A dried orange garland is a string of thin, oven-dried orange slices hung across a mantel, window, or altar, where the light shines through them like little suns. It's one of the easiest winter decorations to make, it smells wonderful, and at the winter solstice it carries a lovely bit of meaning: each glowing slice is a small sun hung up to welcome the light back. Below you'll find how to dry orange slices, how to string an orange garland, and how to make one with intention for Yule.
What Does a Dried Orange Garland Mean?
A dried orange garland stands for the sun, warmth, and abundance. Round, golden, and glowing when the light hits it, a dried orange slice looks like a tiny sun, which is why so many people hang them in the darkest weeks of the year.
In magical practice, oranges carry the energy of the sun and fire: happiness, optimism, luck, and prosperity. Hanging a garland on the winter solstice is a simple way to call the sun back on the longest night and invite its warmth into the year ahead. For the history of the holiday itself, see our guide to what Yule is.
What You'll Need
To make one 6-foot dried orange garland, you'll need:
- 4 to 5 navel oranges (about 30 slices)
- A sharp serrated knife or a mandoline
- Paper towels or a clean dish towel
- 2 baking sheets and 2 wire cooling racks (or parchment paper)
- Twine, jute, or baker's twine
- A large-eyed needle, a skewer, or a toothpick
- Optional add-ins: cinnamon sticks, star anise, bay leaves, small pinecones, or dried cranberries
Navel oranges are the easiest to slice and dry, and blood oranges and grapefruit make beautiful darker and paler slices if you'd like to mix colors.
How to Make Dried Orange Slices
To make dried orange slices, cut oranges into quarter-inch rounds, blot them dry, and bake them on a rack at 200°F for 3 to 4 hours, flipping every hour, until they're dry and stiff.
| Method | Temperature | Slice thickness | Drying time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oven | 200°F (95°C) | 1/4 inch (6 mm) | 3 to 4 hours, flipping every hour |
| Oven, thin slices | 200°F (95°C) | 1/8 inch (3 mm) | 2 to 3 hours, flipping every 45 minutes |
| Food dehydrator | 135°F (57°C) | 1/4 inch (6 mm) | 8 to 12 hours |
In the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 200°F (95°C), or as low as it will go.
- Cut the oranges crosswise into rounds a quarter inch (about 6 mm) thick. Thinner slices dry faster and glow more; thicker ones curl less.
- Press each slice between paper towels to soak up as much juice as you can. This step cuts the drying time and keeps the slices bright.
- Lay the slices in a single layer on wire racks set over baking sheets, or on parchment paper, without overlapping.
- Bake for 3 to 4 hours, flipping the slices every hour so they dry evenly and don't stick.
- Check them often in the last hour. They're done when the flesh is dry and slightly translucent and the peel is firm. If the edges start to brown, lower the heat or crack the oven door.
- Let them cool completely on the racks. They'll crisp up a little more as they cool.
In a Dehydrator
Set a food dehydrator to 135°F (57°C), lay the blotted slices in a single layer, and dry them for 8 to 12 hours, until they're completely dry and stiff. A dehydrator keeps the color brighter than an oven, though it takes longer.
How to Make a Dried Orange Garland
To make a dried orange garland, thread your dried orange slices onto twine through two small holes near the top of each slice, spacing them a few inches apart and adding cinnamon sticks or star anise between them if you like.
- Dry your orange slices. Follow the steps above and let the slices cool completely.
- Cut your twine. Cut a piece about a foot longer than the space you want to fill, so you have room to tie the ends.
- Poke two holes in each slice. Use a skewer or toothpick to make two small holes about half an inch apart near the top edge of each slice, through the flesh just inside the peel.
- Thread the slices. Thread the needle or the twine end in through one hole and out through the other, so the slice hangs flat and faces forward.
- Space them out. Slide each slice into place and leave 2 to 4 inches between slices. A loose knot on either side of a slice keeps it from sliding.
- Add your extras. Tie a cinnamon stick, a bay leaf, or a small pinecone between slices, or thread a star anise pod or a few dried cranberries onto the twine.
- Tie loops at the ends. Tie a small loop at each end of the twine for hanging.
- Hang it. Drape it across a mantel, window, doorway, or altar, wherever the light can shine through the slices.
A dried orange garland is just as at home on a holiday tree as it is on a mantel or a solstice altar.
Ideas for Your Orange Garland
You can keep a dried orange garland simple or mix in other natural pieces. Here are a few combinations:
- Orange and cranberry garland: thread three or four dried cranberries between each orange slice for a red-and-gold garland. Use fully dried cranberries; fresh ones will mold.
- Orange and cinnamon garland: tie a cinnamon stick between every two slices for warmth and prosperity.
- Orange and star anise garland: add a star anise pod between slices for luck and a little sparkle of shape.
- Orange and bay leaf garland: tie in bay leaves for wishes and success.
- Mixed citrus garland: combine orange, blood orange, lemon, and grapefruit slices for a range of golds and reds.
- Single-slice ornaments: hang individual slices with a loop of ribbon from branches, windows, or doorknobs.
How to Make an Intention Garland for Yule
An intention garland is a dried orange garland made as a small spell for the year ahead. It's a lovely project for the longest night.
As you thread each orange slice, name one thing you'd like the returning sun to bring, like warmth, peace at home, a new job, or more time outdoors. Add a cinnamon stick for prosperity, a star anise for luck, or a bay leaf for a wish you'd like to come true. Some people string twelve slices, one for each month of the coming year.
When it's finished, hang the garland on the evening of the winter solstice and say:
Little suns on golden thread,
light the year that lies ahead.
Leave it up through the winter as a reminder of what you're calling in. For more ways to mark the night, see our winter solstice traditions, and for decorating around it, our Yule altar guide.
The Clove-Studded Orange Pomander
A clove-studded orange is a whole orange pushed full of whole cloves, left to dry until it's light and fragrant. It's a modern version of the pomander, from the French pomme d'ambre, "apple of amber," a ball of perfume once carried in a gold or silver case. The clove orange became popular in the 20th century, and once it's fully dry it can last for years.
To make one, poke rows of holes in a fresh orange with a toothpick and press a clove into each hole. Cloves are traditionally used for luck and protection, so it's a nice charm to hang by the door alongside your garland.
What to Do With Your Garland After the Season
When the season's over, you can store your garland, burn it, or compost it.
- Store it. Wrap the garland loosely in tissue paper and keep it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Well-dried slices often look good for another year.
- Burn it in your Yule fire. Dried orange slices burn well and smell lovely. Tuck a few into the kindling for your Yule log to send your intentions up with the smoke.
- Simmer the slices. Drop a few slices into a simmer pot with cinnamon and cloves.
- Compost it. Take off any twine or ribbon that isn't natural fiber, and compost the slices and spices.
For more seasonal ideas, see our Yule correspondences.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dried Orange Garlands
How Long Do Dried Orange Slices Last?
Dried orange slices last about a year if they're fully dry and stored in an airtight container somewhere cool and dry. Hanging out in the open, they usually look good for the whole winter season.
How Long Does It Take to Dry Orange Slices in the Oven?
It takes about 3 to 4 hours to dry orange slices in the oven at 200°F. Thicker slices, juicier oranges, and humid kitchens can add another hour.
Why Are My Dried Orange Slices Turning Brown?
Dried orange slices turn brown when the oven is too hot or they bake too long. Use the lowest oven setting, blot the slices well first, and pull them as soon as they're dry.
How Do You Keep Dried Orange Slices From Molding?
To keep dried orange slices from molding, dry them completely until there's no soft or sticky flesh left, and keep them out of humid rooms like bathrooms. Any slice that still bends easily needs more time in the oven.
How Many Oranges Do You Need for a Garland?
You need about 4 to 5 oranges for a 6-foot garland. Each orange gives 6 to 8 usable slices once you skip the ends.
What Does a Dried Orange Garland Symbolize?
A dried orange garland symbolizes the sun, warmth, and abundance. Many people hang one at the winter solstice to welcome the light back on the longest night of the year.
