Fall is upon us and this a good time to talk about how to preserve pinecones.
Our neighbors have a pine tree, and it dropped its pine ones. Knowing that I love decorating and crafting they asked if I would like them? Of course, I’d love these! So, we grabbed them all and can’t believe how many I brought home.
If you follow Cloches & Lavender you are aware I enjoy decorating with pieces from nature in our home. Especially for the fall and holiday seasons so sharing how to preserve pine cones is a must.
Preserved Acorns In Décor
By the way, you may enjoy this post. Here I share my love of acorns. I have a collection of 100’s and I share how to clean and preserve acorns. My collection is going on 10 years now. So, it should be no surprise I’d share how to preserve pinecones.
Also, I have a home tour coming on September 30th and you will see my large collection of preserved acorns and preserved pinecones. I also enjoy decorating with walnuts, dried artichokes to name a few. Using pieces from nature speaks volumes of embracing fall and the beauty it offers for home décor and crafts.
You my also enjoy seeing how I incorporate dried oranges into my fall and holiday décor. Besides being pretty dried oranges are natures gift. When oranges are dried they smell and mixed with pine cones for example, are beautiful as well.
I share how to make dried orange slices and clementine.  I also share how to use dried oranges when decorating the home seasonally. By the way, you will see pinecones used here too. Be sure to take a look for some inspiration.
Incidentally, how to preserve pinecones is easy to do and well worth the effort.
Cleaning The Fresh Cones
Step 1
First step, cleaning the pinecones to preserve using dish soap. I made sure to remove any pine needles and other debris, this didn’t take long.
Because I have a large sink in my laundry room, cleaning the pinecones before beginning to preserve them was an easy job. I filled the sink with warm water and 1/4 teaspoon of dish soap and added the cones to clean. After the soapy water covers the cones to preserve let them soak for half an hour.
By the way, I suggest wearing rubber gloves to preserve fresh pine cones. They are filled with sap and are quite sticky.
In the meantime grab a large towel.
Letting The Fresh Pinecones Dry
Step 2
Remove the pinecones from the soapy water and rinse well. Here, using a large bath towel, I let the the cones dry overnight before I begin the baking process to preserve them. Also, before settling in for the evening, turn the pinecones over so the other side air dries so they will be ready to preserve.
Adding The Pinecones to The Oven to Reopen
Step 3
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Next, using baking pans, line them with parchment paper before adding the the cones for this easy craft to preserve. I used four large baking pans because in total we had 78 cones.
Because the fresh pinecones are going in the oven to preserve, this is when they will open again.  As a result of the pinecones opening, it’s important to leave room in between each cone to account for them getting wider. Incidentally, I advise beginning slow with the first sheets. For my first baking sheet I set my timer for 15 minutes. I did this because, I didn’t want them to burn. So, to be on the safe side I wanted to see how the preserving process was going to work.
Since I have so many pinecones to preserve, I knew I was going to do the baking process six times. So, after the first round of baking, I began setting my timer for a half an hour. Now I knew this was the perfect amount of time for the pinecones to completely open. During this process it’s quite amazing seeing the cones close and open again.
This is also why I say take advantage of nature when decorating your home for fall and the holiday season. It’s not only free but is truly amazing to see.
Letting The Pine Cones Cool To Add To Home Décor
Step 4
After taking the pinecones from the oven, I did add parchment paper to a cooling rack. Here, I let them cool as the next parchment paper lined baking sheet was in the oven.
If you don’t want to preserve pinecones, purchase them HERE.
Lastly, I didn’t feel it to be necessary to spray my pine cones with poly or a sealer. I love the natural look of nature. Spraying them is optional.
Here, you can see the preserved pinecones I added to an antique French crate for a natural touch.
I hope you enjoyed learning how to preserve pinecones and will think about trying it for your fall and Christmas décor. Do you enjoy decorating with pieces found outside too? It’s the best because pieces found in the year are free! Will you use pinecones in your decor?
Preserving Pine Cones
Equipment
- large towel, oven, dish soap, sink, cooling rack, parchment paper
Notes
A FEW OF MY FAVORITES!
This is really such a cool idea. I love the natural look of the pinecones after you baked them to open them up. I have a question for you. I love the spice/cinnamon scent of pine cones. If I wanted to put a scent on them when would I do that? Would it be during the baking process or when I am soaking them. Thanks for the info these are really cool Have a great week. xoxo Kris
Thanks Kris. That part I’m not positive about. I think I have read it’s after they are dry.
I believe it’s cinnamon oil.
Tons of information on Pinterest. I’m thinking if you want natural spices add it when they are damp.
I would ad nutmeg, a dash of clove and cinnamon.
Very cool!! I learned something new today!!
Thanks!
Great tips! I am still using pine cones for decor that I picked up out of the yard in 1993.
I love them! Anything from nature us the best!
This was such a great post, Cindy! We have a ton of pinecones on our property and it would be so much fun to get to use them. I can’t wait to try this too. It’s going make decorate with them so much easier. Thank you! Hugs, CoCo
I love using things from nature. It’s so cozy not to mention free
Cindy, I have preserved pinecones myself, but had to go read your preserving acorn post. I was afraid of bringing them in not sure if I could bake them as I did the pinecones. Thanks for your tips on your blog.
Do It. I have 100s of preserved acorns 10 years now. An addiction
Using things from nature brings a warm feeling to any home, doesn’t it? Thanks for this complete tutorial. I have quite a few pinecones that I have been wanting to preserve but haven’t been real sure how to do it. Now I do! Happy Fall!
Thanks Meegan, I agree nature adds so much to a home
I just picked up a bunch of pine cones this month at my friends cottage. This will definitely come in handy. Thanks for sharing.
Oh so happy I shared this when I did. It’s easy and works
Have fun Kim. So easy
I have those exact same pinecones in my yard!! I’m going to grab some and bake them for some projects! Thanks for the tips 🙂 Pinned!
Thanks Cindy. Are yours full of sap too? That’s why I wore gloves. I had to throw them out. They were a sticky mess.
I’d do it again though
Our pine tree drops so many cones! I always want to bring them in, but worry about insects coming along for the ride! Now I know how to clean them!
This takes care of that. Enjoy and wear rubber gloves because of the sap like I say
Yes, thank you! My pinecones usually end up in our compost 😬 But now I’ll use your tips- thanks for sharing!
Not anymore. Save them!
I miss living were we could pick up all sizes of pine cones. I thought you were wearing gloves to protect your hands, not the pine cones!
I was wearing them because they were full of sap. My hands would been filled with sticky sap
Great idea to wash your pinecones. I had no idea you could wash them so from now on I am washing my pinecones before using them.
Yes it gets everything out of them. Mine had tons of sap. Good thing I wore gloves
I can’t wait to try this! Pinned!
So easy and well worth it!
Great tutorial; I”ve never done this before!
Thanks Sara. If you can give it a try.
I love to decorate for fall and winter with pinecones. This is a great tutorial. Thanks for sharing.
Me too. Thanks Jennifer
I loved this post! While I don’t have any pinecones I do love the link for acorns. Storybook Cottage has 16 oak trees and boy do I have acorns. LOL!
Preserve them. Mine are 10 years old. Spraying them with matte poly helps. They fade over time but are gorgeous. I use them every year
I didn’t even know preserving pine cones was a thing! Years ago, someone brought me huge ones from California. I just recently threw them out. Too bad I didn’t know to preserve them!
Bummer. Yes it works
Great post Cindy. We see pine ones lying around. I love those little ones they have up the hill. Our acorns are so small. Happy fall.
Thanks Linda
Such great tips! Thank you for sharing.
It was fun to do. Lots of sap but fun
Thanks for sharing with us I’ll be featuring you this week when the next To Grandma’s house we go link party starts!
Thank you so much!
What a wonderful idea, I need to try this!
Thank you so much for sharing and loved having you part of our Welcome Home Saturday series.
xoxo,
Brendt
Thanks so much! Loved the opportunity
i’m so glad you joined us this week for Welcome Home Saturday and shared this post!
thank you for having me!