A dried orange slice garland is one of the most beautiful and effortless natural Christmas decorations you can make. The translucent amber slices glow warmly when backlit by fairy lights, fill the room with a gentle citrus scent, and look just as stunning strung across a mantelpiece as they do threaded into a wreath or hung in a window. Best of all, they are completely free of plastic, last for several years with proper storage, and cost almost nothing beyond the price of a bag of oranges. For more ideas to make your home beautiful at Christmas and beyond, visit our Gifts & Seasonal category.
What You Will Need
- 4–6 firm, fresh oranges (clementines and lemons also work beautifully)
- A sharp serrated knife for clean slices
- Kitchen paper or clean tea towels
- A baking tray lined with a wire rack (for air circulation under the slices)
- A skewer or hole punch for threading holes
- Natural twine, jute string, or thin cotton rope for stringing
- Optional additions: cinnamon sticks, dried star anise, dried cranberries, bay leaves
Project Info
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Time: 30 minutes prep; 4–6 hours oven drying
- Cost: Under $5 for a full garland
- Lifespan: 2–5 years with proper storage
Step 1: Slice the Citrus
Using a sharp serrated knife, slice each orange into rounds approximately 5–7 mm thick. Aim for consistent thickness — slices that are too thin will become brittle and dark; slices too thick will take much longer to dry and may develop mould in the centre. Discard the very end slices (which are mostly rind) and any slices with large blemishes. Pat each slice firmly between sheets of kitchen paper to absorb as much surface moisture as possible before they go into the oven.
Step 2: Dry in the Oven
Preheat your oven to its lowest setting — ideally 60–80°C (140–175°F). If your oven runs hot, prop the door slightly open with a wooden spoon to allow moisture to escape. Place the slices on a wire rack set over a lined baking tray (the rack allows air to circulate underneath, which speeds drying and prevents soggy undersides). Arrange the slices without overlapping. Place in the oven for four to six hours, turning every hour. The slices are ready when they are completely dry to the touch, feel firm and papery, and have turned a rich translucent amber. Do not rush this process by increasing the heat — slower and lower produces beautifully translucent slices rather than browned, caramelised ones.
Step 3: Cool and Prepare for Threading
Remove the dried slices from the oven and allow them to cool completely on the wire rack — at least an hour. Once cool, they will feel completely rigid. Using a metal skewer, carefully pierce two small holes near the top edge of each slice, approximately 1 cm in from the edge and 2 cm apart. These holes allow the garland twine to pass through without the slices spinning or bunching. If any slices are still slightly pliable in the centre, return them to the oven for another hour.
Step 4: String the Garland
Cut your twine to the desired garland length plus 40 cm extra for tying loops at each end. Thread the twine through both holes on each slice as you go, spacing slices about 8–10 cm apart. Between orange slices, you can tie on extras: knot a cinnamon stick alongside a slice for spice, thread a star anise bead through, or simply leave natural gaps in the twine for a more airy look. A garland of 20–25 slices creates a beautiful mantelpiece or staircase length. Tie a hanging loop at each end.
Displaying Your Garland
Dried orange garlands look most magical when layered with fairy lights — the light shines through the translucent slices and casts a warm amber glow across the room. Drape along a mantelpiece between candles and pine cones, wind through a Christmas wreath, or hang in a south-facing window where natural light backlights the slices during the day. For a cohesive natural Christmas theme, pair with our DIY Mason Jar Lanterns in warm amber tones and a eucalyptus and pine cone table centrepiece.
Alternative Citrus and Additions
Clementines dry slightly faster than oranges and produce smaller, delicate slices perfect for miniature garlands or tree decorations. Lemons and limes dry beautifully too — a mixed citrus garland in orange, yellow, and green is visually stunning. Grapefruit slices are dramatic and large, ideal for hanging as individual window ornaments rather than stringing. Thin apple slices can also be dried the same way and threaded into the garland for texture variety.
Storing for Next Year
Once the season is over, store your garland loosely coiled in a paper bag or cardboard box — never plastic, which traps moisture and causes mould. Add a sachet of silica gel to the box to absorb any residual humidity. Stored correctly, dried citrus garlands last two to five years and emerge each season smelling wonderful. Check each slice before rehanging and replace any that have darkened or softened with freshly dried slices.
A dried orange slice garland is the kind of decoration that becomes an annual tradition — made once, improved year on year, and treasured for the ritual of making it as much as the finished result. Find more natural and handmade seasonal decoration ideas in our Gifts & Seasonal category.
