How to Make Dehydrated Citrus Slices + 5 Beautiful Ways to Use Them
Dehydrated citrus slices are surprisingly easy to make and can be used in so many beautiful ways. From cocktail garnishes and holiday decorations to Christmas ornaments, gift wrapping, and garlands, one batch of dried citrus can be transformed into dozens of creative projects.
For this project, I’m using a combination of oranges, blood oranges, lemons, and limes to create a colorful assortment of dried citrus slices. But I also wanted to try something a little different.
I’m adding edible gold glitter to some of my dehydrated citrus to give the slices a subtle shimmer. The gold adds an unexpected detail that can turn a simple dried orange slice into a beautiful cocktail garnish or holiday decoration.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how I make dehydrated citrus slices using my food dehydrator, how I add the edible gold finish, and seven beautiful ways you can use dried citrus throughout the holiday season and beyond.
What Citrus Is Best for Dehydrating?
One of the reasons I wanted to use several different citrus fruits instead of only oranges was the variety of colors.
For my dehydrated citrus slices, I’m using:
- Navel oranges: The classic choice for dried citrus, with a beautiful warm orange color.
- Blood oranges: These add deeper red and burgundy tones that look especially pretty mixed with traditional oranges.
- Lemons: Their bright yellow color adds contrast to the darker oranges.
- Limes: The smaller size and green rind add another color and work especially well for cocktail garnishes.
Keeping the fruit relatively similar in size also makes the finished collection feel more cohesive when the slices are used together.
Dehydrated Citrus Uses
- Navel Orange: Warm orange Garlands, cocktails, seasonal décor, gift wrapping.
- Blood Orange: Red, burgundy, and orange.
- Lemon: Yellow, Cocktails, gift wrapping, garlands, seasonal décor
- Lime: Green, Cocktails, tablescapes, small ornaments, seasonal décor
Materials that I used to Dehydrate citrus and decorate
Here is a list of what I used on my specific project and the materials. Super simple and easy!
How to Make Dehydrated Citrus Slices
Making dehydrated citrus slices is simple, but getting evenly dried slices starts with how you prepare the fruit. I learned that fruit that is too juicy will take longer to dehydrate; that is why some of my fruit took longer than other fruit.
Wash and Dry the Citrus
Wash the outside of each piece of fruit thoroughly since the rind will remain on the finished slices. Dry the fruit before slicing. Make sure you remove any stickers as well!
Slice the Citrus
Using a sharp knife or mandoline, cut the fruit into even slices. I am cutting mine about 1/4″ thick for all my fruit to keep a consistent look. Some citrus fruits will naturally be larger than others, but keeping the thickness consistent is more important than making every slice exactly the same diameter. Remove any seeds you can easily see.
Arrange the Citrus on the Dehydrator Trays
Place the citrus slices in a single layer on your dehydrator trays. Leave a little space between each piece so air can circulate around the fruit. Don’t overlap the slices.
Dehydrate the Citrus
I set my dehydrator to: 158 Degrees
I rotated the fruit trays every few hours to make sure that they were dehydrating evenly. Drying time can vary depending on your dehydrator, the type of citrus, and how thickly you slice the fruit, so use the times above as a reference rather than an exact rule.
Orange: took the longest, about 18 hours because it was the biggest fruit and a very ripe one. Blood orange, Lemon, Lime: 8-12 hours; some of the slices were done in 8 hours, the rest in 12 hours.
How Do You Know When Dehydrated Citrus Is Done?
The finished citrus should feel dry rather than wet or tacky
I’ll especially be watching whether the smaller lime and lemon slices finish before the oranges and whether blood oranges retain their deeper color after dehydration. Those details will help you know when each type is ready rather than relying only on a timer.
How to Make Dehydrated Orange Slices
If you only want to make dehydrated orange slices, you can absolutely use this same process with oranges alone.
Oranges are probably the most recognizable dried citrus, and their warm color makes them especially beautiful for Christmas decorations, dried orange garlands, ornaments, and cocktail garnishes.
Follow the same preparation and dehydrating process above, using the finished texture rather than time alone to determine when your orange slices are completely dehydrated.
How to Add Edible Gold Glitter to Dehydrated Citrus
Painting Dehydrated Citrus With Edible Gold. For the technique, I’ll mix a small amount of edible gold glitter with a tiny amount of vodka to create an edible gold paint. I’ll brush the mixture sparingly onto portions of the dried citrus and allow it to dry completely. I used cotton swabs so that I knew they were clean and small enough to apply the gold glitter with. You can also dry brush your glitter on if you dont want to use any alcohol.
The goal isn’t to turn the fruit completely gold. I want a subtle metallic finish that catches the light while still allowing you to see the beautiful color and texture of the fruit underneath.
5 Beautiful Ways to Use Dehydrated Citrus Slices
Once you’ve made a batch of dried citrus, there are so many beautiful ways to use it throughout the seasons. From cocktails and entertaining to decorating and gift wrapping, dehydrated citrus is an easy way to add natural color and texture to your home.
You don’t have to choose just one idea, either. Keep some slices natural and add edible gold shimmer to others so you’ll have different finishes ready for decorating, gifting, and entertaining.
1. Dehydrated Citrus Slices for Cocktails
One of my favorite ways to use dehydrated citrus is as a cocktail or mocktail garnish.
Orange, blood orange, lemon, and lime give you plenty of options depending on what you’re serving, and the dried slices make even a simple drink feel a little more special.
For seasonal entertaining, the edible gold citrus adds an extra detail without requiring an elaborate garnish, I also used a small sprig of Rosemary as well. Simply add a dried slice to the rim of your glass or float it on top of the drink.
3. Make Dried Citrus Ornaments
Either a single dehydrated citrus slice, or stacked, can become a simple hanging ornament or decorative accent.
Thread ribbon or twine through the slice and tie it into a loop for hanging. Use them on branches, garlands, seasonal displays, or your Christmas tree during the holidays.
I especially love the deeper color of dried blood oranges paired with deep red ribbon and a touch of gold.
4. Add Dried Citrus to Gift Wrapping
This may be one of the easiest ways to make a wrapped gift look special.
Wrap your gift, add ribbon, and tuck a dried citrus slice underneath the bow. It’s a simple detail that works for birthdays, hostess gifts, seasonal gifts, and Christmas presents.
Dried citrus looks especially beautiful paired with kraft paper, festive ribbon, greenery and simple solid wrapping papers.
5. Use Dried Citrus for Entertaining
Dried citrus can add beautiful color and texture to charcuterie boards, grazing boards, and seasonal entertaining displays. Mix a few natural citrus slices into your presentation, or use edible gold citrus when you want something a little more festive. You can also carry the citrus theme throughout your table by using dried slices as cocktail garnishes or decorative accents.
6. Decorate Your Home With Dried Citrus
You don’t have to turn every dried citrus slice into a complicated DIY project. Fill a glass bowl with dried citrus, tuck slices in with greenery, some Cranberries for a burst of color and add them to a centerpiece, or layer them into an existing seasonal display.
The combination of oranges, blood oranges, lemons, and limes adds natural color and texture that can easily transition from fall decorating into the holidays and through the winter months.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dehydrated Citrus
How to Store Dehydrated Citrus Slices
Before storing your dried citrus, make sure the slices have cooled and are completely dry. They are best kept in a glass airtight container or bags.
Can You Eat Dehydrated Citrus Slices?
Yes, properly prepared dehydrated citrus can be edible. If you’re adding glitter or another decorative finish, make sure the product is specifically labeled edible and intended for use with food.
Can You Put Dehydrated Citrus in Cocktails?
Dehydrated citrus makes a beautiful garnish for cocktails and mocktails. Orange, blood orange, lemon, and lime slices can be paired with different drinks, and the dried fruit adds visual interest without requiring fresh fruit every time you make a drink.
Can You Make Dehydrated Citrus Without a Dehydrator?
Yes, citrus can also be dried in an oven. However, for this tutorial I’m specifically using my food dehydrator so I can document the temperature, timing, and results I get with each type of citrus.
How Long Do Dehydrated Citrus Slices Last?
12- 18 months if stored correctly. Remember that they need to be in an airtight glass container or a vacuum-packed bag. Store in a cool, low-moisture, low-light place.
Making Dehydrated Citrus Slices at Home
What started as a simple batch of dehydrated orange slices turned into an experiment with oranges, blood oranges, lemons and limes, plus a little edible gold glitter. I love projects like this because one simple DIY can be used in so many different ways.
Use your dried citrus for cocktails, holiday entertaining, Christmas decorations, ornaments, gift wrapping or homemade gifts. Keep the natural slices simple or add a little edible gold shimmer when you want something more unexpected.
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Thanks for stopping by!
This post is all about how to make dehydrated citrus slices and beautiful ways to use them for cocktails, entertaining, gift wrapping, home decor, and more.
Last update on 2026-10-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
