Looking for a festive, fun, and fragrant holiday craft that’s great for all ages? Cinnamon Christmas ornaments are the perfect afternoon DIY that fit the bill.
They smell wonderful from start to finish, and with a little care, they will last for many years. Did I mention you only need two ingredients to make them? Yup, just ground cinnamon and applesauce.
Let’s get started!
Gather Your Supplies
Before we get started, you’ll need the following materials and ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup ground cinnamon (plus extra for rolling out dough)
- 3/4 cup applesauce
Tools:
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon or spatula
- Rolling pin, an etched rolling pin makes beautiful ornaments (I have this one)
- Cookie cutters (holiday-themed shapes like stars, trees, or gingerbread people work well)
- Baking sheet
- Cooling Rack
- Straw or skewer
- Ribbon or twine (for hanging)
Mixing Up the Dough
In a mixing bowl, combine the ground cinnamon and applesauce. Use a spoon or spatula to stir the mixture until it forms a thick, dough-like consistency. It won’t be smooth but rather granular.
Tip: If the dough feels too sticky, add a little more cinnamon. If it’s too dry, add a small amount of applesauce until the desired texture is reached.
Use your hands to knead the dough for a couple of minutes. This helps ensure an even texture and makes the dough easier to work with. If you have sensitive or extra dry skin, I recommend wearing gloves. Cinnamon is considered a “hot” oil and can cause skin irritation. That being said, I have arthritis in my knuckles, so kneading the dough felt great!
Be sure you wash your hands well when you’re finished, and don’t touch your face.
Rolling the Dough for Cutting
You’re going to sprinkle your work surface with a layer of cinnamon, just like you would with flour, before you roll out cookie dough. This will keep the dough from sticking. (You can also roll the dough out between two layers of parchment paper.)
It’s important not to roll it out too thin. You want your dough to be about ¼” thick. Any thinner and the ornaments tend to be brittle, and sometimes they warp when baking.
If you plan on using an embossed rolling pin, leave the dough a little bit thicker and then use the embossed rolling pin on the last pass. You’ll get your impression, and the dough should now be ¼” thick.
Cut out shapes with the cookie cutters the same way you would for cookies. You can dip your cookie cutters in a little cinnamon to keep the dough from sticking to them.
Super Duper Important Step!
Don’t forget to make holes in the ornament for hanging! Once they are baked, they will break if you try to make a hole after the fact.
Use a straw or a skewer and poke holes about 1/4” from the edge. For shapes like stars or snowflakes, consider placing the holes in different spots on the shape so it will hang differently.
Bake or Dry Your Ornaments
While you can place your ornaments on parchment paper on a baking sheet, I’ve found you get much better results if you place them on a baking rack set inside a baking sheet. This allows air to flow around the ornaments, ensuring even drying and a quicker drying time.
Now, you can either bake the ornaments or let them air dry. Air drying takes much longer, but ornaments are less likely to warp or crack this way. Air drying can take up to three days. Place them somewhere warm and dry and check on them each day.
If you plan on baking them, set your oven to 200 degrees F. Place the ornaments on the baking sheet in the oven. If you’ve used a baking rack, they should be done between 1-2 hours. Check them at the one-hour mark.
If you are baking them on parchment paper directly on the baking sheet, you’ll need to flip them halfway through the baking time.
Either way, your house is going to smell incredible. If you’re looking for more ways to make your home smell like Christmas, Madison can help you out.
Add Ribbon or Twine & Hang
Once your ornaments are completely dry, thread a thin piece of ribbon or twine through the hole and tie a knot in it. They’re ready to hang around your home, bringing the scent of Christmas all through the holidays.
Quick Tips for Success
- Do not eat these! These are not edible. Keep the dough and finished ornaments away from small children and pets.
- To ensure the scent lasts, you can store them in an airtight container for next year. Wrap them in tissue paper to keep them from breaking.
Fun Ways to Use Your Beautiful Ornaments
- Hang them on your Christmas tree for a rustic and aromatic touch.
- Attach them to gift packages as unique, scented tags.
- String them together to create a garland for your mantel or doorway.
- Use them as place markers for your holiday dinner table.
Once you’ve made a batch of cinnamon ornaments, you’ll want to make a batch of baking soda ornaments, too. They look amazing together on your tree!
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