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Learn how to dry citrus peels for garnishes and decorations with this dried orange peels recipe. Use this easy method to make dried lemon slices, lime slices, or grapefruit slices, too!

Why Make This Dried Orange Peels Recipe?

I first tested this recipe a few months ago. Once I’d finished, I carefully packaged my dried orange, grapefruit, and lemon slices and placed them in a drawer to use as garnishes and food photography props for future projects. Several months later, I’m still greeted by the fragrant scent of dried citrus every single time I open that drawer, reminding me why it’s so satisfying to dry your own citrus slices at home.

In addition to adding flavor and visual appeal to everything from cakes to cocktails, homemade dried orange peels also make a unique finishing touch for gift-wrapped packages. You can add ribbons to make holiday ornaments, string the slices into garlands for adorning mantels and bannisters, or join them together together to create pretty decorative wreaths.

Drying your own fruit rather than buying the pre-made kind from a store allows you to avoid unnecessary preservatives. Plus, you’ll have complete control over the types of citrus you want to include. (This recipe is perfect for using up excess lemons or oranges, or repurposing citrus fruits which are just slightly past their prime for eating, but still perfectly suitable as decorations!) The process of drying citrus peels is incredibly simple, requiring little more than a tray, an oven, and a few hours of your time.

Ingredients for Making Dried Citrus Peels

To make dried citrus peels, you’ll only need one ingredient: fresh citrus fruit.

For this batch, I’ve used two oranges, one lemon, and half of a red grapefruit, but this recipe works just as well with other citrus fruits, too. Try it with limes, kumquats, blood oranges, or white grapefruit, or any combination you’d like.

Slices of citrus fruit on a cutting board with a knife — Grapefruit, orange, and lemon slices for drying

How to Dry Citrus Peels

To dry citrus peels, start by lining a large tray with parchment, and preheating your oven to a low temperature (around 100° C, or 212° F, works well.) With a sharp chef’s knife, slice the fruit into 1/4-inch thick pieces and arrange them on the prepared tray, being careful not to allow the slices to overlap.

Then, pop the tray in the oven and bake for two hours, flip the slices with a flat metal spatula, and bake for two hours more. Continue baking, turning the slices periodically, until they’re dry to the touch.

Depending on your oven and the thickness of your slices, as well as the types of fruit you’ve selected (smaller, “dry” citrus fruits like limes and lemons will require less time in the oven than big, juicy fruits like oranges and grapefruit) the entire process can take anywhere from four to eight hours. This is a good project for days when you’re free to spend a few hours at home, since you’ll need to check the oven periodically as the slices dry.

Dried citrus fruit slices on a sheet of parchment

How to Use Dried Citrus Peels

Once you’ve dried your citrus fruit, you can:

Join the citrus slices together to form decorative wreaths, or string them into garlands to adorn doorways, mantels, bannisters, or Christmas trees.
Add a thin strand of twine or ribbon and use each slice as a holiday ornament.

Halve or quarter the slices and use to garnish cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other baked goods.
Garnish or stir into beverages, including cocktails, hot chocolate, tea, or sparkling water.
Place a clear glass jar of slices on countertop for a rustic kitchen decoration.
Decorate Christmas stockings, or use as a gift wrap accent to give presents a fragrant finishing touch.

Tips and Tricks for Making Dried Orange Peels

Check the parchment paper as the citrus slices dry. If it feels wet or soggy, it can be helpful to change out the baking paper halfway through.
The thicker your slices, the longer it will take for the fruit to dry. Try to aim for around 1/4-inch thickness, no more than that.
Smaller fruits (like lemons or limes) will dry faster than larger citrus fruits such as grapefruit. Check the tray periodically and remove the smaller slices as they dry. My lemons and oranges dried in about 5 hours; the grapefruit took closer to 7. If you are making large quantities of dried citrus fruit, I’d recommend drying each type of fruit on a separate tray.
Dry citrus fruit on a day when you’re free to stay at home. The drying process can take up to eight hours, and you’ll need to stay nearby so you can turn and check the fruit periodically. Do not leave drying fruit unattended.

Make Ahead and Storage Suggestions

These dried citrus peels are the ultimate make-ahead project! If stored correctly, they can last for up to a year.

Make sure the peels are completely dry before sealing them in an airtight bag, jar, or food storage container. Any traces of moisture can promote mold, causing the entire batch to go bad.

Other citrus recipes you might enjoy:

Citrus Simmer Pot
Candied Grapefruit Peel with Dark Chocolate
Mulled Wine with Citrus and Spices
Candied Orange Peels

And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!

Dried Citrus Peels

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Author: becky
Total Time: 4-8 hours
Yield: About 80 grams (2 - 2 1/2 cups dried citrus slices) 1x

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Description

An easy method for making dried citrus peels for garnishes and decorations. This technique works with oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits.

Ingredients

Scale

2 oranges
1 lemon
1/2 red grapefruit

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Line a half-sheet rimmed baking tray with parchment. Preheat oven 212° F / 100° C.

With a sharp chef’s knife, slice the fruit to 1/4-inch thickness.

Sliced citrus peels and a knife on a cutting board

Arrange fruit slices on prepared tray, allowing space between the slices. Do not overlap.

Citrus peels on a tray

Bake in preheated oven for 2 hours. Use a spatula to flip the slices, then bake for 2 hours more.

Spatula turning a grapefruit slice

Sliced citrus fruit on a tray

Continue baking, turning the slices periodically, until dry to the touch. Depending on your oven, the fruit you’ve chosen, and the thickness of your slices, the entire process can take anywhere from 4-8 hours, so continue checking the oven periodically as they bake.

Citrus slices on a tray