Dehydrated Citrus Cocktail Garnishes | Happy Hour

In this post I’ll be sharing a cute and simple citrus garnish idea for your spring and summer cocktails.

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It’s 5 o’clock somewhere. Welcome to Happy Hour: a series where we try unique and exciting cocktails together!

Today’s post isn’t a cocktail recipe, but instead something that I personally think goes hand-in-hand: garnishes!

A few weeks ago I hosted a girl’s night in get together, and felt like it was the perfect time to attempt to make the super aesthetic and Pinterest-popular dehydrated citrus slices.

These are the perfect garnish for any cocktail that pairs with citrus (which is pretty much most of them!) and even double as pretty table decor if you made way too many, like I did. You may have also seen these used during the holidays in DIY garlands for Christmas trees, fireplace mantles, or even tablescape settings. I think they are really a year-round staple because they add a nice pop of brightness to spring and summer cocktails and cheese boards as well.

I particularly love the way they float on top of the drinks, and if you coat them in a bit of sugar before dehydrating they are also really delicious to snack on while sipping your cocktail.

If you’re curious about making these, just know you’ll need to set aside some prep time as these babies will need to spend several hours in the oven. I highly recommend making these a day in advance. They also keep really well in the fridge if you have any leftovers, just toss them in a ziplock bag and enjoy again for your next happy hour or charcuterie board.

How To Make Dehydrated Citrus Slices

You’ll need:
– Your citrus fruit of choice: I used limes, lemons, oranges, grapefruit
– Sugar (optional)
– Parchment paper

Wash fruit thoroughly
Thinly slice the fruit into 1/4″ rounds, or thinner if you can. Make sure they are all evenly sliced so that they are uniform and bake evenly.
To add sugar, either sprinkle on top, or gently push each slice into a plate of sugar, depending on how much you want to add.
Place fruit slices on a parchment lined baking tray in a single layer.
Bake at 200°F for 2-3 hours, depending on your oven. Turn the slices over after the first hour and check on them occasionally. You’ll know they are ready when they look glossy and transparent, and the sugar caramelizes a bit on the edges.
Remove from oven and set aside to cool for about 30 minutes before using as garnish.

Hosting Tip: Once cooled and hardened, present the slices layered in a shallow decorative bowl, and place a few in some pre-made cocktails to show your guests the presentation idea. For an extra bougie touch, you can set out a pair of small serving tongs and layer in some edible flowers or sprigs of fresh herbs. Place next to your cocktail shaker and enjoy!