How to Make Dried Fruit Decorations

Making decorations with dried fruit is aromatic as well as inexpensive. Dried fruit decorations should not be limited to the kitchen or even to a certain time of the year. Spicy cinnamon scents can be used for the fall and winter months while citrus scents can permeate your home in the spring and summer. In this article, you will find instructions for making a dried fruit garland, which can be used in any room of the house.

Things You'll Need

• Apples
• Oranges
• Limes
• Lemons
• Lemon juice
• Butcher's twine
• Darning needle
• Cookie sheet
• Oven

Instructions

1. Cut the fruit. Cut the fruit cross wise into 1/4 inch thick slices. Remove the seeds.

2. Brush with juice. Brush slices on both sides with lemon juice. Lay orange, apple, lemon or lime slices in a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet. For a spicy autumn scent, sprinkle cinnamon on to the apple slices.

3. Bake the fruit. Bake at 200 degrees F for about an hour. Turn the slices over and bake for 1 1/2 hours or until fruit is dried, but not browned.

4. Make a garland. Allow the fruit to cool completely. Thread twine through darning needle and knot one end. Thread the string from front to back of one slice of fruit, then from back to front of the next piece of fruit. Repeat a pattern of either apple and orange or lemon, lime and orange, until the garland is the desired length. Knot the other side.

Tips & Warnings

• Place any left over or broken pieces of dried fruit in a dish to be used as room potpourri.

• Dried fruit can be a choking hazard to small children. Keep this project out of their reach.