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Homemade Salt Dough Ornaments are a great way to enjoy time together as a family during the holidays. I want to share today this Salt Dough Ornament Recipe.
A good recipe makes all the difference in creating a fun tradition and this is the recipe that has worked well for us.
Keep scrolling to find the printable instructions below.
I always become nervous when making the dough. It can easily turn out too dry or too sticky.
This Salt Dough Recipe has turned out perfect every single time.
I haven’t had to add any additional water or wait a long period of time for the ornaments to dry before decorating.
Salt Dough Making Tips
However, I will note that if for some reason your Salt Doughcomes out dry, add a little bit of water at a time as you continue to knead the dough.
Don’t add too much water at a time to ensure that the Salt Dough does not become sticky.
There are a variety of Salt Dough Ornament Ideas out there and I plan on sharing a couple of ours this season.
For now, here is a classic, easy, and trusty Salt Dough Ornament Recipe.
Holiday Salt Dough Ornaments
For other holidays, like Easter, be sure to use Easter cookie cutters to create themed ornaments.
You can even use flower-shaped cookie cutters for salt dough Mother’s Day gifts and more.
How to Make a Salt Dough Ornament Recipe and More
Scroll to the bottom of the page for a full list of measurements and printable instructions.
Ingredients
Instructions
Preheat oven to 250°F. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add flour, salt, and water.
Mix all ingredients together until a dough is formed. Mixing by hand might be easier. On a smooth surface, roll out dough to about 1/4-inch in thickness and smooth out the top.
Use cookie cutters, handprints, or whatever you like to cut out shapes in the dough. Don’t forget to put a hole at the top of each ornament for the ribbon. I use a straw to create one.
Bake ornaments for about 2-hours. Ensure that the dough is hardened before removing from the oven and no shiny or sticky parts are left. Bake for additional time if needed.
Remove ornaments and let cool overnight before decorating.
This Salt Dough Ornament Recipe has been so easy to make and we’ve never had an issue with cracking.
Even if we were to ever come across any cracking, I think that homemade ornamentshave a great character like that. It shows how it is made with love.
One Last Quick Tip for Salt Dough Ornament Making
Don’t forget to paint over Modge Podge once you are done decorating to let the ornament set and keep.
We love making these to remember handprints, pawprints of our pets, and so much more. Use this tutorial to begin creating your own holiday traditions in your home.
How to Make Salt Dough Ornaments
Yield: Approx. 8 Medium Sized Salt Dough Ornaments
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Baking Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $5
How to make salt dough ornaments for a fun holiday craft this season. Check out this easy Salt Dough Ornament Recipe.
Materials
- 2 Cups of Flour
- 1 Cup of Salt
- 1 Cup of Water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°F.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add flour, salt, and water.
- Mix all ingredients together until a dough is formed. Mixing by hand might be easier.
- On a smooth surface, roll out dough to about 1/4-inch in thickness and smooth out the top.
- Use cookie cutters, handprints, or whatever you like to cut out shapes in the dough. Don't forget to put a hole at the top of each ornament for the ribbon. I use a straw to create one.
- Bake Salt Dough Ornaments for about 2-hours. Ensure that the dough is hardened before removing it from the oven and no shiny or sticky parts are left. Bake for additional time if needed.
- Remove Salt Dough Ornaments and let cool overnight before decorating.
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FAQs
The salt dough recipe
You want a ratio of one part salt and two parts flour. For making just a few little salt dough creations with your kids, one cup salt and two cups flour should be enough. If you want to prepare more, just increase the number of cups proportionally.
Is it better to bake or air dry salt dough? ›
If you have thin ornaments for the tree then in the oven they may only take an hour or two. However, if you are drying something thicker like a sculpture or a candle holder then this will take much longer and it may be better for you to dry using the air drying method.
What salt is best for salt dough ornament? ›
Flour: These salt dough ornaments start with four cups of all-purpose flour. Salt: Salt absorbs the water and helps preserve the ornaments for years to come. Use table salt for this recipe.
What is the best thing to seal salt dough? ›
Use Mod Podge (in matte) to seal the dough and give them a more finished look. Small Craft Brush. For brushing on the sealer. Extra Fine White Glitter.
How thick should salt dough ornaments be? ›
Lay down one piece of parchment paper on the table and pull a small hand size amount of dough on paper. Lay second sheet of parchment paper on top of dough. Roll out dough till its about 1/8 inch thick. This is important because if you make the dough too thick it will crack and not create rad looking ornaments!
How to tell when salt dough is done? ›
If you take good care of them and store them properly they can last a very long time! I recently saw a post from someone saying that they had some in good shape that were 35 years old. How do you know when salt dough is done? It will be hard to the touch but still light in color on the top.
Why did my salt dough ornaments crack? ›
Despite if you bake your projects or let them air dry, I highly recommend you taking the extra steps to preserve salt dough almost immediately after it is completely dry. Sealing your salt dough ornaments prevents them from becoming moldy and or cracking/crumbling.
How long should you cook salt dough for? ›
Place the salt dough on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper and the firmly push down the hand, foot, key etc. to leave an imprint. Bake the salt dough in a preheat oven at 150°c / Gas Mark 2 for approximately 3 hours or until they are completely dry.
How long should I bake salt dough ornaments? ›
Roll out to a thickness of 1/8 inch; cut desired festive shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer onto the prepared baking sheet; use a toothpick to make a hole in each ornament for hanging. Bake in the preheated oven until dry and hard, about 2 hours. Allow to cool completely before decorating.
What does cream of tartar do for salt dough? ›
Salt dough has been around for ages and there are many variations. My favorite versions have oil and cream of tartar in it. These two ingredients help create a smooth dough that bakes well and is perfect with cookie molds.
You can paint a coat of glossy decoupage glue over the entire ornament to seal and protect it, and to give it a shiny finish. You can also spritz it with a light coat of polyurethane spray. Both methods, along with the salt acting as a natural preservative, help to extend the ornament's longevity.
How long will salt dough ornaments last? ›
Properly prepared salt dough ornaments that have fully dried will last for decades! The most important tip for long lasting salt dough ornaments is to make sure that you let them dry out all the way – and that you don't let them get damp. If they dampen, they can mold.
What to coat salt dough ornaments with? ›
How do I preserve and store these Salt Dough Ornaments? In order to keep your ornaments and use them for several years, it is best to seal them. Painting them with acrylic paint, if you choose to, will begin the process. But a coat of Mod Podge or Acrylic sealer that is applied like a spray paint will be needed.
How long do salt dough ornaments take to dry? ›
The great thing about it is that the salt dough sculptures will harden if you leave them out to dry at room temperature. Depending on the size of the pieces, it will take 2 to 7 days to dry completely. Turn the pieces from time to time for faster drying.
What do you spray on salt dough? ›
How to Preserve Salt Dough Ornaments. To help preserve your finished dried ornaments, you can coat with a layer or two of Mod Podge or spray with a sealer. Either work well. I'd recommend coating or sealing both sides, so do one side and let it dry, and then do the second side.
How much salt do I add to 2 cups of flour for bread? ›
In bread baking the percentage of salt added that is considered normal, ranges from 1.8% to 2.2% of the total amount of flour, depending on the recipe and personal preference. Low salt contents can lead to bland loaves, anything over the 2.2% norm will likely be considered too salty.
How much salt do I add to 3 cups of flour for bread? ›
Add 3 cups bread flour, 1/2 tsp dry yeast, and 1 tsp kosher salt to a mixing bowl and mix well. Add the warm water and by hand, mix to create a soft, sticky dough. Do not knead the dough, the less you knead the more airy the bread will turn out.
What happens if I put too much salt in my dough? ›
If the percentage of salt added to a dough becomes too high, excessive dehydration will eventually kill the yeast and bacteria. Most scientists believe that at 2% of the flour weight or less, salt alone does not significantly alter either the yeast's gassing power or the bacteria's acid production.
What happens if you put too much salt in bread dough? ›
Adam Fisher, COO of Oceans Flavor Foods, explained to Baking Business, "Too much salt can slow down the yeast activity, not allowing enough expansion." This means that your bread dough won't rise properly.
