You can make beautiful, scented Christmas ornaments by drying orange slices and tying them with cinnamon sticks and fresh evergreen, or by rolling homemade cinnamon dough, cutting it with cookie cutters, and decorating with folk art details.
There was a time when Christmas decorations didn’t come in a plastic tub from Hobby Lobby. I love Christmas decorations that don’t look like they came out of a big box warehouse store.
You know what I mean. Remember when an orange was one of the best Christmas gifts that Laura Ingalls ever received?
People used what they had.
Dried fruit. Cinnamon sticks. Pine branches from the yard. A little string.
And somehow, it all looked charming instead of cheap. I’m a big sucker for dried orange slices on a string. These have been an annual holiday staple in my Christmas decorations for many years.
They’re easy to make, they’re inexpensive, they smell amazing, and they have that nostalgic, old-fashioned look that makes me want to put on a Bing Crosby record, pour a cocktail and pretend I have my life together.
Spoiler alert: I do not.
How Do You Dry Oranges for Ornaments?
Time needed: 2 days
Here’s the step-by-step on how to dehydrate orange slices. It’s SO easy.
- Slice Oranges Thinly
Slice your oranges into thin slices, keeping them relatively even but not precious about it—they’re going on a Christmas tree, not being submitted to the county fair. I aim for 1/2″ thick, but some prefer them to be thinner.
- Remove Excess Moisture
Blot off some of the moisture with a paper towel
- Place in Dehydrator Overnight (at least 6-8 hours or more)
Line dehydrator trays in a single layer. Let them dry until they’re completely dried through and translucent. You want all the stickiness to be gone before removing them. This could take as long as 8 hours to 48 hours, depending on the thickness of your slices and the strength of your dehydrator.
If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can also dry them in the oven on a very low temperature. Just keep an eye on them and turn them occasionally. The goal is dried and golden, not “I accidentally made brown citrus jerky.” I MUCH prefer to use my dehydrator for this, because my oven usually cooks them more than drying them.
Once they’re completely dry, let them cool. And look how pretty they are!
Honestly, dried oranges may be one of the most underrated Christmas decorations ever. Here is a graphic you can pin to remember this for later:
Shop all Orange Slice Ornament Supplies
Here are the exact tools and supplies I use to make these ornaments. I’ve been using the same dehydrator for over ten years and it’s still going strong—that’s the kind of quality that matters when you’re making things to last.
NutriChef Food Dehydrator
Nutrichef Dehydrator — I bought mine in 2016 and it’s still working great after ten years. This is the tool that makes dried oranges so much easier and prettier than using the oven. If you make these every year as gifts (and you probably will), a dehydrator is worth it. I also use it for homemade beef jerky, dried fruits for snacks and more!
Waxed Thread
Waxed Thread for Ornaments — The secret weapon for keeping your ornament pieces from sliding around. Regular thread apparently decided gravity is its personal calling. Waxed thread has just enough grip to hold everything in place.
Dried Oranges (if you prefer not to dehydrate)
Pre-Dried Orange Slices — If you want to skip the dehydrating step entirely, these are a solid backup. They won’t be quite as fresh-looking as homemade, but they work.
Cinnamon Sticks
You can buy these almost anywhere in the craft supplies, but the cheapest place I have found them is in the Hispanic grocery markets. If you’re looking for a better deal, try there!
Gold Hanging Christmas Ornament Stand — I have had my ornament stand for at least a decade (maybe two?) and pull it out every year to showcase different ornaments. It lays down flat for easy storage the rest of the year.
FAQs about Dehydrated Oranges
How Do You Make Dried Orange Slice Ornaments?
Grab your dried oranges, cinnamon sticks and a few pieces of fresh evergreen—this is where you can get creative. One thing I would recommend… USE WAXED THREAD.
This stuff is so easy to shape and poke through holes where regular limp thread would struggle.
I like putting a couple of orange slices together with a cinnamon stick and a little greenery. You can make them all the same or just start tying things together and see what happens. I’m more of a “let’s see where this goes” crafter myself.
Why Should You Use Waxed Thread for These Ornaments?
Waxed thread is one of those little crafting supplies that makes you wonder why you haven’t been using it for everything. The wax gives the thread a little grip, so your oranges, greenery and cinnamon sticks don’t immediately start sliding around while you’re trying to tie them together.
The waxed thread makes it much easier to get everything positioned exactly where you want it and gives you a sturdy little loop for hanging the finished ornament. Don’t have waxed thread? Use dental floss! Same thing.
How Do You Tie the Dried Orange Ornament Together?
Once you’ve got everything arranged, wrap the waxed thread around your pieces and tie them securely. Add a loop at the top so you can hang it on the tree.
And that’s it—you just made a Christmas ornament with an orange. I feel like we need to give ourselves a minute to appreciate that.
Can You Add Other Elements to the Ornaments?
You can leave them just like this, or add other little natural elements. A tiny wooden ornament would be cute. A little ribbon would work. You could add berries, bells or even a small handmade tag.
But I actually love keeping these simple. The combination of the orange, cinnamon and greenery feels like Christmas before Christmas became a competitive sport. There’s something so pretty about natural decorations mixed in with the twinkle lights.
And when the lights hit those dried orange slices? So pretty.
Do These Ornaments Make Good Gifts?
Both the dried orange and cinnamon dough ornaments make really sweet gifts. You can make a whole bunch of them at once—it’s actually fun to do both projects in one session since the oranges are drying while you’re mixing and cutting the dough.
Tie three or four together with a piece of ribbon for a little handmade Christmas gift. Add one to the top of a wrapped present, give one to a neighbor, or take a few to a Christmas party. Make them for teachers, or make a bunch and keep them for yourself because, let’s be honest, you went to all this trouble and you’re not giving away every single one.
They’d also make a really pretty hostess gift tucked into a little basket with some other homemade goodies.
There is something about dried fruit, cinnamon and fresh greenery that feels familiar. It reminds me of the kind of Christmas decorations that could have been hanging on someone’s tree decades ago. Simple. Pretty. A little imperfect. And made with whatever you had.
And honestly? I think that’s the kind of Christmas I’m looking for this year.
Handmade Christmas ornaments aren’t just decorations—they’re memories that last a lifetime. Make these with your kids or grandkids, and they’ll never forget it!
