Dried Orange Slice Ornaments (2024)

Orange slice ornaments are a traditional winter holiday craft for kids and adults of all ages–use the instructions below to make your own natural sun wheel ornaments for the Yule or Christmas Tree! (First published on December 21, 2021; this post is updated and republished to improve the content.)

Dried orange slice ornaments are a traditional winter holiday craft that kids and adults can make. Also known as sun wheel ornaments or sun wheels–orange slice ornaments are naturally beautiful, give off a delightfully sweet and joyful fragrance, and add a natural rustic touch to any holiday decorations.

Dehydrated orange slice ornaments are a traditional holiday craft often made to decorate for the winter solstice and Christmas. Because they symbolize the Sun and the returning light, dried orange slices are often strung together to make garlands, placed into boughs of evergreen, and sprinkled throughout all sorts of Christmas decorations. So, you will often see them made into ornaments that hang on Yule or Christmas trees, handmade wreaths, and other winter holiday decorations worldwide.

Dried orange slice Christmas ornaments are easy to make but take a bit of time. So, be sure to read through the instructions for drying oranges and making sun wheel ornaments before you get started–so you know the steps involved and what to expect. You might also enjoy this list of homemade Christmas Ornaments kids can help make.

How to Make Orange Slice Christmas Ornaments

Oranges and other citrus fruits are traditionally dried or dehydrated and used in several ways to make orange slice solstice decorations and dried orange Christmas ornaments. Because there are so many variables involved, this tutorial consists of two parts: 1) How to dry oranges for ornaments and 2) How to make dried orange slice ornaments, with a complete step-by-step tutorial at the end.

First, we explain how to dry oranges in the oven, along with our best tips on how to bake orange slices. Next, we show you how to make dried orange slice ornaments with freshly dehydrated oranges and other citrus fruits. And we make it easy with the step-by-step ornament craft tutorial and orange drying tips below.

Orange Slice Ornaments Baking and Craft Supplies

Oranges or other citrus fruits (drying times may vary–see step-by instructions below)
Sharp kitchen knife
Cutting board
Oven (or convection oven with a dehydrator.)
Cookie sheet and parchment paper (Not needed if using a convection oven with a dehydrator; use the wire rack that comes with it instead).
Ribbon, bakers twine, natural jute twine, monofilament (fishing) line, or craft wire
Small multicolored craft bows or red satin bows (optional)
Depending on how you make your dried orange slices into ornaments and other decorations, you might also need a sewing needle with a large eye. Read through the instructions below for more information.

How to Dry Oranges for Ornaments

You must first dehydrate or dry out the oranges to make DIY orange slice ornaments. Follow the simple instructions below to learn how to dry oranges for your holiday decorations and Christmas ornaments. But please be aware that dehydrating oranges for ornaments is not an exact science. There can be a lot of differences in the time required to dry different varieties, shapes, and sizes of oranges and other citrus fruits out entirely. For best results, scroll down to read through our tips on drying oranges for ornaments.

Related post: Citrus Printing Process Art

How to Dry Orange Slices for Ornaments:

To dry oranges to make ornaments, you must first cut them into slices.
- Use a kitchen knife to cut oranges or other citrus fruit into about quarter-inch thick pieces.
- Next, gently pat citrus slices dry with a dish towel to remove the excess juice and leave them out to dehydrate for 12 to 48 hours before putting them in the oven to bake (optional but recommended).
  - This optional step can help decrease cooking time and allow the citrus slices to help them retain their sunny golden and bright orange colors.
  - While putting them directly into the range (or convection oven) to cook and dehydrate can decrease total preparation time, the orange slice ornaments will often appear darker when not allowed to air dry for several hours first.
Next, put them in a single layer onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (or directly onto a wire rack) and dry them in a low-heat oven at no more than 200 degrees Fahrenheit (or on the dehydrate setting in a convection oven) for several hours.
Please read through the list of orange drying tips and the complete step-by-step dried orange slice craft tutorial below for the best results!

Related: DIY Christmas Ornaments

Drying Oranges for Ornaments: Best Tips and Tricks for Citrus Slices

My daughter and I have spent a lot of time drying oranges to make citrus slice ornaments, and we’ve learned a lot of things about what to do–and what not to do–when drying oranges over the last several years. So, if you’re wondering how to dry oranges for ornaments, look at the tips below before getting started.

Our best advice? Don’t forget that they are in the oven! Set a timer to check them every 30 minutes to an hour. It may seem simple, but drying oranges for ornaments can be a long, slow process, and it’s easier than you think to forget about them. I have done it more than once over the years.

1. The drying times of citrus slices can vary.

Because citrus fruits vary in size and moisture content, drying and cooking times can vary radically.
The humidity level where they are dried can also affect the time they take to dry, dehydrate, or cook.
Experiment with oranges, mandarines, grapefruits, lemons, limes, etc.!

2. Pat citrus slices dry with a towel and air Dry.

Gently pat citrus slices with a dish towel (or paper towel) to remove excess moisture before dehydrating them in the oven or allowing them to air dry.
Flip them over to get as much moisture as possible from both sides.
Put citrus or orange slices on a towel or rack to air dry and continue to remove moisture from the citrus or orange slices (optional).
- When orange slices are left out to dry before baking, they require less cooking time.
- Set citrus fruit slices aside and allow them to dehydrate for 12 to 48 hours before cooking them in a low-heat oven.
These drying methods help decrease the total drying time for citrus or orange slices in the oven, keep them from burning, and help them retain their radiant colors.
Sometimes, citrus slices can be completely dehydrated after air drying them for several days (or weeks) without cooking, baking, or dehydrating in the oven.

3. Cook orange slices in a low-heat oven (or convection oven with a dehydrator).

Place orange slices in a single layer on a baking sheet or tray lined with parchment paper or put them directly onto the wire rack in a convection oven.
Bake orange slices in a low-heat oven of no more than 200 degrees Fahrenheit for two to six hours.
Or cook them in a convection oven on the “dehydrate” setting to dry them out.

4. Set a timer to check and turn slices every 30 minutes.

Set a timer to turn them every 30 to 60 minutes, and cook them until they are a dark golden yellow-orange.
The orange slices may not be entirely dehydrated, but they will dry out over time.
If you leave citrus slices in the oven too long, they can turn dark brown, which is not entirely terrible but not ideal.

5. Remove the citrus slices from the oven if they get too brown or burnt.

Remove the citrus slices from the oven immediately if you notice them burning or getting too brown.
Allow the orange slices to finish dehydrating outside the oven.

6. Allow orange slices to air dry for a day or two.

Once you take the sliced oranges out of the oven, they usually need a few more days to completely dry.
Baked orange slices often need more than the time it takes to cook them to dehydrate completely. However, they can be made into orange slice ornaments and crafts as soon as they are firm enough to thread a ribbon or wire through.

7. Use citrus slices for ornaments, winter crafts, and home decor.

Once the orange slices are dried or dehydrated, string them into garlands, attach them to Christmas wreaths, or make them into sun wheel ornaments with the step-by-step craft instructions in the next section.

How to Make Dried Orange Slice Ornaments

Next, it’s time to turn the dried citrus slices into rustic orange slice Christmas ornaments. The instructions below include the steps mentioned in “How to Dry Oranges” from the section above. We also have an abbreviated set of orange slice ornament instructions that you can print below.

1. Cut oranges into slices.

Use a shape knife to cut oranges into slices about 1/4 inch thick.

2. Dehydrate orange slices.

Use the tips and instructions in the section above to learn how to dry orange slices for ornaments. The best part about drying oranges in the oven is their deliciously sweet smell wafting through the house as they bake and dehydrate. A basic outline of the steps to dry or dehydrate citrus slices follows:

Place the sliced oranges in a single layer on a towel or cutting board. Gently pat them dry with a dish towel and allow the orange slices to air dry for 12 to 48 hours.
- This optional first step can help start the drying process and decrease total cooking time once put in the oven to bake and dehydrate.
- Sometimes, citrus slices can be completely dehydrated by air drying alone, with no baking, cooking, or dehydrating in an oven needed.
Next, place orange slices in a single layer on baking sheets lined with parchment paper or directly onto the wire rack in a convection oven.
Bake or cook on dehydrate in a convection oven (or in a low-heat oven no more than 200 degrees Fahrenheit) for 2 to 6 hours.
Set a time to check and flip orange slices as they bake in the oven every 30 to 60 minutes.
If the orange slices get too brown or burnt, remove them from the oven and let them air dry, or dehydrate them outside for the next few days.

3. Turn dried orange slices into ornaments and other Christmas crafts.

You can use dried orange slices to make ornaments to hang on the Yule or Christmas tree and other kinds of winter crafts. If you would like to make an ornament hanger for your dried orange slice ornaments, follow the steps in the next section.

String dried citrus slices with monofilament fishing string, ribbon, or twine to make a simple garland.
Use twine, monofilament line, or craft wire to attach dried orange slices to wreaths and other winter solstice or Christmas crafts.
Thread dehydrated orange slices onto a section of twine or ribbon to make an ornament hanger. (The step-by-step instructions for the complete DIY are below.)

How to Make Orange Slice Ornament Hangers:

Cut a 4 to 12-inch length of ribbon, bakers or jute twine, monofilament (fishing line), craft wire, etc.
Thread one end of the ribbon, twine, string, or wire through each dried orange slice (or other citrus fruit) to create an ornament hanger for each orange slice:
- Use a knife to poke a small hole below the peel, thread the ribbon through it, or use a large-eyed sewing needle:
  - First, thread the 4-12 inch section of ribbon or twine through the large eye of the sewing needle.
  - Next, punch the needle through the flesh sack of the orange slice (or other citrus fruit) just under the peel.
  - Then, pull the ribbon through the dried orange.
  - If desired, string cinnamon sticks, pine cones, cranberries, apple slices, bay leaves, wooden beads, and other natural elements onto the ribbon, wire, string, twine, or fishing line to add to the ornament.
  - Finally, remove the sewing needle if you haven’t already.
- Tie the ends of the ribbon or twine together to create a simple hanger for the orange slice ornament.
- Or fold the twine or ribbon in half before you push the folded end through the orange. (Tying the ornament hanger with this method helps the dried orange slice ornament hang flat.)
  - Then, thread the two ends through the hanger loop punched through the orange slice.
  - Next, add optional natural elements to the ornament hanger, such as cinnamon sticks, pine cones, acorns, apples, cranberries, bay leaves, wooden beads, etc.
  - Then, tie the two ends of twine or ribbon together to complete the loop.

Related: How to Color or Dye Wooden Beads

How to Add a Small Bow To Orange Slice Ornaments:

This last step is optional. Adding a small bow can give the orange slices the appearance of a small Christmas wreath with a bow, but it is unnecessary.
Follow the simple instructions below to add a bow to each orange slice ornament, or leave them as-is for a natural rustic look.
- Use craft wire to tie a lightweight Christmas bow and fix it in place towards the bottom or the top of the orange slice.
- Or attach the bow with a dollop of hot glue to the dried orange ornaments.
- Miniature bows are easy to assemble, convenient to store, and simple to remove from the orange slices after Christmas and store for reuse next year. Alternatively, you can use them to make Valentine’s Day and Saint Patrick’s Day crafts.

DIY Orange Slice Ornaments FAQ’s

Orange slice sun wheel ornaments are a traditional winter solstice and Christmas craft. Learn more about these sunny citrus crafts with the frequently asked questions (FAQs) below!

Why Do People Put Orange Slices on Their Christmas Tree?

Oranges are a traditional gift for Yule (winter solstice) and have been used to make winter holiday crafts and DIY decor since ancient times.
People also hang dried orange slices to represent the birth of the Sun and the return of the light.

What do dried orange slices symbolize?

Oranges symbolize abundance and are believed to bring good fortune and prosperity.
Dried orange slices in winter holiday decorations symbolize hope for a prosperous year.
Orange slices are also considered a symbol of the Sun and the returning light.

What kind of citrus fruits can be made into ornaments?

Several kinds of citrus fruits can be used to make dried citrus slice ornaments and other crafts:
- Valencia oranges, navel oranges, blood oranges, mandarines, grapefruits, lemons, and limes can all be made into citrus ornaments to decorate the Christmas tree or add to DIY holiday home decor.
- We’ve tried drying and making ornaments out of several varieties of citrus fruits. Our favorites are dried citrus slice ornaments made with blood and mandarin orange slices.

How Long do Dried Oranges Last?

When dried and stored correctly, orange slices last approximately two to three years.
If any moisture remains, the orange slices can develop mold and rot, so please ensure they are completely dehydrated before storing them away until next winter.
Citrus slice ornaments can darken in storage, but the orange slices we made last year smell as sweet and fragrant as the day we created them. When I opened the box we put them in last year, a joyful scent–sation wafted through the entire house!

Why do people hang dried orange slices?

Because they symbolize the sun and the returning light, dried orange slices are often strung together to make garlands, placed into evergreen wreaths, and hung upon the Yule or Christmas Tree to decorate for the winter holidays.

What do Oranges Have to do with the Solstice and Christmas?

Oranges are seen as an ancient symbol of the Sun.
After the winter solstice, the sun becomes more present as each day grows longer. So, oranges were brought into homes (along with evergreen boughs and holly berries) to help bring the light of the Sun indoors during the darkest time of the year.
Many believe oranges stimulate merrymaking during the darkest time of the year and bring love, prosperity, and a sweet and happy life. For example, orange essential oil is said to lift the mood and reduce stress, so many people use the scent of citrus to help increase feelings of joy and happiness.
In ancient times, orange slice ornaments and the crafts made with them offered the same benefits, so they were made to help lift spirits during the dark days of winter for winter solstice, Yule, or Christmas.

Why are Orange Slice Ornaments Called Sun Wheels?

A Sun Wheel is a circle with an equal-armed cross within it. Also known as the Sun Cross, Solar Cross, Wheel Cross, Pagan Cross, Woden’s Cross, and Odin’s Cross, it is an ancient spiritual symbol in many pre-historic cultures worldwide.
The cross inside the Sun Wheel divides the circle into four equal parts and represents the solar calendar marked by the solstices and equinoxes and its four annual seasons.
The sun wheel is also said to symbolize the four elements and the four cardinal directions–East, West, North, and South.
Learn more about the sun wheel symbol, what it stands for, and its early origins HERE–> Ancient Symbols.

DIY Orange Slice Sun Wheel Ornaments

Drying oranges for ornaments takes time, but it is a really easy craft project for kids or adults. The good news is that you can do other things as you wait for them to dry, but don’t forget about them in the oven.

First, gather the materials you need from the baking and craft supply list above. Next, follow the simple instructions to turn them into dehydrated orange slice ornaments. And finally, string these sunny little rustic ornaments together to make a garland, add them to evergreen wreaths, use them to decorate your winter solstice, Yule, or Christmas tree, or give them away as gifts to family and friends.

We hope you enjoy the sweet smell of oranges wafting through the house during the short, dark days of winter as they bake in the oven as much as we do. You might also enjoy using oranges and other citrus fruits to make art prints and gifts. Learn how here–>Citrus Printing Process Art.

Be sure to also check out winter solstice traditions and Christmas celebration ideas for even more fun. Happy holidays!

Learn more about Rhythms of Play–> HERE.

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