Star Anise Garland with Orange Slices

Join me as I share an easy DIY and simple tutorial for making a star anise garland with orange slices that brings natural elements and a rustic look into our homes. The warm scent of star anise and oranges makes this garland especially inviting for fall, the holiday season, and throughout the winter months.

Anise stars are also a culinary delight. Have you ever added one to your coffee or, my favorite, hot chocolate with a little nutmeg and cinnamon? Yum! I love how these simple ingredients add a warm, rustic, and festive touch to our homes.

Jump to DIY Card

Star Anise Garland with Orange Slices for Holiday Decor

Get ready to begin this easy craft as I share a simple tutorial for creating a beautiful citrus garland using star anise and other natural materials. The best part is that this project comes together in a little bit of time and has a more minimal look.

Craft Supplies:

• Bag of oranges – dried orange slices
• star anise – I bought these a few times
• sharp knife
• paper towel
• large baking sheet or cookie sheet – My favorite
• cooling rack
• parchment paper
• twine 
• large needle or yarn needle
• hot glue gun – My favorite
• hot glue sticks
• scissors

Step 1: Select Oranges

When drying oranges, navel oranges and blood oranges work best. They have a uniform, round shape and a thick skin, which makes them beautiful when dried.

That being said, I have also dried mandarins. I enjoy drying mandarins because they are the perfect size for centerpieces, baskets, and a large decorative bowl throughout our home or the Christmas tree.

Cindy’s Tip: I buy a bag of oranges. It’s cheaper. Because mandarins have a thin rind, they will usually last for one holiday season. Since this is an easy project, I don’t mind drying them each year.

Step 2: Slice the Oranges

Use a sharp knife to slice oranges about 1/4 inch thick. Try to keep the slices as uniform as possible so they dry evenly.

I find 1/4-inch-thick slices work well for this project because they are sturdy enough to decorate but don’t take a long time to dry. Very thick citrus slices need additional drying time, while extremely thin slices can become fragile.

After cutting the citrus slices, gently pat the slices with paper towels to remove the excess moisture.

Cindy’s Tip: A mandoline slicer will slice oranges faster. Set the blade on the mandoline to cut 1/4-thick slices

Step 3: Dry the Fruit

Set the oven to its lowest temperature setting. You can also use a food dehydrator for dried oranges if you have one.

Arrange the citrus slices in a single layer on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure the pieces don’t touch.

Bake for 4-6 hours, turning the oranges halfway through the drying process. Depending on the thickness of the citrus slices and your oven, the drying time can vary.

Around the hour mark, check the fruit and continue checking it often during the last hour to make sure it isn’t getting too dark or burned. I also recommend rotating the baking sheet halfway through for more uniform drying.

The finished dehydrated oranges should feel dry rather than soft or damp.

Cindy’s Tip: Once the dehydrated oranges are completely dry, place them on a cooling rack and allow them to completely cool before adding the star anise.

Step 4: Choose the Best Anise

If you purchase star anise at the grocery store, the anise stars will usually be smaller than the ones I used on my garland. If you want pieces similar to mine, I recommend purchasing anise stars from Amazon. The package is a large quantity, but worth every cent. I also add these to my simmer pots. Purchase these here.

Heat your hot glue gun and add a dab of hot glue to the back of each star. Place the star anise in the center of the orange and hold it for a few seconds to allow the glue to set.

Cindy’s Extra Easy DIY: Do you have leftover star anise? Yes, I do! I created this easy craft for your leftover pieces last year. A star anise wreath is an easy way to add a rustic look and natural materials to the backs of chairs or other areas of your home during fall, the holidays, and winter.

As always, use extra caution when using a hot glue gun. Make sure children and pets can’t get tangled in the cord to avoid burns. Never leave a hot glue gun unattended.

Step 5: Assemble the Orange Star Anise Garland

Before gluing the anise to e

Once the anise is glued to each dried orange, it’s time to string the garland together.

Thread a large needle with your twine. Carefully push the needle through the flesh of each dried orange slice, then pull it behind the orange and pull it out through the other end.

Thread each orange the same way, leaving a little space between the pieces. This keeps the orange slices from twisting, so the star anise stays front and center.

Continue adding the oranges until your garland reaches your desired length. Tie a knot at each end, leaving enough twine for hanging.

Cindy’s Tip: Leave some slack between oranges if you want the garland to have a natural look when draping. If you prefer a taut straight look, you can pull the twine tighter.

What does an orange garland symbolize?

Oranges have long been associated with prosperity and good luck, making them a great addition to holiday decorating.

When you are finished using your garland, you can take it apart and store the dried orange slice pieces and star anise to use again next year.

Store these pieces in a brown paper bag in a cool, dry place with good ventilation. A closet works well. Some people prefer an airtight container, but I have found that keeping mine in a paper bag works well.

Keeping the oranges dry is important so they can last a long time.

I also love using dried oranges and star anise in a decorative bowl, crate, tray, or basket with cinnamon sticks and pine cones for another natural holiday display. These are simple natural Christmas decorations that bring warmth to a home.

How long do orange garlands last?

When stored properly, orange garlands can last for a couple of years. They may darken in color over time, but that doesn’t mean the oranges are bad.

In my experience, the fruit is at its best for about two years. After two years, I usually make a fresh batch of dried orange slices.

I love making them again because the drying process is simple, and fresh oranges give the garland a beautiful new look for the holiday season.

Why Dry Oranges?

If this is your first time drying oranges, I have a simple tutorial to walk you through the process. I share everything from preparing the oranges and arranging them in a single layer to using a cooling rack, along with the oven temperature and drying time.

I have dried oranges many times, and one of my favorite things about these natural beauties is that they can last a long time when stored properly.

There are also so many different ways to incorporate dried oranges into our homes for a warm, festive touch throughout the seasons.

The orange scent is another reason I love making these. Even after they are dried, the combination of citrus and star anise gives this project the perfect seasonal feeling.

Discover More Easy Craft Projects for Fall Through Winter

I also have easy DIY projects for you to try

• This is an easy DIY: a dried orange and rustic star anise Christmas wreath. HERE
• Make orange slice ornaments to add to the Christmas tree. These ornaments come together in a little bit of time and are a pretty addition to your holiday decorating.
• Add jute, twine, or plaid ribbon through the center of the orange. You can also add cinnamon sticks or small pine cones to create natural Christmas decorations, or hang these on a Christmas tree.

And a BONUS: these projects work from fall through the winter months.

More Ideas for the Center of the Orange

There are so many different ways to decorate the center of the orange. Star anise is my favorite, but you can use other natural materials to create a different look.

• Pine cones: As I have mentioned in other blog posts, pinecones are a natural way to decorate your home for the holidays. Wrap floral wire around the base of the pine cones and through the lower scales. Twist the ends of the wire tightly. Use another piece of floral wire to secure them to a wreath.
• Oranges: Thread floral wire through the small holes in the middle of the orange and twist the wire tightly. Use another piece of floral wire to secure the oranges to a wreath.
• Cloves: Add whole cloves to your orange garland for an earthy aroma that naturally brings warmth to the home. Whole cloves look beautiful in the center of the orange around the small holes, or along the outer edge through the flesh of the orange. See my tip below.
• Fresh Pine: Trim small pieces of fresh pine, add a dab of hot glue, and place the pine in the center. Hold the pine until the glue sets. These are a natural festive touch for a smaller wreath or gift toppers.
• Rosemary Sprigs: No fresh pine? No problem. Add rosemary sprigs to the orange with a dab of hot glue. I love the color combination and scent for holiday decorating. Rosemary has a similar earthy scent to pine and can be found in the grocery store.

Cindy’s Tip: Combine anise stars with pinecones, dried blood orange slices or navel oranges, cinnamon sticks, a mini eucalyptus wreath, and birch logs in a crate or basket. These are gorgeous Christmas decorations that work through the winter.

You can see natural decor – HERE

A Simple Natural Holiday Look

I hope you enjoyed this simple tutorial and are inspired to create your own star anise garland with orange slices. This is an easy way to incorporate natural elements for the holidays into your home with a rustic and more minimal look. Happy crafting!

RELATED POSTS

Natural Fall Decorating

Chestnut Wreath