Rustic dried orange slices made on a pizza stone are a natural and organic addition to holiday decor. They can be incorporated into culinary, home decorating and wildlife projects. This is an activity that resonates with me as it touches on my favorite “5 F’s” (Food, Family, Friends, Flora, and Fauna). I have added a list of 15 ideas for using these pizza-stone-dried orange slices during the holiday season. Enjoy!
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Why Use a Pizza Stone for Drying Orange Slices?
There are many online tutorials outlining the prep and drying processes for orange slices. I have found the even heat distribution of a pizza stone makes it the perfect piece of equipment for slow oven drying. The color and shape of the dried slices are even and lovely in appearance.
One of the reasons pizza stones work so well is that they absorb moisture. This is key when drying orange slices as they contain a significant amount of liquid. The stone’s surface allows evaporating steam to escape, which helps to dry and crisp any items placed on it. Pizza stones also hold and conduct heat well, maintaining a steady oven temperature for even drying.
I own this pizza stone and have had it for years: Pampered Chef Rectangular Pizza Stone. I use it for pizzas, cookie baking, and dehydrating in the oven. Over time, it will become well seasoned and a valuable piece of equipment in your kitchen.
15 Ways to Use Stone-Dried Orange Slices During the Holidays
Gift Ideas:
Stone-dried orange slices are a great addition to craft designs. For those of us who like to create personal and gift items, consider adding them to your next project. I enjoyed experimenting with my stone-dried slices. They add a natural/organic feel to bath products and visual interest to candle making. Wildlife may also enjoy them strung onto a garland with other natural treats. Again, the pizza stone will ensure you have uniform color for use in your best creations.
- Use in homemade bar soap as an exfoliator.
- Add to bath salt mixes for fragrance and essential oil release.
- Lay against the inside of a clear glass jar as a decorative element when pouring candles.
- Place in potpourri for a seasonal touch.
- Hang on a tree or feeder outside for birds and wildlife.
Culinary Uses:
Sliced oranges dehydrated on a pizza stone will dry nicely for use in baking and kitchen recipes. Scatter them on a charcuterie board for visual appeal. They look great with a sprig of rosemary and a few anise stars sprinkled in. Grind them with sugar in a coffee grinder and use the sugar in baked goods or beverages. Use dried slices as garnish for drinks or add them to simmering soups and stews on the stovetop. They are also tasty on their own dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt.
- Adorn baked goods and cheese boards.
- Grind with sugar.
- Garnish drinks and mulling recipes.
- Add to soups, stews, and granolas.
- Dip in chocolate and sprinkle with sea salt for a festive treat.
Holiday Decor:
The natural beauty of stone-dried orange slices fits nicely into holiday decor. I love that the slices stayed flat and even in texture and color on my pizza stone. Hang them with a simple piece of twine on the Christmas tree or use them as gift wrap decor. They add a minimalist woodland appeal to garlands and wreaths. I keep a few tossed in a bowl with homemade cinnamon/spice fragrance cutouts. They elevate any look immediately.
- Hang as a tree ornament.
- Use as a gift wrapping accent.
- Add to wreath decorations.
- Disperse throughout holiday garland.
- Place in a decorative bowl.
Why Are Oranges Associated With The Holiday Season?
Folklore has explanations for why oranges play a part in the holidays.
Smithsonian Magazine says the custom of placing an orange in the toe of Christmas stockings may relate to a legend about Bishop Myra. Bishop Myra (the real St. Nicholas) gave three bags of gold to three poor maidens to use as their dowries. In some tellings of the story, St. Nicholas throws gold bags into their house through a window in the dead of night. One of the bags lands in a stocking drying by the fire. This legend led to the custom of placing items in shoes or stockings on Christmas Eve.
Smithsonian Magazine also that notes that later in 19th Century Europe, oranges became rare and expensive. At that time, the custom of gift giving at Christmas was beginning to spread. The fruit was exchanged as a holiday luxury.
In the U.S., the California Fruit Grower’s Exchange pushed the concept of “An Orange in the Toe of Every Stocking”. This early 1900’s marketing campaign urged filling children’s stockings with fruit. The Grower’s Exchange described candy as “artificially colored and often times injurious.”
During the Great Depression, oranges once again became a scarce commodity. Families who could not afford them during the year viewed them as a holiday luxury item.
How To Make Stone-Dried Orange Slices:
Cut 4 oranges into 1/8 to 1/4 inch slices. You can use a mandoline or a sharp cutting knife. This mandoline has received high marks in reviews: Benriner Mandoline Super Slicer.
Lay slices on a pizza stone so they are not touching. I spread a piece of parchment paper on the stone to prevent sticking. Preheat oven to 200. I used a convection setting to also aid in heat distribution.
The slices will be in the oven for 3-6 hours. At the 1.5-hour mark, you can turn them over and rotate the stone. Mine took about 2.5 – 3 hours. Continue to check the slices until there is no more moisture and they feel brittle. The segments will appear translucent. I removed the parchment paper once I knew the oranges would not stick down. This hastened the drying process. When fully dry, remove them from the oven. Let them cool. Store and enjoy!
How Do You You Know Orange Slices Are Completely Dried?
This is why I love the pizza stone! The surface allows evaporating steam to escape, drying the slices to perfection. Pizza stones also maintain steady oven temperature for even drying.
You will know orange slices are ready to come out of the oven when they are translucent, and slices are perfectly dry on both sides. There should be no moist patches. Rinds will be crisp and dry.
How Do You Store Orange Slices After Drying Them?
If keeping stone-dried orange slices for culinary use, store them in airtight, glass containers. This will keep the slices free from humidity. Store containers in a cool, dark place. Many articles say that dried orange slices can last up to 2 years when stored this way. Should you see any discoloration or mold you should discard them immediately.
If using dried orange slices for holiday decor, they can last 2-3 years. Again, you will want to store them so they stay dry in a cool, dark location. Enjoy!
Update
Before writing this post, I had been stone-drying orange slices for some time. As testament to their longevity, I wanted to share a photo of these lovelies that are on their third year of enhancing seasonal celebrations in our home!
Related Links:
If you are interested in other holiday decor ideas using natural ingredients, you may enjoy these other DIY links:
Rustic Holiday Dried Orange Slices: Pizza Stone Method
Equipment
- 1 Pizza Stone
- 1 Sharp Cutting Knife or Mandoline
- 1 Sheet of Parchment Paper
Materials
- 4 Medium-sized Oranges
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 200 degrees Farenheit. (Convection setting if possible)
- Lay sheet of parchment paper on surface of pizza stone. (This will prevent sticking).
- Cut oranges in 1/8 - 1/4" slices.
- Lay slices on pizza stone so they are not touching.
- At 1 1/2 hours of cooking time, flip slices to other side and rotate pizza stone. Remove parchment paper when the orange slices are no longer sticky and lay them directly on the stone.
- Continue checking approximately every half hour for dryness. Drying time can take anywhere from 3-6 hours. Convection setting in the oven and the pizza stone may speed up this process. Slices should be thoroughly dry with no wet spots. Segments will be translucent and rind will be dry and brittle.
- Remove from oven when completely dry. Cool and store.