how do I make those dried orange slices for decorating/smelling nice ?

[christMAScomesbutonceayear]

do I just dry them out in a low oven ? am planning to tie them to cinnamon sticks with raffia - have had disasters with pomanders in the past,so a bit unsure...thank you

[christMAScomesbutonceayear]

anyone ?

[bellaBuonNatalevita]

you obviously have too much time on yer hands MAS

but if anyone does know, I would be interested...!

[Santaisfeelingfunnypeculiar]

I was thinking this yesterday, so bump for you

[ThreeWheelsOnMySleigh]

I did some of these last year - 3 hours in the oven at 140 (120 for fan ovens), leave to cool and they're done!

I saw some lovely dried fruit wreathes (sp? ) in the garden centre last week, but they cost upwards of £12.99 for a very small one, so it's definitely worth making your own if you've got time

[swedishmum]

www.momsbudget.com/holidays/driedorangeslices.htm - not tried it though!

[christMAScomesbutonceayear]

ok, so they're in the oven at gas mark 1...I saw them in a shop for £4 for a few slices and a cinnamon stick -they smell divine...will let you know what happens !

[shootRudolphinthehip]

my thanks as I want to make some too- tried last year using the sundried tomato principle (many, many hours at a low heat) but they just stayed soggy.

[beforesunrise]

i have had them in the oven for something like weeks yesterday. it takes a million years, but they are nice in teh end :-)

[HangingbaublesofBethlehem]

Don't do as I did and leave them to dry on a very low heat in the oven over-night - was woken at 3am by a house full of very thick acrid black smoke. all of the citrus oils made the smoke really acidic and burnt my throat. Haven't tried since but agree they are a lovely idea. I was pregnant and for some reason didn't really think it all through

[Santaisfeelingfunnypeculiar]

Thanks!

[Mercy]

INteresting idea, would be interested to know how it works out!

Do you think slow baking would work for pomanders too? (I've made a few already but half of them have gone mouldy - I don't have an airng cupboard)

[christMAScomesbutonceayear]

when I made a pomander it went mouldy, despite my using orris root and drying it in airing cupboard. These are doing ok so far - won't leave them in overnight though ! thanks for link btw swedishmum

[christMAScomesbutonceayear]

hmm, a few are going a bit brown, but they're not dried out enough - this may not work !

[bellaBuonNatalevita]

What sort of shop do you buy the rafia in MAS?

Am going into town tomorrow so I may try this over the weekend.

[christMAScomesbutonceayear]

craft shop, or possibly a florists...
however, mine haven't worked - I couldn't get them to dry out without burning/browning...maybe the slices needed to be even thinner ? ds said they didn't smell very orangey either.

[bellaBuonNatalevita]

oh no, what a shame.

[christMAScomesbutonceayear]

don't think my oven can do cool

[littlefrog]

i think to make them smell nice you have to soak them in orange oil!
also, without a dehydrator (which I think doesn't go above something like 40 or 50 degrees) it's probably really difficult to do...

What has worked for me is crystallising orange slices or peel - dip in chocolate afterwards. Is a bit of a hassle, but DELICIOUS and orangey choc is insanely expensive in shops.

[christMAScomesbutonceayear]

yes, it's the drying out bit that seems so hard - they'll go mouldy otherwise.

[ShirlKnits]

I think they are too wet if you use a baking tray.
The thing to use is a wire rack, then the slices can get dry from above and below.

[Hopeforever]

A few days in the airing cupboard or on top of a radiator. I borrowed by friends Aga.

[safflower]

I put mine on greasproof paper before they go in the oven and the trick is to slice thinly. Otherwise they will burn on the outside. Agree with the need for orange oil afterwards to keep the smell. But they are worth it and you can use them again next year, and the year after! I dot mine around the place, some on the tree, some on the lit long green thing. Forgotten what it's called but it goes on the mantel!!!

[Beaverfeaver]

Mind have been on the radiator for a few days and are perfect

[Redtedart]

I did a post on them last year www.redtedart.com/2011/11/18/how-to-dry-orange-slice-orangenscheiben-trocknen/ I think the key is "low heat" and a wire rack...with the occassional turning!

[becca2405]

This is how I do mine: slice orange thiny (not too thin though) and blot with kitchen roll to get rid of as much juice as possible. Place on a baking sheet lined with baking paper & dust generously with icing sugar then pop in the oven at 100 degrees for 1 1/2 hours then flip them over & dust again with icing sugar & back in the oven for 1 1/2 hours. Do check them every hour or so though just to make sure they're not going brown!
They are a bit sticky but dry out well & look lovely hung on the tree!
Hope this helps someone