How to Make Dehydrated Orange Slices in the Oven

Did you know you can make dehydrated orange slices in your oven without any special equipment. All you need is a bit of time and you're on your way to something beautiful.

I've never been great at the crafty part of witchcraft. Though I like to create many of my spells from scratch, I've never had the patience or the fine motor skills to make something breathtakingly beautiful with my hands. So anything that's meant to be decorative and pretty has to be unbelievably simple. You won't catch me making flower crowns or painting a portrait of my familiar.

A simple garland of dehydrated orange slices, though, is something I can handle, even if imperfectly. If witchcraft is about intention, then the aesthetic perfection of our visual spells is secondary. If you're stressing about how something looks, you're probably not creating the vibe you want to attract. You're caught up in criticism and compraison, and that's a great way to block the flow of love and joy. So I keep it simple and give myself grace.

What can I do with dehydrated orange slices?

Dried orange slices tied simply to natural twine can be a beautiful way to decorate your home, and the oranges also attract excellent vibes. More on that below. You can string them into simple garlands, add them to wreathes, or hang them from your holiday tree.

Create a cleansing witch's ladder with dehydrated orange slices to hang on your front door. Gift a garland of orange and lime to a friend or make one for yourself to attract abundance. Add them to larger spell jars or use them to infuse magical oils. And of course, they're still perfectly edible, so work them into your kitchen witchcraft as well.

Magical Properties of Oranges

Oranges always spark happiness for me. Whenever I smell orange oil which is release when an orange is peeled, I instantly feel like everything is going to be just fine. They also carry the energy of love, fertility, success, prosperity, and friendship. And just like with all citrus fruits, they have cleansing properties.

Oranges are ruled by the Sun and the element of fire. They're a gift of sunshine in a season of darkness. (Source: The Hearth Witch's Compendium by Anna Franklin)

Tips for making dehydrated orange slices in the oven

This really couldn't be easier. All you're doing is slicing oranges as thinly as you can, which I guess isn't always easy. If you have a mandolin or other slicing tool that will help you get even thickness, definitely use it here. The thinner your slices, the quicker they'll dry. If, like me, you're just using a knife, do your best and be forgiving. This is a chance to let go of your attachment to perfection.

You'll also need plenty of time. You'll want to check and turn your orange slices every 30 minutes or so. It's best to do this on a day when you'll just be hanging around the house. They're just sitting in a low oven, but it can take a couple of hours for bigger pieces to dry out. You might be asking, can't I just turn the oven up and make it go faster? This will cause the sugar in the oranges to caramelize and burn. You'll end up with charred orange slices, and that's not what we're looking for here.

Basically, you'll just arrange your orange (or any citrus fruit) slices on a baking sheet and pop them in a low oven. We're looking at about 90 C (that's about 200 F). Then check on them every 30 minutes, turning them over, until they're dried. This can take up to two hours, but the timing will vary depending on the thickness and circumference of the slices.

Then pop them on a wire rack to cool. The'll continue to get drier and drier, darkening in color, with time. The darker oranges in the photo have been hanging in my house for a year.

Making dehydrated orange slices is so easy, soon your house will be covered in them. Use this method with any citrus fruit, and bring that sunny energy into your home year round.

Looking for more witchy projects? Why not make your own spell jar or craft a witchcraft travel altar?

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