How To Make A Carrot Wreath

Making a wreath out of carrots might sound like a crazy idea. After all, wreaths are traditionally made with pine boughs and other evergreen branches. But carrots can make the perfect, on-trend vegetable accessory in a pinch. The following step-by-step instructions will show you how to make a carrot wreath for your front door this holiday season.

1) CHOOSE YOUR MATERIAL

You will need about 3 large carrots to complete your wreath. Choose hearty carrots with good color and a characteristic carrot smell. Most varieties of carrots will taste just fine on your wreath. The exception to this is yellow carrots, which have a more delicate flavor that is not well suited for cooking or eating raw and may lend to an unpleasant flavor when dried or preserved. These carrots are best left for eating fresh or for another use.

2) SCRUB THE CARROTS

Carrots are grown in dirt, and they can pick up some foreign matter during their growth cycle. To ensure the best results when making your wreath, it’s important to clean them before getting started. Carrots will not hold up well to unpleasant flavors, so you’ll want to remove any scent that might stick with them. Baby carrots are the easiest variety of carrots to clean: simply give them a good scrub under cold running water.

3) REMOVE EXCESS WATER FROM THE CARROTS AND LEAVE THEM IN A WARM AREA (if you plan on using dried cloves for decoration, this is important)

Cleaned carrots soak up water like crazy, so it’s best to remove as much as possible before you begin crafting your wreath. Use a towel or paper towels and squeeze out excess moisture before continuing. You’ll also want to leave your carrots out in a warm area that is free of drafts, like near a window or in a sunroom. This will help your carrots to dry more quickly.

4) PRE-BAKE YOUR CARROTS

Pre-bake your carrots by roasting them in the oven at 350 F for about 20 minutes. This cooks off excess moisture and creates a slightly crispy exterior that will help to hold the fibers of your wreath together. Give them a stir every so often to make sure they are evenly cooked.

5) HANDLE THE HOT CARROTS CAREFULLY

If you are using dried cloves for decoration, it’s important to use gloves so that you don’t burn yourself when handling the hot carrots during this process. Also, be careful of the steam coming off of the carrots while they bake. It might singe some hairs on your forearms, or at least create a sticky mess if it falls onto your clothing.

6) LET THE BAKED CARROTS COOL OFF BEFORE HANDLING THEM

You don’t want to burn yourself when you handle hot, cooked carrots. The best way to avoid this is to let baked carrots cool down completely before handling them. It’s best to wait until they are completely cooled before attempting this step because otherwise, it might be hard for you to identify where one carrot starts and the other ends.

7) STRAND THE BAKED CARROT SLICES

Using a large needle, thread each cooked carrot slice onto a strand of natural twine or fishing line. You can work on each slice individually, or you can work in batches. This is to make sure your twine doesn’t get too heavy and break under the weight of your slices. Gather each strand together at the top and tie it off with a bit of string or add a bow in order to make it presentable.

8) MAKE ABOUT THREE STRANDS FOR YOUR WREATH

The number of strands you have will help determine the size of your wreath. A large wreath can be created by using 3-4 strands, while smaller ones might only require 2-3. The amount of carrots you have also determines how many strands you need to make; work with what you’ve got. Tie them all together once they are completely dry so that they stay together once they’re finished.

9) ASSEMBLE YOUR WREATH

Assembling your wreath is the fun part. Grab the “end” of your strands and slide them down over the top of the first layer of carrots. They should kind of curl in on themselves to form a “U” shape. Continue to do this until you reach the bottom layer, then repeat for the bottom side. Use your gloved hand to gently squeeze each strand up and down in order to form a curve.

10) ADD MORE LAYERS

Continue adding more strands until you’ve got 2-3 layers together. These will make your wreath thicker and more substantial. If you’re using dried cloves for decoration, don’t forget to add them at this point. If you are using fresh parsley or rosemary for decoration, feel free to add them now as well. They will last longer and add a fresh scent to your wreath.

11) PREPARE A BASIN OF WATER

To create the fresh white appearance of this wreath, you’ll want to soak it in water. Fill a basin or bucket with cold or cool water and submerge your wreath. Make sure that it is completely covered by the water; otherwise, the drying process will not work as well. If you do not have enough room for a full-sized wreath, feel free to create more than one at once. Place wet newspapers and towels in between each one so that they do not get tangled while they dry.

12) PLACE A PLATE ON TOP OF THE WREATH AS IT DRIES

A plate or small dish with can be placed on top of your wreath to weigh it down while it is drying. The weight of the plate will help keep your wreath flat and prevent curling once it has dried. Make sure the plate doesn’t have sharp edges or corners; otherwise, you may poke a hole in your drying wreath.

13) ADD A DECORATIVE PIECE AT THE VERY TOP

Add a decorative piece of twine, ribbon, or ribbon-like string at the very top of your wreath. Your options are almost endless here! From simple bows to intricate floral patterns that match your décor, there’s no reason why you can’t personalize your wreath in any way you’d like.

14) LET THE WREATH DRY OUTSIDE

Place your freshly-created carrot wreath on an outdoor drying rack to help speed up the process. A simple wooden dowel that has been propped up against two short stacks of bricks will do the job perfectly for smaller-sized wreaths. If you feel the need to create a wreath that is even a little bit larger, use a tripod and place it directly in the sun.

When it’s dry, you can take your wreath down from the drying rack and place it on a porch or covered overhang to prevent any accidental mishaps like rain or snow. While your wreath is drying, keep it stored away from direct sunlight, where temperatures can get too high for the fibers to be effective.

Once completely dry, hang up your finished carrot wreath in your home as per usual. It will last quite some time if taken care of properly. If your wreath gets too smelled out, you can always freshen it up by spritzing it with a diluted vinegar-water solution.