A simple and fun way to add a handmade look to your holiday tree with this cinnamon scented salt dough for ornaments.
Undoubtedly, there is always some sort of stress that creeps in among the holiday preparation. A sort of panic will seep in the thoughts drenched in evergreen, twinkle lights, and crinkled wrapped paper. It is the goal of a beautifully decorated home and perfect festive dishes and all the activities of a memorable Christmas that at times seem overwhelming. During these times, I try to remember my own childhood and what truly made the holidays special. If I am being honest with myself, it was the more handmade and simple things that I recall the most. That is why as my family has grown, I do my best to remember it is the ordinary and simple that can be transformed into magical. This salt dough for ornaments does just that. A simple dough with three staple ingredients can provide hours of entertainment and special holiday memories!
Salt dough in incredibly easy to make with salt, flour and water. This version for ornaments gets a little extra festive magic by making it a gingerbread scented dough. While it is completely optional, the addition of a bit of cinnamon and orange essential oil transforms this ordinary salt dough into holiday delight.
The kids can become involved in this process of making the salt dough and then cutting out the ornaments with cookie cutters then decorating the tree with them. The process itself can even be very stress relieving by kneading the dough and the repetitive shape making. Once the salt dough shapes are cooked and cooled, kids can even paint them or decorate with colors and glitter. This year we kept ours simple and unpainted to match our dried orange slice ornaments and cinnamon stick bundles. Natural or brightly painted or intricately detailed, whatever you choose it will be perfect for your tree and home this holiday!
Cozy Tips
- If you are using the salt dough for ornaments then use a straw or wooden dowel to poke a hole for the string. The hole needs to be a little larger than expected as the dough will shrink the hole a bit.
- When making handprints, roll the dough out a little thicker than a ¼ inch thickness of the rest of the ornaments.
- You can either paint and decorate the ornaments or leave them natural and undecorated.
- If stored in a plastic bag and wrapped in paper the ornaments will last through the years.
- Hang on your tree or use them as a small gift wrap decoration!
- Pair them with my dried orange slice ornaments for gifts or tree decorations.
- Make a party out of making the salt dough ornaments by making some hot chocolate and playing holiday music!
Ingredients and Supplies for Salt Doug for Ornaments
- Salt (normal table salt will do)
- All Purpose Flour
- Warm Water
- Ground Cinnamon
- Orange Essential Oil
- Cookie Cutters
- Baking Pans
- Parchment Paper
- Ribbon or String
The Cozy Details
Gather all of your supplies and ingredients. Mix together in a large bowl, the salt, flour, ground cinnamon, and 3-4 drops of orange essential oil.
Add the warm water and stir. Knead the dough for a few minutes until it becomes smooth. If the dough is too sticky then add a bit more flour and knead. Alternatively, if the dough is too dry then add a small amount of water. You want the dough to feel a little firmer than pizza dough.
Once the dough is ready, roll out to about ¼ inch thickness and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Near the top of the shapes poke a hole using a straw or wooden dowel or even a chop stick.
Place the shapes onto parchment paper on a baking tray. Bake at 300 degrees for an hour and check on them between 30-45 minutes. You want the shapes to be slightly hard and dry.
Once cooled you can paint and decorate the shapes then tie with string and hang on your tree!
Enjoy these simple salt dough ornaments all season long as a gentle reminder that there is magic in the ordinary and grace in the cozy!
Salt Dough Ornaments
A simple and fun way to add a handmade look to your holiday tree with this cinnamon scented salt dough for ornaments.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Salt
- 4 Cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 ½-2 Cups Warm Water
- 1 tablespoon Ground Cinnamon
- 3-4 Drops Orange Essential Oil
Instructions
- Gather all of your tools and ingredients.
- Mix the salt, flour, cinnamon, orange essential oil in a bowl.
- Stir in the warm water.
- Knead for a few minutes until smooth.
- Roll out the dough to ¼ inch thickness.
- Cut out the shapes and using a wooden dowel make a hole near the top of each shape. Ensure there is enough space from the hole to the edge so the shape does not break.
- Place on parchment paper on a baking tray.
- Bake at 300 degrees for about an hour, but check on them around 30-45 minutes. You want the shapes to be firm and dry.
- Allow the shapes to cool.
- Decorate the shapes with paint and glitter or leave plain.
- While allowing the paint to dry, cut the ribbon or string into pieces to string through the shapes.
- Loop the string or ribbon through the shape and tie together.
- Hang on a tree or any holiday décor!
Notes
If the dough is too sticky then knead in flour or if the dough is too dry add a little water. You want the dough to be slightly firmer than pizza dough. The more you knead and work the dough, the smoother it will be.
