Homemade Christmas Potpourri with Dried Oranges
Make this fragrant Christmas potpourri now! This easy recipe contains dried oranges, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, bay and other fragrance. Learn how to make it here!
Servings 2 cups potpourri
Cost $7
Ingredients
For the Potpourri
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 blood orange, sliced
- 1 apple, sliced
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 4 cups water
- whole star anise
- cinnamon sticks
- dried putka pods (optional)
- whole clove
For the Essential Oil Blend
- 8 drops clove oil
- 10 drops sweet orange oil
- 3 drops balsam fir oil
- 3 drops cassia oil
- 2 drops bay oil
Instructions
How to Dry Orange Slices in the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 200° F.
- Thinly slice the oranges.
- Place the fruit slices in a single layer on an oven-safe wire rack or on a parchment-line baking sheet.
- Dry the fruit slices in the oven for 4 to 6 hours.
- Be sure to check the orange slices frequently and flip them so they dry evenly, especially if you’re using parchment instead of a wire rack on your pan.
- Allow to cool completely.
How to Dry Apple Slices in the Oven
- To help prevent the apples from browning, combine 4 cups of water with 1/2 cup of lemon juice. Soak the apple slices for 30 minutes.
- After soaking, place apple slices on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 200° F for two to four hours, depending on desired crispness. Be sure to flip the apple slices midway through the cooking process.
- Allow to cool completely.
Making the Essential Oil Blend
Making the Potpourri
- Combine the dried fruit slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, seed pods and whole cloves in a large bowl of zip-top plastic bag.
- Add 8 drops of the oil blend for every 1 cup of dried plant material. Toss to coat.
Video
Notes
Variations:
- You can also use mini pinecones, dried florals, wood curls, acorns and any other natural items you like in your homemade holiday potpourri.
- Try other essential oil blends, or omit them altogether, and just use dried fruit, spices and dried, fragrant evergreen.