Cinnamon Ornaments Recipe
Servings: 12 ornaments
These 2 ingredient cinnamon ornaments are one of my favorite easy Christmas crafts! Made from cinnamon and applesauce, this homemade dough smells incredible and creates beautiful, non-toxic ornaments that last for years. Perfect for kids and families during the holidays.
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Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
- 1 cup ground cinnamon *
- ¾ cup applesauce **
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the cinnamon and the applesauce until a soft dough forms.1 cup ground cinnamon, ¾ cup applesauce
- Roll the dough out until it is about ¼-inch thick.
- Use cookie cutters to carefully cut shapes out of the dough.
- Transfer the pieces to a baking sheet and use a straw or toothpick to make holes (to add string to hang the ornaments).
- Continue re-rolling the dough and cutting out shapes until you have used all of the dough.
- Allow the ornaments to dry completely by either leaving them at room temperature for 24 hours or baking for 2 hours at 200°F.
- Run string or ribbon through the holes and hang your ornaments on your tree.
Notes
*I like cinnamon best, but other spices like nutmeg, cloves, or allspice also work. A mix of spices, such as pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice, would also smell delicious!
**I recommend an unsweetened, smooth applesauce for this recipe. Sweetened or flavored will also work in a pinch, but there's no real benefit to the added sugar or flavoring. Chunky applesauce will not make a smooth dough.
Tips:
- You can dust your work surface with a little bit of cinnamon to prevent the ornaments from sticking. I rolled mine out on plastic wrap.
- If you find that your ornaments are breaking, you may need to add more applesauce (moisture) to the dough to make it less brittle. Add 1 teaspoon at a time and work it in fully before adding more. We're looking for a sugar cookie dough consistency.
- You can also try adding a bit of craft glue for an even stronger dough.
- For best results, keep the dough between ¼ and ⅓ inch thick. Thinner ornaments may curl or crack, while thicker ones take much longer to dry.
- Have fun with several different festive cookie cutters!
- Air drying your cinnamon ornaments takes longer, but it helps them keep a richer scent and smoother texture than baking.
- If you’re air drying, flip the ornaments halfway through (after 12 hours) to help them dry evenly and prevent curling.
- If baking, prop the oven door slightly open (use a wooden spoon) to allow moisture to escape and help the ornaments dry faster without overbaking.
- These ornaments aren't made to be eaten, but they're also non-toxic. If your little one takes a bite, it won't be the end of the world, but they also probably won't enjoy it too much. Once decorated, I recommend keeping them away from young kids who like to put things in their mouths!
- The best part about these ornaments is the scent! I find it lasts all season on my tree, and sometimes even longer if properly stored in an airtight container.
- You can decorate these ornaments with acrylic paint, glitter, puff paint, or permanent markers.
- You can use Mod Podge to attach beads, paper, or fabric, or as a sealer to keep the decorations looking their best. It may mask their cinnamon scent, though.