There’s something magical about these dried orange slices around the holidays. Their stained glass translucence brings a homey, cozy elegance to your garland or tree. A versatile crafting element, they pair well with cranberries, evergreens, and other holiday staples. My family also loves these as a holiday cocktail or fancy drink garnish.

Best of all, they are so easy to make it’s almost a joke. While they do take a while in the oven, they are low maintenance and can be going in the oven while you work, clean, hang with loved ones, or relax. As long as you have a timer and are home to flip them, these are almost an afterthought.

Dried orange slices with greenery and jute

Tips for Making Stained Glass Dried Orange Slices

Because these take so much inactive time, they are really easy to have going in the background while you go about your day. There are a few things you can do to make sure they come out perfectly, though, so here are a few tips!

Blot your oranges before you begin. Removing as much moisture as possible before you start them in the oven will help them not burn or scorch as they dry out.
Do not crowd your sheet. These are not going to expand, but you still want to have at least 1/2″ of space between the slices. Crowding the pan will keep that moisture from really escaping the slices. It also means they won’t stick together.
Flip your slices every hour. Flipping your slices will help keep them evenly drying out.
Choose airtight storage for your finished slices. You do not have to use these right away; in fact, you can keep them in an airtight container for months. This is a great make-ahead component to crafts and other holiday recipes

How Can I Use Stained Glass Dried Orange Slices?

Dried orange slices with greenery, scissors, and jute

Let’s be honest…these dried oranges are so gorgeous it’s worth it to make them just to stare at them. That beautiful orange color makes me swoon!

Luckily, there are a bunch of practical ways you can use them during the fall and winter holiday seasons. Here are a few ideas:

Ornaments
Garlands
Cocktail garnishes
Table and centerpiece additions
Wreaths
Stovetop Simmering Potpourri

You can also dry out lemons, limes, blood oranges, and other citrus fruits the same way. Just remember to keep an eye on them in the oven and flip them often.

For more photos of this recipe and all the other homemaking projects I’m doing, including recipes, knitting patterns, and other fun stuff, find me on Instagram and Pinterest!

Stained Glass Dried Orange Slices

Prep Time2 mins

Equipment

Baking sheet(s)
Paper towels
Parchment paper

Materials

4-6 oranges You can use as many as will fit on your baking sheets.

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 225 degrees.
Line your baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.
Slice your oranges into 1/4" rounds. Try to keep your slices consistent in thickness.
Lay out a couple of layers of paper towels. Line up your orange slices on the towels. Blot the slices with more paper towels. Remove any paper towels that stick to your slices.
Line your baking sheets with the orange slices, leaving at least 1/4" of space between them.
Bake the slices for about 6 hours, flipping them at least once per hour. Blot any juice that is released onto the parchment any time you see it. If you have any slices that are thinner or smaller, you may need to remove those before the majority.
Allow your slices to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.