This past weekend I spent some time decorating for the holidays. I like to mix in some elements of handmade decor and I put together this dried fruit garland. I first made this a few years ago and loved the way it turned out so decided to make one again. The dried fruit is so simplistic yet beautiful and Maxwell had fun helping me. I love them strung along a mantle, or to dress up your windows. Below I’m sharing my easy DIY for how to make a dried fruit garland.
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Here’s my easy DIY for how to make a dried fruit garland
You’ll need:
Some fruits – I chose oranges, grapefruits, lemons and pears.
Cranberries
Bay leaves
Fishing line or twine
Needle
Directions:
1.) Preheat oven on lowest setting. I set mine to 200 degrees F.
2.) Slice fruit thinly, about 1/4 inches thick.
3.) Place on an ungreased baking sheet.
4.) Bake in oven for 5-7 hours flipping each slice over every 2 hours or so.
5.) Let fruit cool
6.) Using a thin needle, thread the fruit, bay leaves and cranberries onto fishing line (I originally tried twine but I couldn’t get the cranberries to thread) in whatever pattern you choose.
7.) Tie the ends and hang wherever you like!

I also like to use these dried orange slices to make Christmas tree ornaments and add to homemade gifts. Click here to see how I make them!
Check out this pretty DIY Snowglobe Ornament
For more holiday inspiration check out
my DIY homemade Irish Cream
7 of the best Christmas cookies
13 Comments
chris
November 23, 2020 at 12:09 pmOh my… this is an awesome how to on making dried fruit that I’ll have to try with my daughter, she’ll have a lot of fun making this for christmas.
Brittany
November 23, 2020 at 4:29 pmI was literally about to look up a “recipe” for these! So glad I came across your post! How did your garland last from one year to the next if you saved them??
Nicolle
November 23, 2020 at 6:44 pmI packed it in a rubbermaid container and it kept pretty well. Some of the bay leaves fell off but the rest held up good!
Under flowery sky
November 23, 2020 at 7:04 pmWOw this looks awesome, love the idea so much. Such
a beautiful decoration..
Angie Gould
December 10, 2020 at 4:57 pmDo you bake the cranberries as well or just the sliced fruit
Nicolle
December 11, 2020 at 11:40 amNo I string those raw. I bake the other fruits!
Marie B
November 3, 2022 at 12:54 pmOh my, your festive dried fruit garland is gorgeous Nicolle! I don’t think I’ve ever seen one with grapefruit and pears.
Allyson @ Southern Sunflowers
November 3, 2022 at 8:47 pmYour garland looks wonderful! I like the addition of the grapefruit. I’m featuring you tonight at the Home Matters Party.
Nicolle
November 4, 2022 at 1:30 pmoh thank you so much Allyson! Have a great weekend!
Cara
November 5, 2022 at 1:13 pmThank you so much for sharing how to make a dried fruit garland on Whimsy Home Wednesday Niccole! I have wanted to make one for years, maybe this year will be the year I actually take the plunge and make one! Your how to was so easy to follow.
Indah Nuria Savitri
November 5, 2022 at 1:42 pmThis is wonderful Nicole. It looks lovely and the fruits will smell great as well! I chose this post to be featured in #OMHGWW. Cheers from Wellington
Nicolle
November 5, 2022 at 5:07 pmAhhh thank you so much Indah! Have a great weekend!
Create With Joy
December 1, 2022 at 6:13 pmSuch a wonderful project Nichole. Congrats for being one of our Featured Friends at Friendship Friday at Create With Joy!