Categories: LIFESTYLE

Dried Apple Wreaths Make Ideal Holiday Gifts

Do you love the scent of apples or know someone that does? If so, you may want to consider spending a couple of days making a dried apple wreath. Based on my experience, dried apple wreaths smell sensational, look great and make ideal gifts. They are also easy to make. Here’s how:

Dried Apple Wreath Making Supplies

In order to complete this craft project, you will need a 5 pound bag of apples, a 16 inch Styrofoam wreath base, a container of table salt, a bottle of reconstituted lemon juice and a spray can of clear polyurethane. You’ll also need access to a household oven, a non-stick cookie sheet, mixing bowls, a mixing spoon and a sharp knife. A box of U-shaped florist’s pins and a roll of paper towels will also come in handy during the wreath making process.

Prepare the Apples for Drying

Set up your work space by placing two large mixing bowls onto your counter top. Pour 1 cup of reconstituted lemon juice and ½ tablespoon of table salt into each bowl. Mix the ingredients around with a spoon. Next, cut your apple in half. You will want to take a trio of 1/8 inch thick slices from the center of the apple. Afterward, cut the remaining pieces of apple into ¼ inch thick wedges. Keep going by submerging the apple slices and wedges into the lemon juice and salt mixture. It is designed to help keep the apples from discoloring as well as start the drying process. Then let the apples sit submerged like that for 5 minutes or less.

Dry the Apples

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At the end of the five minutes, remove the apple pieces from the solution and pat them dry with paper towels. Then place them onto a nonstick cookie sheet. Make sure that the apple pieces are in a single layer. Otherwise they will dry unevenly. Next, place the apple filled cookie sheet into a preheated, 140 degree Fahrenheit oven. Allow the apple pieces to remain in the oven until they reach a consistency that resembles leather. I have found that it usually takes the apple pieces six hours of drying time to reach that point. However, your apple pieces may take more or less time. As such, you’ll want to check on them periodically throughout the drying process. When the apples are finished drying, you should use them right away. If you find yourself unable to do so, you may temporarily store them in an airtight container.

Assembling the Wreath

Assembling the apple wreath is a fairly straightforward affair. You’ll want to hot glue and pin the dried apple pieces to a Styrofoam wreath base. Once you’ve completed a single layer, liberally coat the apples with clear polyurethane and allow it to dry. The clear polyurethane will help to preserve the apples and give your wreath a nice finish. Continue adding layers of apple and clear polyurethane until your wreath is complete. Afterward, liberally coat it with a final layer of clear polyurethane. When the last layer of clear polyurethane dries, you may decorate your wreath as desired.

Wreath Decorating Suggestions

If you are looking for decorating ideas, I would suggest that you consider pinning and gluing a small spice satchel to the base of the wreath. Then hide the satchel under a large bow. Superior spices to consider using in the satchel are cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and apple pie spice. Once you are done decorating your dried apple wreath, it will be ready for use.

Source: Personal Experience