Drying orange slices is something I love to do every year. It is a really satisfying process and the decorations look really rustic and smell festive too.
If you want to attempt to have a go - here are my instructions:
You will need:
About four oranges, any variety will do but I used navel oranges.
Tin foil
A baking tray
String or ribbon
Cloves and star anise (optional)
How to dry oranges:
Set the oven quite low about 180 degrees.
Line a baking tray with tin foil.
Slice four oranges about 1-2 cm thick.
Lie them on tin foil in the baking tray, I studded a few with cloves and pressed a couple of star anise into the centre of some as an experiment.
Turn the slices over after about 45 minutes (some were a bit brown where the juices start to run out!)
Check them again about half an hour later and turn them over.
Leave them in for around two hours - I ended up turning the oven
down lower (about 150 degrees) as some were getting burnt.
Make more than you need as some will not look as good as others.
I took them out of the oven and left them to cool in a bowl and dry out a bit more.
The following day I made a little hole in the slice with a knife and threaded string and ribbon through and hung them on the tree.
Do you guys make your own decorations?
