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Dried orange garland is one of those Christmas decorations that feels both nostalgic and fresh at the same time, and the first time I made one, I remember thinking, Why did I wait so long to try this?

I make a dried orange garland every year now. Some years it ends up on the Christmas tree. Other years it gets draped across the mantel, tucked into greenery, or hung along a window in the kitchen where the winter light shines through the slices just right. No matter where it goes, it always feels right. Simple. Natural. Homemade.

And the best part? It’s easy. No crafting expertise required, no fancy supplies, and no rushing around to multiple stores. Just oranges, a little patience, and a slow afternoon at home.

In this post, I’m going to walk you through exactly how I make my dried orange garland, why the details matter (thin slices really do make a difference), and how I like to style and reuse it year after year. I’ll also share a few things I’ve learned the hard way so you don’t have to. Let’s get into it.

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Why I Love a Dried Orange Garland

I love Christmas decor, but I don’t love clutter. I don’t love things that feel disposable, trendy for one season, or overwhelming to store. Over the years, I’ve found myself gravitating toward decorations that feel:

• Natural
• Reusable
• Simple but meaningful

That’s where dried orange garland comes in.

There’s something quietly beautiful about it. It doesn’t shout for attention. It doesn’t clash with anything. It works whether your style is farmhouse, minimalist, traditional, or somewhere in between. But beyond how it looks, there’s how it feels to make it. The house smells faintly citrusy. You flip the slices, check on them, forget about them, and come back again. It’s not about perfection.

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What You’ll Need to Make a Dried Orange Garland

Before we get into the step-by-step, let’s talk supplies. You don’t need much, and chances are you already have most of this at home.

Supplies

• 5–6 large oranges (Or more if you want!)
  Bigger oranges give you larger slices, which look especially pretty once dried.
• Mandolin slicer
  This is the easiest way to get thin, even slices. You can use a knife, but the mandolin really helps to keep them consistent.
• Parchment paper
  Keeps the oranges from sticking and makes cleanup easier.
• Baking sheets
• Paper towels or a clean kitchen towel
• Butcher’s twine
  I usually use plain twine, but red and white twine is beautiful for a more festive look.
• Large Eye Blunt Needle
• Optional: dried cinnamon sticks
  These add texture and a subtle holiday scent.

That’s it. No glue guns. No specialty tools. No stress.

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Step-by-Step: How I Make My Dried Orange Garland

This process is simple, but the details matter. Especially when it comes to slicing and drying.

Step 1: Slice the Oranges Thinly

I start by washing and drying my oranges. Then I set up my mandolin. The key here is thin slices.

I aim for about ⅛ inch thick. Thinner is better. Thin slices dry more evenly, look more translucent once finished, and are much less likely to mold later.

If you’ve never used a mandolin before, go slow and use the hand guard. It’s worth it for the even slices alone. Once sliced, you’ll notice how beautiful the oranges already look. Bright, juicy, and full of promise.

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Step 2: Prep the Oranges for the Oven

Line your baking sheets with parchment paper and lay the orange slices in a single layer. No overlapping.

Then take a paper towel or clean kitchen towel and gently pat the tops of the slices. You’re not pressing hard, you’re just removing excess moisture.

This step helps speed up the drying process and prevents steaming in the oven.

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Step 3: Bake Low and Slow

Preheat your oven to 175 degrees Fahrenheit.

This low temperature is important. You’re drying the oranges, not cooking them.

Place the trays in the oven and bake for 2–4 hours, flipping the slices every 30 minutes.

I usually set a timer because it’s easy to forget. Some slices will dry faster than others, especially if they’re thinner or closer to the oven’s hot spots.

The goal is for the oranges to become dry and crisp, not browned. As soon as they start to turn darker around the edges, it’s time to take them out.

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A quick note from experience:
Drying time will vary depending on the thickness of your slices. Don’t rush it. This is one of those projects where patience pays off.

Step 4: Let Them Cool Completely

Once the orange slices are done, remove them from the oven and let them cool completely. This is when they really firm up.

Sometimes they feel slightly soft when they’re warm, but they crisp as they cool. I usually leave them on the baking sheet or transfer them to a cooling rack and forget about them for an hour or two.

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Assembling the Dried Orange Garland

This is my favorite part. Once the slices are cool and dry, I cut a length of butcher’s twine based on where I plan to hang the garland. Longer is always better, you can trim later.

Using the twine and large eye blunt needle, I thread the dried orange slices through the center. You can space them evenly for a clean, simple look, or cluster them closer together for a fuller garland. I’ve done both, depending on my mood and where the garland is going.

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Twine Options I Love

• Plain butcher’s twine for a rustic, neutral look
• Red and white twine for a classic, festive feel

Both are beautiful. Neither is wrong.

Adding Cinnamon Sticks (Optional but Lovely)

Some years, I tie dried cinnamon sticks between the orange slices.

Not only does this add texture and visual interest, but it also gives the garland a subtle holiday scent, especially when hung near a heat source like a mantel.

To add them:

• Cut a small piece of twine
• Tie the cinnamon stick directly onto the garland between slices

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Where I Use a Dried Orange Garland in My Home

One of the reasons I keep coming back to dried orange garland is how versatile it is. I never feel locked into one spot.

Here are some of my favorite places to use it:

• Draped across the Christmas tree, especially mixed with white lights
• Hung along a mantel, layered with greenery
• Draped around a doorway
• Wrapped around a staircase banister
• Hung across windows, where the light shines through
• Laid along a shelf or sideboard

Every year looks a little different, and that’s part of the charm.

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Lessons I’ve Learned

I’ve made dried orange garland enough times now to learn a few things the hard way.

Here’s what I wish I’d known from the start:

• Thinner slices matter more than you think. Thick slices take forever to dry and don’t last as long.
• Flip them regularly. It’s annoying, but it prevents uneven drying.
• Don’t rush the oven temperature. Higher heat leads to browning, not drying.
• Let them cool completely before stringing. Warm slices can bend or tear.
• Store them properly. More on that below.

None of these mistakes are deal-breakers, but they make the process smoother when you know them ahead of time.

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How to Store and Reuse Your Dried Orange Garland

One of my favorite things about dried orange garland is that it’s not a one-season project.

If stored correctly, you can reuse it year after year.

Here’s what I do:

• Make sure the garland is completely dry
• Store it in a cool, dry place
• Use a breathable container, like a paper bag or cardboard box

Avoid plastic bags unless you’re absolutely sure there’s no moisture left. Moisture is the enemy here.

I label my box and tuck it away with my other natural decor. When December rolls around again, its ready to use again.

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Turning a Dried Orange Garland Into a Thoughtful Handmade Gift

One year, I made extra dried orange garland without a specific plan. I just kept slicing oranges because the oven was already on and the house smelled so good. By the end of the day, I had more than I needed, and that’s when I realized how lovely this DIY is as a handmade Christmas gift.

A dried orange garland makes a beautiful, low-pressure gift for people who are hard to shop for. It’s thoughtful without being too personal. Useful without being clutter. And it feels intentional in a way that a last-minute candle sometimes doesn’t.

Here are a few ways I like to gift it:

• Loosely wrapped in brown kraft paper and tied with twine
• Coiled gently in a shallow box with a sprig of evergreen
• Paired with a handwritten note explaining how it was made
• Given as a host gift for Christmas parties
• Tucked into a basket with other natural holiday items like beeswax candles or cinnamon sticks

I always include a small note that says something like, “Hang this wherever you need a little warmth this season.”

This is also one of those gifts that doesn’t feel wasteful. If someone doesn’t decorate much for Christmas, they can still appreciate it. They can hang it for a season, compost it later, or pass it along. There’s no guilt attached.

And honestly? I love giving gifts that don’t require batteries, storage bins, or instructions.

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Why This DIY Feels Like More Than Just Decor

Every year, I find myself craving a slower holiday season.

Less rushing.
Less buying.
Less noise.

Making a dried orange garland is a small way I push back against the pressure to do more and buy more. It reminds me that beauty doesn’t have to be complicated, and that some of the most meaningful traditions are the quiet ones.

This is a project you can do:

• On a snowy afternoon
• With kids helping pat and dry out the slices
• While wrapping gifts
• Or simply alone, with a cup of tea nearby

It doesn’t demand your full attention, and it doesn’t need to be perfect.

And maybe that’s why I love it so much.

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Making Dried Orange Garland Part of a Holiday Tradition

Some decorations come out of a box once a year and go right back in. A dried orange garland feels different. It invites you into the process, not just the result.

The first year I made one, it was purely practical. I wanted something simple. The next year, it became a rhythm. Now, it’s a small tradition I actually look forward to.

I usually make my garland on a quiet December afternoon. The kind where there’s no big plan. No schedule. Just a few hours at home. I’ll slice oranges while something familiar plays in the background, flip them every half hour, and check on them the way you check on something that matters, but doesn’t need micromanaging.

If you have kids, this is an easy way to bring them into holiday prep without the pressure. They can help lay out slices, flip them, or thread them onto twine once they’ve cooled. If you’re doing this solo, it still feels grounding. Repetitive in the best way.

This is the kind of tradition that grows naturally:

• One year it’s just oranges
• The next year you add cinnamon sticks
• Another year you mix in dried grapefruit or lemon
• Over time, it becomes your version

I love traditions like that. The ones that aren’t rigid or performative. The ones that flex with your life and your energy level that year.

And every time I pull out my dried orange garland in December, I remember the year it was made. Where we were living. What the season felt like. What I needed more of then. That’s what makes it special. Not just how it looks, but the memory tied to it.

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Dried Orange Garland Instructions

Ingredients

• 5–6 large oranges
• Butcher’s twine
• Optional: red and white twine
• Optional: dried cinnamon sticks

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Supplies

• Mandolin slicer
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• Large Eye Blunt Needle
• Paper towels or clean kitchen towel
• Oven

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Instructions

1. Slice oranges
   Wash oranges and slice very thin using a mandolin. Aim for ⅛ inch thick slices. Thinner slices dry best.
2. Prepare for baking
   Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Arrange orange slices in a single layer. Pat tops gently with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
3. Dry in the oven
   Preheat oven to 175°F.
   Bake oranges for 2–4 hours, flipping every 30 minutes.
4. Check for doneness
   Remove oranges once they are dry and crisp, but before browning.
   Drying time will vary depending on slice thickness.
5. Cool completely
   Let orange slices cool fully so they firm up.
6. Assemble garland
   Thread dried orange slices onto butcher’s twine using a large eye blunt needle.
   Use plain twine for a rustic look or red and white twine for a festive style.
   Optional: tie dried cinnamon sticks between slices for added scent and decor.

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Notes

• Store finished garland in a cool, dry place.
• Use a breathable container for storage.
• Garland can be reused year after year if kept dry.

If you’ve been looking for a Christmas DIY that feels cozy, intentional, and actually doable in the middle of an already busy season, I truly can’t recommend dried orange garland enough. It’s the kind of project that doesn’t demand perfection or special skills, just a little time, a low oven, and a willingness to slow down.

It’s
affordable,
beautiful,
natural,
reusable,
and deeply satisfying to make with your own hands.

There’s something grounding about watching simple oranges transform into something that feels special and meaningful. Whether you hang your dried orange garland on the Christmas tree, drape it across a mantel, or string it along a window where the light can shine through, it adds warmth and character in a way store-bought decor never quite does. So grab a few oranges, turn the oven down low, and let this be one of those quiet holiday moments, the kind you look forward to each year. And if you do make one? I promise, it won’t be the last time.

With love,

Bri & Cat

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