How Folks Dried Fruit in the Past
Long before anyone had an electric oven humming in the kitchen, people still knew how to preserve fruit for decor, remedies, and good smells around the home. Drying citrus, apples, berries, and herbs wasn’t for looks back then — it was practical. But the methods they used feel right at home in today’s cozy winter crafting.
Most families used steady, gentle heat to dry things out. That warmth usually came from the hearth or a wood-burning stove. Fruit slices sat on boards, wire racks, or were strung up and hung near the fire. Some homes had a small cabinet built beside the stove that acted like a modern dehydrator — just slow, low heat drifting in from the chimney. When the weather was dry, folks also used sunlight and good airflow to finish the job.
How the Method Translates Today
The idea hasn’t changed at all. Low heat, slow evaporation, and a whole lot of patience. The only difference is we now use an oven set to 200°F instead of a fire that’s been burning since dawn.
Drying fruit today is easier and cleaner, but the end result — that rustic, warm, handmade charm — is exactly the same as what women were making generations ago.
How to Dry Citrus the Modern Way
Drying fruit today gives you those pretty slices for simmer pots, wreaths, Yule logs, garlands, and potpourri.
Basic Method
- Slice oranges ¼ inch thick.
- Pat them dry.
- Bake on parchment at 200°F for 3–4 hours, flipping every hour.
- Cool on a rack.
This works for lemons, limes, blood oranges, apples, pears, and even cranberries with a tiny poke in the skin.
Old-Fashioned Drying, Step-by-Step
If you want to create a real vintage-style project, you can dry fruit the old way:
By the Hearth: Place slices on a board near a warm fireplace.
Hung on String: Thread slices and hang where there’s steady warmth.
In the Sun: Set slices outside on a screened rack protected by cheesecloth.
Near a Wood Stove: Use the warming shelf or crack the stove door.
It’s slow — but beautifully authentic.
Seasonal Crafts You Can Make Right Now
Winter is the best time for natural crafts. The air is crisp, the mood is cozy, and dried citrus looks perfect in low golden light.
Dried Orange Garland
Thread dried slices with twine or jute. Add cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, or small wooden beads between slices. Hang across a mantel or window for a soft farmhouse look.
Simmer Pot Mixes
Bundle your dried fruit in little jars or small gift bags with cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. These make beautiful gifts, and they smell like comfort the second they hit warm water.
Winter Potpourri
Mix dried oranges, pine needles, cinnamon, cloves, rosemary, cedar tips, and dried berries. Add a few drops of essential oil if you want it stronger.
Yule Log Decorations
Decorate a Yule log with dried oranges, rosemary branches, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, and a few fresh pine clippings. It’s gorgeous on a mantel even if you don’t burn it.
Wax Melt or Candle Embellishments
Place dried citrus slices inside a clear jar candle or decorate your packaging with a slice tied to twine for a rustic, handmade finish.
Natural Ornaments
Tie dried citrus slices with ribbon or jute and hang on your tree. Add a few cloves to the flesh side for an old-world look.
Seasonal Table Décor
Scatter dried fruit, pinecones, and cinnamon sticks down the center of a table runner. Add a few candles and it becomes instant winter magic.
Why These Crafts Feel So Meaningful
There’s something grounding about taking natural ingredients and turning them into warm, beautiful pieces for your home. It’s simple, affordable, and connects you with generations who did the very same thing — not for trends, but for tradition.
Drying fruit and crafting with winter botanicals adds a sense of calm to the season, and everything you make brings a little of that magic into your home.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.