Dried fruit is the oldest Christmas decoration there is, and it still beats anything plastic. Dried orange slices glow like stained glass when the tree lights shine through them, they smell wonderful, and a whole batch costs less than one store bought ornament set.
In this list you will find garlands, a wreath, ornaments and table ideas, all built around dried oranges, lemons, limes, apples and grapefruit. The first three are full builds with materials and steps. The rest are quick ideas you can copy in minutes.
Everything starts with well dried fruit. Slice citrus about a quarter inch thick, blot the slices dry, then dry them low and slow in the oven at 200 degrees F (about 90 degrees C) for 3 to 4 hours, flipping once, until they feel firm and papery. A dehydrator works too, and it frees up your oven.
One honest note before you start: once fruit is glued, wired or sprayed for decor, it is decoration only and not for eating. Keep finished pieces away from curious pets, and store them in a dry box with a little silica gel so they come back just as pretty next year.
Quick Picks
- Easiest build: Dried Citrus Ornaments with Star Anise and Rosemary (idea 3)
- Biggest impact: Dried Orange Slice Garland with Cinnamon and Pinecones (idea 1)
- Best scent: Popcorn, Cranberry and Dried Orange Garland (idea 6)
1. Dried Orange Slice Garland with Cinnamon and Pinecones
This is the garland that makes a whole mantel look finished. Dried orange slices alternate with cinnamon sticks and small pinecones along a strand of greenery, and every ingredient is natural. Short on drying time? A pack of ready dried orange slices with twine strings gets you hanging the same afternoon.
⏱ 1 hour plus drying💲 Low🛠 Easy
Materials Needed
- 25 to 30 dried orange slices
- 10 to 12 cinnamon sticks
- 10 small pinecones
- Faux or fresh pine garland, about 6 feet
- Jute twine and floral wire
- Hot glue gun or wire ties
How to Make It
- Dry the orange slices until firm and let them cool fully.
- Lay the pine garland flat and fluff it into an even line.
- Push a short piece of floral wire through the top of each orange slice and twist it around the garland spine, spacing slices about 4 inches apart.
- Wire two cinnamon sticks in an X between the slices, then add a pinecone at every third gap.
- Hang the garland and step back, then nudge any slice that faces the wall so the light catches it.
Tip: Thread slices so the prettiest side faces the room. Backlit by window light or tree lights, the orange turns a deep amber and the whole garland looks lit from inside.
2. Dried Orange Slice Wreath with a Velvet Bow
A full circle of overlapping orange slices makes a wreath that looks expensive and stores flat. The velvet bow does the dressing up, so pick a deep red, forest green or dusty pink ribbon to match your room. It works on a wall, a mirror or the inside of the front door.
⏱ 45 minutes plus drying💲 Low🛠 Easy
Materials Needed
- 30 to 40 dried orange slices
- Foam or grapevine wreath form, 12 inches
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Velvet ribbon for a bow
- Twine loop for hanging
How to Make It
- Dry the slices a little longer than usual so they stay stiff on the form.
- Glue the first ring of slices around the outer edge of the form, overlapping each slice by about a third.
- Add a second inner ring, tucking slices into the gaps of the first ring.
- Fill any bare spots with single slices, then glue the twine loop to the back.
- Tie the velvet bow at the top and hang the wreath away from direct steam or rain.
Tip: Wreaths eat more slices than you expect. Dry a full extra tray so you are never forced to use a pale or broken slice in a visible spot.
3. Dried Citrus Ornaments with Star Anise and Rosemary
Single slices become ornaments when you dress the center. A cinnamon stick, a star anise pod and a sprig of rosemary tied on with twine turns one slice into a little scented gift for the tree. A roll of natural jute twine will finish a whole tree worth of these.
⏱ 30 minutes for six💲 Very low🛠 Easy
Materials Needed
- Dried orange, lemon or lime slices
- Cinnamon sticks, cut short
- Star anise pods
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Jute twine
- Small dot of hot glue per ornament
How to Make It
- Pick flat, evenly colored slices with no torn rims.
- Cut a 10 inch piece of twine, fold it into a loop and glue the ends to the back of the slice at the top.
- Glue a short cinnamon stick across the center front of the slice.
- Add one star anise pod on top of the stick and a small rosemary sprig tucked underneath.
- Let the glue set for ten minutes, then hang the ornaments where light passes through them.
Tip: Make a few extra and use them as gift toppers. They turn plain brown paper wrapping into something people photograph before they open it.
Printable Bundle
Christmas Printable Bundle
Christmas planner, 24 advent activity cards, 36 gift tags, handmade labels, Santa letter and family games.
4. A Tree Dressed in Dried Orange Garlands
Drape two or three orange slice garlands around the tree in loose swags, then fill the gaps with plain baubles and candle style lights. The slices do the decorating work, so the rest of the tree can stay simple. Keep garlands a few inches away from hot bulbs; LED lights are the safe pairing here.
You’ll need: dried orange slices, jute twine, LED string lights, plain baubles
Best for: a traditional living room tree with a handmade feel
5. Vintage Tree with Popcorn and Dried Orange Garlands
Old fashioned trees paired dried fruit with popcorn strings, and the mix still looks rich: amber oranges, creamy popcorn, gold baubles and pinecones. String the popcorn on strong thread with a needle, and plan to remake that part each year since popcorn goes stale and can draw pests in storage.
You’ll need: plain popped popcorn, strong thread and needle, dried orange slices, gold baubles, pinecones
Best for: anyone who loves a nostalgic, collected over time tree
6. Popcorn, Cranberry and Dried Orange Garland
Thread popcorn, fresh cranberries and dried orange slices in a repeating pattern for a garland with real color rhythm: white, deep red, amber. A ready dried orange slice and wooden bead garland kit gives the same rhythm at the table if threading is not your thing. Work over a tray, because cranberries roll everywhere.
You’ll need: popcorn, fresh cranberries, dried orange slices, large needle and fishing line
Best for: a mantel or stair rail that needs color without glitter
7. Resin Dried Orange Slice Ornaments
Sealing a dried slice in clear resin with a few gold beads makes an ornament that keeps its color for years and survives storage without crumbling. The slice must be bone dry before it goes into resin, or trapped moisture will cloud the finish. Pour in thin layers and let each one cure.
You’ll need: fully dried orange slices, two part resin or resin ornament molds, gold beads, twine hangers
Best for: keepsake ornaments and handmade gifts
Printable Games
Christmas Party Games Pack
9 fun games for family, friends and office parties: trivia, charades, gift swap and more.
8. A Mixed Citrus Batch for Kitchen Decorating
Do not stop at oranges. Grapefruit dries into big pink wheels, lemons stay bright yellow and limes keep a deep green edge, so one dehydrator batch gives you a whole palette. The big grapefruit slices suit wreaths and garlands, while small lime slices finish ornaments and gift wrap.
You’ll need: oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes, dehydrator or oven, sharp knife and cutting board
Best for: kitchen trees, garlands and anyone decorating on a grocery budget
9. Dried Apple and Orange Garland for a Rustic Table
Dried apple rings bring a pale, soft contrast to orange slices, and together they make a gentle garland for a table runner, a hutch or a window frame. Apples brown as they dry, which is part of the charm, but a quick dip in lemon water first keeps them lighter.
You’ll need: apples and oranges, lemon juice and water for soaking, twine, optional bay leaves
Best for: farmhouse tables and low, natural centerpieces
10. Dried Orange Place Markers for the Christmas Table
Thread a dried orange slice onto a cream ribbon, tie it at each place setting and add a small name card. Guests get a marker that smells like Christmas and doubles as a tiny favor to take home. Choose slices of a similar size so the table looks planned, not random.
You’ll need: dried orange slices, cream ribbon, small name cards, sprigs of evergreen
Best for: Christmas dinner tables and winter weddings
11. A Tray of Stacked Citrus Ornaments
Layer a small lime or lemon slice over a bigger orange slice, crown it with star anise and a touch of greenery, and you have a stacked ornament with real dimension. Display a batch on a wooden tray before hanging them; they make a centerpiece all by themselves.
You’ll need: dried orange and lime slices, star anise, mini greenery sprigs, hot glue, wooden tray
Best for: entry tables and anyone short on tree space
12. Dried Orange Slices Tucked into Greenery with Fairy Lights
The fastest idea on this list: push dried orange slices into a plain greenery garland or a bowl of fir branches and weave in warm fairy lights. The light behind the slices makes them glow, and the whole arrangement takes five minutes. Use battery LED lights only, never real candles near dried fruit.
You’ll need: dried orange slices, fir branches or a plain garland, battery LED fairy lights
Best for: a last minute mantel, shelf or table glow up
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do dried fruit decorations last?
Kept dry, most pieces look good for two to three seasons. Store them in a sealed box with silica gel, away from humidity. Popcorn and fresh cranberry parts are one season only.
How do I stop orange slices going moldy while drying?
Slice evenly, blot well and dry low and slow until the slice feels firm and papery with no cool, damp center. Any slice that still bends like leather needs more time.
Are dried fruit decorations safe around kids and pets?
Plain dried fruit is non toxic, but small pieces are a choking risk and glued or wired decor should be treated as decoration only. Hang pieces out of reach and never serve craft slices as food.
Which fruits dry best for Christmas decorations?
Oranges are the classic. Grapefruit, lemons, limes, apples and pears all dry well and give you pink, yellow, green and cream alongside the orange.
Can I dry fruit without a dehydrator?
Yes. A low oven at 200 degrees F (about 90 degrees C) for 3 to 4 hours works well. Flip the slices halfway and keep the door slightly ajar if your oven runs hot.
How do I keep the color bright?
Dry slices fully, display them away from constant direct sun, and store them in the dark. Resin sealing, like idea 7, locks in color the longest.
Final Thoughts on Christmas Decorations Made From Dried Fruits
Dried fruit decorations ask for one slow afternoon of slicing and drying, and then they pay you back all season: color, scent and texture that no factory ornament quite matches.
Start with the garland if you want the biggest change for the least money, add the wreath if you enjoy a project, and tuck single slices everywhere else. Next year, when you open the storage box and the citrus smell hits you first, you will be glad you made them.
