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Easy to make gingerbread salt dough ornaments that last for years. Perfect craft to do with the kids on a cold, winter afternoon.
We have a bit of a tradition at our house – each November 1st we bust out the Christmas tunes, order pizza and decorate the Christmas tree. We’ve done this for several years. Except for the year we moved on December 14th, the tree went up at the new house on moving day – even before the beds were set up!
Anyway, this year we started our Christmas decorating the weekend after Canadian Thanksgiving due to a photo shoot we did in our dining room for a fabulous Canadian retailer (we’ll share when we can). One of the things we pulled out to add to our tree was a set of gingerbread salt dough ornaments we made several years ago.
They’re a very traditional and easy to make Christmas ornament that goes with just about any style of decorating. And they last like FOREVER!
How to Make Your Own Gingerbread Salt Dough Ornaments
Okay, so I cannot bake cookies to save my life! Well, except for these ones my grandma used to make. Anyway, since these are not cookies and just ornaments, even I can make them easily!
Ingredients
- 1 cup salt
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups flour
- ground cinnamon
- whole cloves
- gingerbread cookie cutter
- paper straw
- cookie sheet
- ribbon/strips of cotton/jute for hanging
Instructions
- Put salt and flour (dry ingredients) in bowl.
- Add water slowly. Mix/knead to form dough ball.
- Roll out dough ball (if it’s too sticky add flour, if it’s too dry add water) and use cookie cutter to cut out gingerbread men.
- Use straw to make a hole near the top of each gingerbread man’s head for hanging.
- Lay all ornaments out on a cookie sheet.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Add cloves for eyes and buttons.
- Either let air dry for several days or for about an hour at 200 degrees or so. (I’ve also read that salt dough ornaments can be microwaved a bit at at time, but I haven’t done it that way.)
- Let cool, string and hang up!
How to Make Your Own Authentic Gingerbread Salt Dough Ornaments
Materials
- 1 cup salt
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups flour
- ground cinnamon
- whole cloves
- ribbon/strips of cotton/jute for hanging
Tools
- Cookie sheet
- Paper straw
- Gingerbread cookie cutter
Instructions
- Put salt and flour (dry ingredients) in bowl.
- Add water slowly. Mix/knead to form dough ball.
- Roll out dough ball (if it’s too sticky add flour, if it’s too dry add water) and use cookie cutter to cut out gingerbread men.
- Use straw to make a hole near the top of each gingerbread man’s head for hanging.
- Lay all ornaments out on a cookie sheet.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Add cloves for eyes and buttons.
- Either let air dry for several days or for about an hour at 200 degrees or so. (I’ve also read that salt dough ornaments can be microwaved a bit at at time, but I haven’t done it that way.)
- Let cool, string and hang up!
More Christmas Ornaments
Of course, if you liked these, or need a different idea, here are a few more of our DIY make your own Christmas ornaments:
- 40 Christmas Ball Ornament Ideas
- Silhouette Ornaments
- Chalkboard Christmas Ball Ornaments
- Snowflake Embroidery Hoop Ornaments
- Burlap Ornaments
- Cookie Cutter Christmas Ornaments
- Vintage Sheet Music Ball Ornaments
- Hand-lettered Large Ornaments
Do you have any ornaments that you use year after year, no matter the style or color scheme you choose? Do you have any handmade ornaments that you love?
