet I came across a tutorial for how to dry orange slices and then use them for ornaments. Very homespun and inexpensive, not to mention easy. So I gave it a whirl:

First, you slice the oranges(I used 3 oranges) about 1/4 inch thin or thinner if you can.

Then spread the slices out on paper towels to absorb some of the juice and leave for about 15 minutes. Turn the slices over to dry the other side too.

As usual in our house, no task is done without the “supervisor” taking note:

Kitty:  I think they should be sliced thinner.

Me:   Hey, it’s not easy to slice an orange thin and evenly. I did my best and they’ll turn out ok, you’ll see.

Kitty:   I’m going to have to write you up for poor workmanship. 

Me:   I think you need a nap Kitty.

Then preheat your oven on 170 degrees F. Place the slices either on a rack, or on a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

I did both and found that the rack dries the slices quicker.

You can even place the slices directly on your oven rack. Dry the slices in the preheated oven for 3 hours or until dry. I turned mine about once per hour. When slices are dry, remove from oven and allow to cool.

Look, when you hold it up to the light, it’s like a little stained glass window:

Using a knife, make a little slit, and insert a piece of ribbon tying a knot to secure.

Hang on your tree. I hung each of mine in front of a light so it would have a “stained glass” effect.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Kitty Update:

Harland is taking Kitty back to the vet today. She has conjunctivitis now in both eyes and the eye drops don’t seem to be making her any better. I gave Kitty a stern lecture this morning about biting, hissing, and scratching. She rolled over an looked cute at me. I don’t think she was listening….  I’ll have another update for you when I hear from Harland.

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Suzanne

Cattle, corn, wheat, beans, mud, snow, ice, and drought. Plenty of fresh air and quiet. Our life is sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes joyous, but never boring.

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21 Responses

  1. I want to make these! I am going to make them even though Christmas is past because I think they would be pretty hanging in a bunch, at different lengths, in my kitchen window…on some twine or pretty ribbon…still great for a snowy January decoration.

  2. Doe in Mi says:

    Wow I’ve never heard of doing that and I’m old!!. Those are gorgeous.

  3. Trisha harris says:

    I wonder if this works on apples. Too. Thanks for this great post! Xoxo

  4. Tina says:

    I love the look in front of the lights on your tree and I’ll bet they smelled great too. Bonnie, that is a great idea to hang them in a kitchen window and maybe some lemons and limes too.
    Suzanne, I am sorry to hear about Miss Kitty and her eye problems. Hope she is alright and the Vet will be all in one piece too!!! Ha ha ha. My Siamese cat and eye were once asked to leave through a back door because his “call of the wild” cry was upsetting all the dogs!
    Hope you had a wonderful Holiday and the snow wasn’t too bad.

  5. Tina says:

    You know that I meant “I” and not “eye” when describing that right?? Oh brother….

  6. Debbie says:

    Great idea, and I pinned it for next year! I will try it then! Thanks!

    I hope Kitty is okay, and I noticed that HARLAND got to take her to the vet this time, lol!

  7. Kathy says:

    I’ve seen these lots of times, but never knew how to make them. I’ll have to give them a try. I like Bonnie’s idea of hanging them in a window and also Tina’s idea of lemons and limes. Hmmm….

  8. Amelia says:

    I bet they smelled really good too! Will try them!

  9. These are so pretty and I want to try them next year!

  10. Deb says:

    Can you save these to hang again next year? Do you have to do anything special to them to preserve them? Or does the drying preserve them? Thank you!

  11. Tiffany Blakemore says:

    How many ornaments will 1 average orange typically yield? I’m excited to try these. (=

  12. Betty says:

    Suzanne, I love your and I am excited about following you, I am going to make the soap and the orange slices. Some day, I hope to visit Kansas.

  13. Betty says:

    Your post

  14. Wendy says:

    I’m going to begin following you on Facebook.

  15. Tami Forbes says:

    I dried mine for 3 hours @ 200 degrees. They aren’t completely dried out… should they remain pliable or really really dry?

    Thanks!!

  1. December 3, 2014

    […] This is a traditional Christmas tree ornament that dates back to times when children still thought oranges were exciting – and it’s a surprisingly beautiful decoration for the tree. These dried oranges can be eaten (provided you don’t cover them in non-edible glitter) and  look even more spectacular if you put them right over the top of a fairy light! Here’s an easy-to-follow recipe from Window on The Prairie. […]

  2. December 5, 2014

    […] Window on the Prarie Learn how to dry them here. […]

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