You may have noticed all over the internet this year it seems like holiday décor is including dried citrus slices everywhere you look. Home design influencers and content creators are sharing stunning spaces that include dried oranges on trees, garlands, centerpieces, and even as cocktail garnishes. These citrus Christmas classics are easier than you would expect to make on your own, so why not step up your own décor game and make some? The key is low heat, and a lot of time. This is the perfect DIY for a day at home prepping for the Holidays. And as a bonus, your house will smell amazing when you are done.
How to Dry Orange Slices in Your Oven
- Grab a bowl full of your preferred colorful citrus fruit (consider lemons or blood oranges for color variety). Using a mandoline or sharp knife, slice into thin slices about ¼” thick. Remove any seeds and pat dry with paper towels as much as possible. If you plan on using the dried slices as a cocktail garnish, be sure the fruit is clean and stored in a food safe container when finished.
- Preheat your oven (from Village Home Stores we presume) to 200° F
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper and arrange slices on them.
- Place in the oven at 200° F and dry for 3-4 hours flipping every 30 minutes or so to prevent any burning. Some slices may dry quicker than others so just remove as they seem to finish. TIP: if you have a Whirlpool or Maytag Air range, use the dishwasher-safe air fry tray that comes with it to help aid the dehydrating process from top and bottom as you bake (no flipping needed). If slices are browning, turn the heat down.
You did it and your house smells incredible! Now take them out and allow them to cool. These slices can even be reused next year if you store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry location. This year at the Village Home Stores showroom, we added some to our tree and the staircase garlands. We are super excited that this year’s Geneseo Christmas Walk in historic downtown Geneseo, Illinois is a throwback to the Victorian Christmas Walk of years past. There is something extra charming about traditional holiday décor compared to trending styles. These dried citrus slices fit into both categories of timeless and trendy.
Seasonal Sangria Batch Cocktail Recipe
Now that you are feeling crafty, how about a craft cocktail to celebrate your successful DIY dried orange slices? This holiday sangria recipe from last Christmas is the perfect treat. This seasonal recipe was so nice we had to share it twice.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 Bottle Red Wine
- ½ Cup Orange Liquor
- 3 Cans of Ginger Beer or Sparkling Water
- ¼ Cup Sugar (or 1 tablespoon of hot honey if you want a little kick)
- 1 Red Apple. Cored and Cubed
- 1 Orange, Juiced
- 1 Orange, Sliced
- 1 Cup Fresh Whole Cranberries
- 2-3 Sprigs of Rosemary* (+ more for garnish)
- 2-3 Cinnamon Sticks (+ more for garnish)
DIRECTIONS: Add the sliced fruit, sugar, rosemary, and cinnamon sticks to a large pitcher or punchbowl. Pour in the wine, orange juice, and orange liquor then stir until sugar is dissolved. Cover container and place in refrigerator for at least 2 hours (preferably make the day before and soak overnight). Before serving, pour in ginger beer or sparkling water. Rim stemware with equal parts cinnamon/sugar mixture (optional) and pour sangria through a cocktail strainer for guests. Garnish with a few cranberries, a cinnamon stick, and/or rosemary sprig. *For a “Fireside Sangria” variation, light a few sprigs of rosemary on fire and let them smoke a little in a mason jar. Add into sangria mixture to soak.
Watch Us Make a Pitcher of Holiday Sangria
Yum! Batch cocktails like this sangria recipe even allow you to make them ahead of time if you are hosting over the holidays. Prep and cleanup can all happen hours ahead of your event (in fact, this recipe is best if you make it a day ahead). Just wait to add your sparkling water and garnishes until right before the party starts. This recipe is a little sweet, spiced, and sparkling. We hope you enjoy it. If you make a batch of this sangria or citrus slices, be sure to tag Village Home Stores online so we can see. We wish every one of our customer’s homes a safe and blessed Holiday season.
Village Home Stores is your local kitchen and bathroom design one stop shop. We offer appliances, cabinetry, countertops, lighting, flooring, wall tile, window treatments, and more. We help customers who are both building a new home or remodeling the home they are in. Our on-staff project management team can even help manage your remodel project for you from start to finish. We are located at 105 S State Geneseo, Illinois and appointments are not required but recommended.