How to Make a Dried Apple Wreath

Baked apples topped with cinnamon and spice sounds like a delicious dessert but the following recipe is actually for a wreath. Decorating with apples adds a warm, fresh and inviting feel to your home. There are many variations to making apple wreaths. Here's one.

Things You'll Need

• Styrofoam, Straw, Wire or Grapevine Wreath, 8" to 10"
• 10 apples
• Cinnamon sticks
• Large bottle of lemon juice
• 2 tsp. salt, cloves and orrisroot
• 5 tsp. allspice
• Spray lacquer
• Hot glue gun/glue sticks
• Artificial leaves
• Dried flowers
• Bow

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees and slice apples. For a star shape, slice the apples horizontally. If you want a heart shape, slice them vertically. Cut each slice 1/4 inch thick. Be consistent with the thickness so they will cook evenly.

2. Pour the lemon juice into a bowl with 2 tsp. salt. Add the apple slices and let them soak about 15 minutes.

3. Mix allspice, cloves and orrisroot in a small bowl. Remove the apples from the lemon juice and coat each apple slice with the spice rub coating it well.

4. Place the apples on a cookie sheet and put them in the oven at 250 degrees for 4 to 5 hours. Turn the apples a couple of times during the cooking process. They should be bendable when they are done.

5. Take the hot glue gun and adhere artificial leaves to the wreath. Make layers of leaves in fall colors for an autumn decoration. Glue herbs and dried flowers of your choice around the wreath. Green and red eucalyptus look beautiful mixed with yellow flowers and wheat stalks.

6. Determine placement of apple slices and glue them on the wreath. Tie a couple of cinnamon sticks cut into 3 1/2 inch pieces with raffia and glue them on top of apples and/or around the wreath.

7. Spray the wreath with lacquer for a longer lasting decoration. Add a plaid bow to the top, side or bottom for a finishing touch. Insert three 10" cinnamon sticks under each side of the bow fanned out like a cat's whiskers and glue them underneath.

Tips & Warnings

• Use dried oranges, cranberries, or chilli peppers for another crafty idea.