With a touch of nostalgia, equal parts splendid aroma, and a charming natural decorative element, making your own festive DIY orange garland is a cheerful project to bring friends and family together around the holidays.
Homemade dried orange garland may take a few to several hours to create, depending on how many batches of orange slices you make. Of course, if it’s around the holiday season, you can eat delicious treats while you wait!
Here are all the details you need to learn how to make orange garland.
Very few things are as cozy as a traditional holiday tree decked out in dried orange garland. Although hanging wreaths on chairs or making your own DIY Christmas crackers are two other traditions you may also want to adopt.
Orange garland is one of those bygone holiday traditions that reminds me of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. I watched the 1994 movie adaptation of Little Women on repeat growing up in the snowy extreme northern clime of Minnesota. It may not have been as idyllic as Concord, but it was similar.
I also love the pleasing aroma of citrus around Christmas, which is just one of the many charming things about orange garland.
Supplies to Make Dried Orange Garland
You probably have many of the supplies on-hand to make DIY orange garland. A bag of oranges is the only supply that requires planning in advance.
First, though, you need to decide what color you want the orange garland to be. If you use blood oranges the garland will have a reddish-maroon-brown hue, where traditional Valencia and Naval oranges are quintessentially orange-yellow in color. I am partial to a true orange hue, so I used Valencia oranges for my garland.
- Oranges, 5-10 (or more) - Use Naval or Valencia oranges for orange-yellow colored garland or Blood oranges for reddish-brown garland. Depending on how long you want the garland to be as well as how much space you want between each orange slice, you may need 5-10 oranges or more if you are going for a dense look. I suggest planning how many oranges you will need before purchasing. For instance, I plan to hang my orange garland on our mantel, which is 90 inches across. To span the length of the mantel with about 3 ¼ inches between each orange slice, I used 5 oranges.
- Ribbon or twine - To string the slices together, use pretty ribbon or twine. I used one of my go-to ⅛ inch blush taupe pink satin ribbons that looks elegant against the greenery I combine it with on our mantel. I could not find the ribbon anymore, however this satin taupe ribbon or this satin dusty rose ribbon look very similar. You will need a good amount if you are wrapping the garland around a tree or hanging the garland on a mantel. For reference, I used 100 inches of ribbon to span our mantel, with enough at the ends to tie it.
- Kitchen knife - You will need a sharp knife to cut the oranges into ⅛ to ¼ inch thick slices.
- Scissors - You will need a nice sharp set of scissors to cut the ribbon or twine to create the garland. This brand carries my all-time favorite pretty blush pink scissors. They have a similar taupe scissors that are just as pretty.
- Large sewing needle - Along with ribbon, a sewing needle with a large eye opening is needed to thread each slice together. My needle was large enough for an ⅛ inch ribbon to fit through the eye with ease, but you may need larger if you are using thicker twine.
- Baking sheet - A large baking sheet works best for this DIY project. I used my favorite half-sheet pan, though you can also purchase a set of 3 sheet pans in the same gold colorway.
- Wire rack - A wire cooling rack is necessary for drying the orange slices on the counter for an additional 24-48 hours after drying in the oven. My 6 piece sheet pan set came with a wire rack.
- Parchment paper - To aid in faster drying time, you will need to line your baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Embellishments - If you are feeling extra festive and want to include more decorations on your garland, add embellishments in between orange slices, such as wood beads, sprigs of greenery, star anise, winter berries, and other holiday-themed decorations.
Instructions
When I was researching different methods to make dried orange garland, some methods called for a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, placing the slices directly on the paper. Others placed a wire rack on the lined baking sheet, placing the slices on top of the wire rack to allow air to flow around the slices with the intent of drying them out faster. In the end, I’m not sure which method works better.
You can use a wire rack on top of the lined baking sheet or not, that is up to you. That said, if you do place the slices directly on the paper lined baking sheet, check on them more frequently, as you don’t want to overbake the slices or burn them.
- After washing the oranges, cut the oranges about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick slices. Make the slices as consistent as possible, so they bake more evenly. Pat the slices with a paper towel to remove as much excess moisture as you can.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and place the orange slices in a single, uncrowded layer on the baking sheet. You will most likely need to batch-dry bake the oranges. Note: You can use a wire rack on top of the parchment-lined baking sheet or not. Check on them more frequently if you don’t use a wire rack, as you don’t want to over bake the slices or burn them.
- Dry bake the orange slices in the oven at 200 Fahrenheit for 3 to 4 hours, flipping every 30 to 60 minutes.
- Remove from the oven once the slices look dry and leather-like in appearance. They should not feel sticky, which would indicate they may need to dry bake a little longer. Allow to continue drying out on a wire rack on the counter for a day or two.
- Measure the area where you will hang the orange garland. In my case, I plan to hang my garland draped across our mantel, which is 90 inches long. Accounting for about 3-4 inches between each slice, I used 100 inches of ribbon, leaving enough extra ribbon at the ends to tie it to the greenery I will layer with the orange garland.
- Next, choose whether you want to thread the oranges through the center or near the top of each slice. Personally, I prefer the look of orange garland when it hangs from the top of the slices versus the center. Tip: Be gentle when you use a sewing needle to thread ribbon or twine through the dried orange slice. Threading near and over a thick vein will help provide structure and make it less likely to tear a hole through the delicate orange flesh. As you add a new slice, gently push the slice towards the middle of the length of ribbon. Create a stitch by bringing the threaded needle back through the slice. When placing the next slice, leave spacing between each slice that is to your liking. I left about 3 ¼ inches between each slice.
7. Repeat threading orange slices onto one side of the ribbon/twine until you have enough remaining ribbon/twine at the end to tie the garland to your mantel or wherever you will hang it. I left about 4 inches at each end. Repeat the same process for the other side of the ribbon/twine.
Tip:
While I have not tried it, you may be able to spray the orange slices with hairspray to preserve it longer. This method works to preserve dried flowers, which leads me to believe it would work for this application as well. Check for rot or mold before using each season.
Decorating and Styling with DIY Orange Garland
Evoking a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of simpler times, homemade dried orange garland adds a natural—and delectable citrus aroma—element to a Christmas tree or fireplace mantel.
There are countless ways to decorate and style your home with orange garland:
- Swoop and swag orange garland across a fireplace mantel
- Weave orange garland into a Christmas tree—top to bottom
- Drape orange garland across an entry console table to welcome guests
- Add it to a wreath by wrapping it all the way around
- Style a kitchen oven hood with orange garland
- Decorate other areas of your home with it, such as kids rooms or a family/media room
This simple DIY project is one way to fill your days with memory-making cozy moments spent gathered around friends and family.
Storage Considerations for Dried Orange Garland Slices
Store homemade orange garland in a sealed container. Check for rot or mold before using each season.
As mentioned earlier, while I have not tried it, you may be able to spray the orange slices with hairspray to preserve it longer. This method works to preserve dried flowers, which leads me to believe it would work for this application as well. As always, check for rot or mold before using each season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Natural, homemade orange garland may last a holiday season or two. You may be able to spray the orange slices with hairspray to preserve it longer. This method works to preserve dried flowers, which leads me to believe it would work for this application as well. As always, check for rot or mold before using each season.
You may need 5-10 (or more) oranges to make orange garland. The quantity you will need depends where and how you intend to hang the garland. For instance, hanging garland on a fireplace mantel, a Christmas tree, or over a kitchen range hood. Measure the length, add the number of inches you want between each slice, and include enough slack on each end to be able to tie it to something.
For a true orange-yellow colored garland, use Naval or Valencia oranges, or Blood oranges for reddish-brown garland.
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