Today I am showing you how to make dried orange slices and Clementine. Because I enjoy using natural elements during the holidays drying oranges is a must in our home.
Dried They Are Natural & Smell Fantastic!
Besides the natural look these add to my decor, making these, makes the home smell fantastic! It’s also easy to make dry orange slices.
These Are Easy To Make
Incidentally, for how to make dried orange slices and Clementine, the most work for this craft comes from cutting and slicing the oranges. Not too bad, right, especially for the holidays with your family. By the way, get your little ones involved in this actyivity of drying orange slices. I will share a fun step they can help with and make memeories along the way. Besides making memories with famliy is what the holiday season is all about!
Ways To Dry Oranges & Clementine
First Idea – Using a food dehydrated is also an option. However, it’s an expense you may not want. Also taking up valuable storage space.
Second Idea – My oven has a dehydator setting. However, knowing most don’t have these ovens in their homes, I am sharing how to dry the oranges and Clementine low and slow.
Third Idea – We are using a technique drying the orange slices that is low and slow. First off, you will want to preheat your oven at 180 degrees. Incidentally, if your oven doesn’t go down that low, no worries 200 degrees will work fine.
If your are drying your oranges slices and Clementine at 200 degrees. After flipping the at, the half way mark, it’s good idea to keep an eye on them when you are down to the last half hour.
In the meantime, as your oven is preheating this is a good time to gather supplies for drying your oranges:
- oranges
- baking sheets/sheet
- oven safe rack – I use a stainless steel cooling rack upside and it works great
- knife
- parchment paper
Now that you have your supplies, make the orange slices 1/4 thick for drying. Place each slice on the rack keeping them in a single layer. Begin the drying process.
But wait, this is optional, however, I do this and it never disappoints. Also, here is the steps the entire family can get involved in and make some memories.
Sprinkle A Bit Of Spices:
- clove
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
Now place your orange slices into the oven and begin the drying process. Adding these spices makes the house smell beautiful also. Incidentally, the spices add beauty to the dry oranges too.
Now, allow the oranges to dry for 6 hours. Check them at the halfway point and flip them over to continue the drying process. The slices should be completely dry. By the way, if your oven is set for 200 degrees the drying process make take a little bit less time.
Important Tip: make sure your citrus is completely dried.
Of course, if you don’t want to make dried orange slices, you can buy them HERE
Tips For Drying Oranges (whole) Clementine
Besides drying orange slices, I thought it would be fun to dry whole mandarines/clementine. In addition to your dried orange slices, mandarins/clementine are a great way to carry your citrus theme throughout your home.
Drying Oranges/Clementine Whole
First, for the most part, drying of the Clementine is the same process as the orange slices.
Second – you want to slice through the orange peel carefully. You want to slice at 12 o’clock, 6, 3 and 9. Also when making your slices make sure you leave the ends connected to the orange. This is important because this keeps the orange together.
Third – After making your slices, roll the mandarin/clementine on a papertowel and some excess juice will come off.
Fourth – Next lay the oranges on an oven safe cooking rack. Stainless steel is best.
Fifth – Place the sheet pan with oranges in the oven and let them dry for 6 hours. After trying this a few times, I find drying the mandarins/clementines works best after 6 hours if they are taken out of the oven.
Seventh – After taking them out of the oven let them dry in the air out of sunlight for a two weeks. Also, as they are air drying check to see how they are drying.
How To Use Your Dried Oranges and Clementine In The Home
Add Dried Orange Slices to Lanterns as Lantern Filler HERE
Put Inside A Lantern With A Battery Operated Candle HERE
Also, Add Dried Oranges/Clementines To Seasosnal Decor
Such as your mantel HERE
Also add these to centerpieces HERE
Craft Ideas Using Dried Orange Slices/Clementine
Make A Dried Orange Wreath HERE
Make a Dried Orange/fruit Garland HERE
I hope you enjoyed learning how to make dried orange slices and Clementine. Enjoy the dried orange slices for many, many years to come! The oranges slices can be enjoyed for years, however, the whole oranges will last through New Years.
Dried orange slices can be used for all these projects easily.
Dried Oranges For Crafting
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Oven Safe Cooling Rack
- Parchment paper/optional
- Sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove/optional
- Oven 180/200 degrees fahrenheit
- oranges sliced 1/4 inch thick
- whole clementine slit 12, 6, 3 and 9
Instructions
- Slice oranges 1/4 inch thick
- Slit Clementine through the skin at 12, 6, 3 and 9
- Roll Clementine on paper towel to remove excess moisture
Notes
Cloches & Lavender Facebook Page
Pin It To Remember It For Inspiration!!
Hi Cindy,
I bet your house smells so great with these orange slices or the clementines drying especially with the spices added. I enjoy your newsletter and blog and follow you both on IG and pinterest. You are so crafty and I love seeing all your wonderful ideas. Happy New Week. xoxo
Thanks so much Kris. When the Christmas gets closer I’m thinking of putting whole cloves in oranges
I bet the house smells wonderful when drying those oranges, especially with the spices!
I’ve always wanted to do this and never have. Probably a time thing because I never have enough..lol. I haven’t been following you very long but I like what I see which is why I signed up in the first place😊. I just happen to have a bag of oranges that aren’t going to keep if I don’t use them so off I go to give this a try! Wish me luck!
I have never dried fruit before, I think I want to do it this fall. Thanks for sharing. I bet the dried fruit keeps your home smelling wonderful.
I’ve never done this, but every time I see a post about it, I think I bet that smells wonderful!! Maybe this is the time I’ll actually give it a try!! Mmm….and fun giveaway!! $100 would buy a lot of Christmas decor!!
Cindy, I can’t wait to see what you do with the orange slices and clementine. Did all the things for the giveaway!
Thanks Corine
I love this post about drying citrus. Pinning!
Hugs,
Kippi
Thank so much!!
I can almost smell the orange slices through my screen!
They do smell amazing
So beautiful! I bet your home smells amazing! I just love drying orange slices for decorating!
Smells great
I’ve never made these! Maybe this year is the year 🙂
The house will smell amazing
I have always wanted to try this, Cindy! My Mom is doing a lot of natural elements this year for Christmas at Bliss Barracks so I’m all kinds of excited to share this post with her. They’re so pretty! Hugs and thanks for the chance to win, CoCo
They are easy and with the spices the house smells amazing
Great idea. This must make your house smell divine. Have pinned for future reference.
I can almost smell the oranges and cinnamon and cloves right now! Great tips! Especially on how to dry whole clementines! I am pinning right now!
I’ve always wanted to make one of these – now I know how! Saving for later (might make one on the weekend if I have the time).
I enjoyed my dried oranges so much last holiday season. Love your idea for drying clementines! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Thanks Cecilia, nothing like using nature!
I love that your shared how to dry the slices and the whole oranges, too! Happy to be sharing you at Tuesday Turn About this week! Pinned!
Thank you Julie. I am sharing some great Christmas in July projects
Thanks for sharing with us – I’m featuring you this week when the next to Grandma’s house we go link party starts!
I’ve never made these! Bet the house smells so inviting when you bake these.
I really like both the slices and the whole oranges. They would look great in a fall, Christmas or New years setting.
Thank you, that’s the plan. Love nature
Love the thought of making these for fall… I can smell them just looking at them. Heavenly! Thanks for sharing.