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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
Mod Podge.
It's important to seal your ornaments once they're dried, so that they don't absorb moisture from the air. Use Mod Podge (in matte) to seal the dough and give them a more finished look.
What is the ratio for salt dough? ›
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.
How to make salt dough ornaments last? ›
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.
What happens if you don't seal salt dough? ›
Sealing your salt dough ornaments prevents them from becoming moldy and or cracking/crumbling. Any environment can cause salt dough to mold, even when extra precautions are taken. Once sealed, they are guaranteed to last a lifetime. This way, you can continue to enjoy your families memories, year after year.
Can you seal salt dough with Elmer's glue? ›
6. When your project is cool, paint it with an acrylic paint. After the paint dries, seal it with an acrylic spray, or make your own sealant by mixing 1 tablespoon of Elmer's glue with 1 tablespoon of water.
How to tell when salt dough is done? ›
Bake the dough at 250 degrees F or about 2 hours. You want to bake them until they're hardened. They will harden a little more once you remove them from the oven and let them cool but you want them to have a good hard texture before you remove them from the oven.
Can you overcook salt dough? ›
If you overcook them, they tend to bubble up. As everyone's dough will be mixed differently and microwaves have different levels of power, please keep an eye on your creations when they are cooking. Take them out to check their dryness – CAREFUL - THEY WILL BE HOT!
What is the fastest way to harden salt dough? ›
Salt dough drying tips
- Microwave. The quickest method to dry dough is in the microwave, but the dough will probably rise a bit. ...
- Oven. Alternatively, put the moulds into a cool oven. ...
- Air dry. Leave the moulds in a cool dry place for between 24-48 hours (thinner designs will dry quicker).
Dough that is too thin may crack around the edges and dough that is too thick will definitely bubble.
You'll make salt dough according to the recipe, cut your shapes, and then bake it. Then you'll paint and Mod Podge the resulting ornaments.
Should salt dough ornaments be hard? ›
Bake the ornaments in the oven for 1.5-2 hours until they are firm to the touch (not rock hard, but not doughy!). Handprint keepsake ornaments will take longer to bake. Let cool fully.
What is the best thing to seal salt dough? ›
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 thick should salt dough ornaments be? ›
Roll out to a thickness of 1/8 inch; cut desired shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer dough shapes to ungreased cookie sheets; use a toothpick to make a hole in each ornament for hanging. Bake in the preheated oven until hard, about 1 hour, switching racks halfway through.
Why are my salt dough ornaments puffy? ›
Make sure your oven is set to 150°f. This is SUPER IMPORTANT. I have seen others use hotter temperatures but I haven't been able to do so without getting puffiness. So, plain all-purpose flour, 150ºf oven and 1/4 inch thickness = no puffy ornaments.
How to paint and seal salt dough ornaments? ›
It can be sealed using varnish or polyurethane, painted with acrylic paint or hand dyed using food coloring. It's a thick, dense dough that if made properly shouldn't crack or crumble, making it perfect to use for Christmas ornaments.
Can you waterproof salt dough? ›
The salt is to help preserve it--and yeah, saltdough wouldn't hold up super great if it got wet. Its fairly durable, so I think you could get away with using it for jewelry if it weren't worn super regularly. Sealing it with a waterproof sealer would also help.
How do you keep salt dough from sticking? ›
You are looking for a dough that doesn't stick to your fingers. If you feel the dough is too dry add some more water. If you feel the dough is too sticky, add more flour. It is easier and more fun to mix with your hands so that you can knead the dough.
What is the best Mod Podge for salt dough ornaments? ›
To make ornaments shiny, I highly recommend using Mod Podge Gloss or Mod Podge Sparkle. I am in love with the Sparkle version! You also have the option of using an acrylic sealer spray to create a sheen, but I really like the ease of using Mod Podge in a jar.
