How to dry orange slices

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?

#tutorial #howto #dry #orange #slices #festive #oven #Christmas #decorations #homemade #staranise #cloves