Dried orange slices are so easy to make and look fabulous as decorations on cakes and cocktails. Dried orange slices are easy to make at home and will last for years if you look after them. A perfect way to use them is as dried orange slices for gin or on your Christmas cocktails. They can even be used for decorations around the home. I love using them as decorations for Christmas presents too.
Preheat the oven to 100ºC / about 200ºF and remove the shelves.
Thinly slice the oranges. It still looks thick at this time but when they dry out they will go a lot thinner. If you can cut them smaller then that also works and will be quicker to dry out. Mine are normally between 3-5mm.
Once the pieces are sliced put them on kitchen paper and absorb as much juice as you can.
Place the orange slices on the oven shelves. Using parchment paper will stop the air flowing all the way round the oranges and can make them soggy.
Pop in the oven for approximately 3-4 hours depending on how thick the slices are. But check the orange and turn them over after 45 minutes and then leave them. Check after each hour.
Once the time is up leave them in the oven as the oven cools and they are ready. They might still be a bit sticky or tacky but leave them somewhere dry to fully dry in the air if that is the case.
Allow them to cool and enjoy using them as decorations.
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Notes
In the UK the oven temperature is 90-100 degrees celsius. For Americans and those cooking on Fahrenheit cookers, I would recommend it being about 194-200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the time is up leave them in the oven as the oven cools and they are ready. They might be a bit sticky or tacky but leave them somewhere dry to fully dry in the air if that is the case.
If you want to dry the orange slices on a lower temperature they will take a lot longer to dry.