Simple Salt Dough Ornaments Recipe for Christmas Crafting

This homemade salt dough ornaments recipe is one of my favorite traditions to make each Christmas season with my kids!

They’re inexpensive, timeless, and such an easy activity to enjoy with your family on a cozy rainy day or weekend afternoon.

With just a few pantry staples, you can create beautiful creations that become cherished keepsakes year after year. I know they’re treasures to me!

Salt Dough Ornament Keepsakes

I have tried several recipes over the years, and this recipe is my favorite. They come out smooth and aren’t yellow, which is my goal!

Every year, we made our own salt dough ornaments, and my kids still talk about how much fun it was. There’s something special about rolling out dough, choosing festive shapes, and decorating them together.

These handmade ornaments bring so much joy and holiday cheer. Plus, they look just as sweet hanging on a Christmas tree as they do tied to gifts or used as holiday decor around the home. They are such a frugal and simple project, and they really do last for years to come.

I will say, if you are wanting to make keepsake handprints for your kids, I would use a white air dry clay like this. It is much easier to work with while trying to do handprints, and they come out perfect every time. But this salt dough is great for cookie cutter shapes.

Related Post: How to Make a DIY Christmas Paper Star Garland

A Classic Salt Dough Recipe That’s Perfect Every Time

I’ve tried several variations of salt dough crafts, but this classic salt dough recipe always turns out the best. The baking process helps them harden evenly without cracking, and the color stays light so they’re easy to decorate and paint later on.

To make this simple salt dough ornament recipe, you only need three ingredients:

1 cup purpose flour
½ cup salt (regular table salt works perfectly)
½ cup water

These ingredients combine to form a soft, pliable dough that’s easy for little hands to work with. If you’re short on time, you can even let it rest for just an hour instead of overnight, though I’ve found the best way to get a smooth dough is to let it sit for a couple of days wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator.

These make really cute gifts, or even name tags for Christmas gifts! I love that you can customize the look.

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Other Supplies Needed

Gathering your materials ahead of time makes crafting so much smoother. Here’s what I recommend:

Ziploc Bag
Measuring cups and spoons
Cookie cutters for shaping
A jar lid (perfect for round ornament shapes)
Parchment paper or a lightly floured surface for rolling
Rolling pin
Cooking oil or extra flour (to prevent sticking)
Baking sheet or cookie sheets
Mod Podge, white acrylic paint, and craft paint for decorating
Spray sealer or polyurethane spray to protect the finish
Glitter shakers for a personal touch
Twine or ribbon for hanging

old fashioned salt dough ornaments recipe

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Make the Dough

In a large ziplock bag, combine the purpose flour, cup salt, and cup water. Mix until a dough forms. If it’s sticky, sprinkle in extra flour until smooth. Knead for several minutes in the bag until soft and uniform. Leave in the ziplock bag for at least an hour. Overnight is best for really smooth dough.

Step 2: Roll It Out

When ready to use, place the dough between two sheets of parchment paper or on a lightly floured surface. Roll out to about ⅛-inch thickness. Don’t spread too thin because they may break or too thick and the baking process will take longer.

Step 3: Cut Out Your Shapes

Next, use cookie cutters (stars, hearts, trees, or gingerbread men) to cut out festive shapes. You can even use biscuit cutters for classic circles or a jar lid for simple ornaments. These look adorable decorated like sugar cookies or gingerbread cookies once they’re painted.

Use a straw or skewer to make a small hole near the top for hanging later.

Step 4: Bake or Air Dry

Transfer ornaments to a baking sheet lined with parchment. Bake at a low temperature (about 300°F) for 45 minutes, or until firm and dry. You can also try air drying for 2–3 days on a floured work surface if you prefer not to use the oven.

If the only issue is puffiness after baking, gently flatten them with a towel while still warm. Don’t worry if they stay slightly raised. It gives them a charming, handmade look!

Decorating Your Ornaments

Once cooled, it’s time to decorate your own ornaments! This part is where creativity shines, and the options are endless with these ornaments!

Paint: Start with a base coat of white acrylic paint or craft paint to make your colors pop.
Water colors: For a softer, vintage look, watercolors work beautifully. Just use them lightly so they don’t rehydrate the dough.
Mod Podge: Seal and add shine with a layer of Mod Podge once the paint dries.
Glitter shakers: Add sparkle by sprinkling glitter while the Mod Podge is still tacky.
Fragrance oil or essential oils: Add a drop of your favorite Christmas scent, like cinnamon or clove, on the surface of the dough before sealing. Your home will smell amazing!
Royal icing: For a fun twist, pipe on faux “icing” details with white paint or dimensional paint pens to make them look like real cookies.

Finish by sealing your ornaments with polyurethane spray or a clear spray sealer to protect them for years to come.

Related Post: How to Make a Homemade Dried Orange Garland

Fun Variations and Creative Ideas

There are so many ways to enjoy salt dough Christmas ornaments beyond the tree:

Use them as Christmas decorations tied to wrapped gifts.
Label them with names as handmade cookie cutter ornament place cards for your Christmas table.
Make heart shapes to hang as part of your holiday decor garland.
Stamp your child’s name or the year into the surface of the dough before baking to create keepsakes. This is so cute!
Add dried orange slices or ribbon to match your natural Christmas aesthetic.

If you’d like to make keepsake handprints, try using an air-dry clay instead of salt dough. It’s smoother for pressing little hands. But for a festive activity that invites the whole family into the holiday spirit, you can’t beat salt dough.

Troubleshooting and Tips

If your ornaments come out too sticky, knead in extra flour or refrigerate the dough under plastic wrap for a few hours.
To prevent cracks during the baking process, make sure ornaments are evenly rolled.
Store finished ornaments in a dry place wrapped in tissue or bubble wrap.
For a long-lasting shine, refresh with a new coat of polyurethane spray every few years.
For safety, ensure adult supervision during both the baking and painting stages.

A Tradition Worth Keeping

Salt dough ornaments are such a great Christmas craft because they bring everyone together. These are simple to make with toddlers or older kids and are a wonderful way to slow down, create, and celebrate the holiday spirit.

Try keeping one ornament from each year and soon you’ll have a full collection of family memories hanging on your tree. These beautiful creations are a simple, heartwarming project that connects generations, reminds us of simpler times, and fills the season with meaning.

So grab your flour and salt, roll out the dough, and let this festive activity fill your home with a handmade Christmas! Making salt dough ornaments might just become one of your family’s most beloved traditions.

Merry Christmas, and happy crafting!

Simple Salt Dough Ornaments Recipe

Make these simple salt dough Christmas ornaments with this classic recipe. They are easy, family-friendly, and perfect for homemade holiday decorations! They will become treasures for years to come.

Print Instructions Pin

Prep Time 12

Cook Time 1

Total Time 13

Servings 12 ornaments

Equipment

1 ziplock bag
cookie cutters
parchment paper
measuring cups
Rolling Pin
twine for hanging ornaments
scissors
paint or watercolors

Ingredients

4 cup flour
1 cup table salt
1.5 cups water

Instructions

Step 1: Make the Dough
In a large ziplock bag, combine the purpose flour, cup salt, and cup water. Mix until a dough forms. If it’s sticky, sprinkle in extra flour until smooth.
Knead for several minutes in the bag until soft and uniform.
Leave in the ziplock bag for at least an hour. Overnight is best for really smooth dough.
Step 2: Roll It Out
When ready to use, place the dough between two sheets of parchment paper or on a lightly floured surface. Roll out to about ⅛-inch thickness. Don't spread too thin because they may break or too thick and the baking process will take longer.
Step 3: Cut Out Your Shapes
Next, use cookie cutters (stars, hearts, trees, or gingerbread men) to cut out festive shapes.
Use a straw or skewer to make a small hole near the top for hanging later.
Step 4: Bake or Air Dry
Transfer ornaments to a baking sheet lined with parchment.
Bake at a low temperature (about 300°F) for 45 minutes, or until firm and dry.
You can also try air drying for 2–3 days on a floured work surface if you prefer not to use the oven.
If the only issue is puffiness after baking, gently flatten them with a towel while still warm. Don’t worry if they stay slightly raised. It gives them a charming, handmade look!

Keyword handmade ornaments, Homemade Salt Dough Ornaments, salt dough ornaments