It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and you know what that means! It’s the ideal time of year to get together with loved ones and celebrate. What better way to come together than with a delicious Aperol Spritz?
As the perfect garnish for an Aperol Spritz, we love to celebrate the orange in all its glory – especially at this time of year – so why not adorn your glasses and decorate your home with a little seasonal citrus?
Read our blog to discover how you can make your own orange Christmas decorations for a delicious December.
‘Tis the season of orange
At this time of year there’s orange scents in the air and orange Christmas decorations all around. But, what most of us don’t know is how the humble orange became such a festive icon.
Historically, oranges were seen as a real luxury. Zesty, fresh and coming all the way from someplace warm, receiving an orange in your stocking was a fancy way to celebrate the season.
That’s why we still love decorating with oranges at Christmas. They’ve become a seasonal tradition, bringing colour and fragrance to one of the nation’s most favourite times of year. Plus, decorating with dried oranges around the home is a beautiful and eco-friendly way to feel festive.
How to dry orange slices
Whether you want to make a dried orange wreath or create your own orange slice Christmas ornaments, first you need to dry your oranges. Not only does it look great as part of your festive décor, but this also preserves your oranges and makes them perfect for pretty much any application.
- First, pre-heat your oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1.
- Line baking trays with baking parchment.
- Thinly slice your oranges, using a mandolin if you have one.
- Arrange the orange slices on baking trays and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour until completely dried out. Make sure to turn your slices over halfway through cooking.
- Once they’re thoroughly cool, you can stud your slices with dried cloves, thread through some ribbon or string, and use them to create orange Christmas decorations however you like.
Top orange Christmas decoration DIY ideas
Now you’ve got your DIY orange slices, you’re ready to get crafty! Here are some of our favourite ways to use oranges for Christmas decorations.
Make orange ornaments for the Christmas tree
One of the simplest ways to add some festive orange to your decorations is by making orange ornaments to hang on your tree. All you need is your dried orange slices and some ribbon or twine, and you can create beautiful homemade orange ornaments.
Why not add cinnamon sticks, bells, and glitter to create truly unique orange Christmas decorations?
String them to make an orange garland
If you’re not a fan of tinsel but still want your tree to burst with colour and texture, why not create an orange garland? This natural alternative to tinsel adds vibrancy and a delicious scent to your Christmas tree.
Simply take your DIY dried orange slices and string them together with some string or twine. Secure each end with a knot and hang it from your tree branches between fairy lights and your other orange Christmas decorations.
Make a dried orange wreath
Oranges are perfect in a Christmas wreath, too. If you want to create your own dried orange wreath to adorn your door, it couldn’t be simpler.
All you need is a wire wreath frame, and you can decorate it however you like! We recommend laying your greenery out first – such as mistletoe leaves, fir branches and fresh herbs – and then studding it with your dried orange slices.
Garnish in an Aperol Spritz
All this DIY and decorating is thirsty work. Use your leftover fresh oranges and slice into the perfect garnish for your Aperol Spritz.
Just fill your ice with lots of ice, pour 75ml of Prosecco, then add 50ml Aperol. Top with 25ml of soda and garnish with that fresh slice of orange.
Now, sit back and enjoy your Aperol Spritz in your festively decorated home!