Winter really makes you wonder: how can I keep myself occupied on a snowy day and make my house cozy and warm at the same time? Okay maybe you’ve never pondered that exact thought, but we’re going to answer your question anyway with this Dried Citrus Garland. Dried citrus garlands make great decor all year round, with the added benefit that they are sustainable, pet-friendly, and add a homemade touch of color to any area. If you shopped the annual Co-op citrus sale, this is a great way to use any citrus you didn’t designate for your marmalade-making or smoothie-slurping. Don’t worry, we still have plenty of individual oranges, grapefruits, and more for sale. While you’re here grabbing the supplies for this DIY, don’t forget to pick up some crafting sustenance: perhaps a local craft beer and some Bulk snack mixes.
@littleton_coop So you got your citrus case this weekend at the Co-op’s annual Citrus Sale…now what? Here Anastasia shows you how to make a dried citrus garland that will be the perfect pop of color for anywhere in your home this weekend. Let us know what you think and if you make one too! #littletoncoop #foodcoop #coop #grocerystore #groceryshopping #citrus #citrusfruit #welovecitrus #littletonnh #casesale #bigsavingsale #citrusgarland #driedfruit #driedcitrusdecor #howtomake #diy #diydecor #diydecorideas #winterdecor #naturaldecor #garland #fyp #foryoupage #forcraftlovers ♬ original sound – Littleton Co-op
Step 1: Come to the Littleton Food Co-op to pick up your citrus! The quantity and variety you choose are totally up to you, as well as whether they are organic or conventional. The quantity you want to pick up will depend on how long you want to make your garland and how full you plan to make your garland look. A garland designed to go over a wide fireplace mantle, or one with no string showing will require more citrus.
Integrating a variety of citrus into your garland will create visual interest through color, size, and shape. Oranges will produce medium-sized, well-rounded pieces. Grapefruit will be extra large and slightly ovular, with a larger hole in the center. Blood oranges will be small and dark. Lemons and limes can create contrast and bright pops of color.
We made four well-spaced garlands at three feet each from four navel oranges, one grapefruit, and two blood oranges. One citrus will produce between eight and twelve slices, depending on how thin your slices are and how much of the rind you want to use.
Step 2: Using your sharpest knife, slice each citrus into rounds, between ⅛ and ¼ inch thick. The thicker the slice, the longer it will take to dry out; however, the thinner you try and make your slice, the more likely it will get damaged or be an incomplete round. This is why a sharp knife is important. If a slice is not even thickness all around, try to trim the thickest side to make for more even cooking.
Step 3: On a new cutting board, lay out two layers of paper towels. Place a single layer of your citrus rounds on the paper towels. They can be very close together. Put two more layers of paper towels on top of the slices and press down on the paper towels to squeeze juice out of the slices. Do not press so hard that you break the citrus flesh. Repeat this process with fresh paper towels at least once more – the more times you do it and the more juice that comes out will result in a quicker cooking time.
*If desired, steps 2 and 3 can be done ahead of time. Store sliced citrus in a bag or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. If you are slicing the oranges ahead of time, only do one round of juicing with the paper towels. Then do at least one more round immediately before step 4.
Step 4: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Arrange citrus slices in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. The slices can be very close together, but not overlapping. Put the baking sheet on the top oven rack and set the timer for two hours. Occasionally check on the slices in that time to ensure nothing has shifted during cooking.
Step 5: Take out the baking sheet after two hours. The citrus will not be totally dried, but they should not still be completely raw, either. Use tongs or a fork to flip each slice over. Some flesh may stick to the parchment paper from the juices, so take care not to rip any flesh when turning.
Step 6: Replace baking sheet in the oven for another two hours. In that time you should monitor the drying of the slices. You want the slices to be completely dry to the touch. Take them out before two hours if you see evidence of burning or charred pieces. If you haven’t take them out at two hours, remove the sheet to check drying process. If the slices are still tacky, stick them back in the oven to complete the drying process. Once done, transfer to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling.
Step 7: When completely cool, carefully use a toothpick, needle, or other sharp object to make a small hole in the flesh near the rind of the slice. Repeat for each slice. The size the hole needs to be will depend on what you’re using to string the slices. For example, a jute twine will need a larger hole from a toothpick, but a clear fishing wire only needs the hole from a needle. Matching the hole size to your string will also prevent the slices from moving around too much.
Step 8: Tie a knot on one side of your string. Thread the slices through the string in whatever order you choose. We recommend laying the citrus out ahead of time to try different arrangements and patterns. You may put as many or as few on a strand as you choose. More citrus on a strand will show less string, but also push the citrus to sit sideways and show more rind. Less on a strand will showcase the entirety of each piece, but will be more susceptible to shifting and less able to conceal mistakes.
Step 9: Use a strong tape or other hanging material to hang your complete garland. Hanging the garland with a deeper middle (a “bigger swoop”) may also cause the slices to shift and congregate in the middle of the strand. You can rearrange the spacing of the slices once it’s up, and use super glue or poster putty to hold slices in place if needed.
Step 10: Enjoy a bright pop of color in your home!
We hope you feel inspired to try this craft in your own home! It does take a lot of time, but the active steps are very minimal. It is also easily customized to fit whatever time, citrus, or design concept you have in mind. Let us know if you follow this DIY and how your garland turns out!
