How to Dry Acorns for Crafts

Acorns are delightful little nuts suitable for any variety of fall and winter crafts. The rich brown of the nut contrasted with the textured cap make them ideal to add to colored foliage and are a must have for cone wreaths and centerpieces. Gathering acorns is easy, once you find an oak tree. Unfortunately these gorgeous little nuts often come with a host of insect guests that you simply don't want in your display. You must dry them in order to use them.

Things You'll Need

• Acorns
• Cookie sheet
• Aluminum foil
• Warm oven

Instructions

1. Monitor oak trees for acorn growth throughout the summer to determine if the oak you are watching will have a good production. The production from an individual oak tree will typically vary from year to year and will produce prolific crops every 4 to 10 years. It is best to have several oak in mind and check them all to find one that has the best production for the year.

2. Gather acorns in the fall as soon as they have fallen from the trees. Depending on your area, acorns ripen and fall anywhere from the late September to October. Be quick. Squirrels can quickly hide away most of the newly fallen acorns leaving you with nothing but decaying or moldy nuts. Acorns often loose their little caps when they fall, so be sure to gather plenty of caps so that you have enough for each acorn.

3. Spread the acorns out on an old blanket or tarp to dry in the sun for a day or two. Be careful that a squirrel doesn't find your stash and mistakenly think you have set out a banquet just for him.

4. Inspect the acorn for any signs of insect damage. A small round hole that looks like it has been drilled is a sure sign that insects are present. If you have plenty of acorns, discard those with holes. If you are short on the number of acorns you have, don't worry you can kill off the insect guests and still use the acorns in your fall decorations.

5. Use an old cookie sheet to dry acorns in a warm oven and destroy any remaining insects. Layer the cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spread the acorns out in a single layer. Heat in warm oven, no more than 175 degrees, for several hours. Be sure to check them often and turn the acorns to prevent burning them.

6. Remove the insect free acorns from the oven and let them cool completely.

7. Use for fall centerpieces or any craft project that calls for acorns or a variety of nuts. These look stunning heaped in a bowl with a few waxed oak leaves or attached to stems and hung in groups.