Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments
These 2-ingredient cinnamon applesauce ornaments are so easy to make (especially with kids)! Use the dough to cut out shapes for ornaments, gift tags, garlands, and more. And don't stop there, once the cinnamon ornaments are dry, you can decorate to your heart's content!
Supplies
- 1 cup cinnamon
- 1 cup applesauce
Instructions
- Measure 1 cup of cinnamon into a bowl. Measure 1 cup of applesauce and add all but a few tablespoons of it into the cinnamon. Stir with a spoon until combined. The dough will be fairly wet, but not sticky. As needed, adjust the consistency with the remaining applesauce or more cinnamon.
- I like to knead the dough a little bit with my hands before rolling. If you are having trouble with the dough breaking as you roll, knead again for a few minutes. Adding more cinnamon can also help.
- For adult crafting I like to roll out the dough (using a rolling pin) to a 1/8" thickness. This will be harder to work with and yield more delicate pieces. For kids, roll to about 1/4" thickness. If the dough is too wet or sticky, you can roll it out between two sheets of parchment.
- Use cookie cutters to cut shapes from the dough and punch holes with a straw or a wooden toothpick. Toothpicks will need to be wiggled around a bit to create a large enough hole. Place on parchment lined baking sheets.
To Bake:
- Bake ornaments at 200° F for about 1 hour or until dry, flipping halfway through. The thicker ornaments generally need a little more time, but you can also allow them to finish drying out at room temperature.
To Air Dry:
- To air dry: arrange ornaments on a baking sheet and flip over after they have dried overnight. Within 24-36 hours they should be completely dry.
Notes
How to Make Dough in Advance: While I prefer to make my dough immediately before using, you can prepare it in advance (up to 3-5 days) and store it in the fridge. If making in advance, I suggest adding less applesauce and making a more dry dough. Adjust with more applesauce or cinnamon when you are ready to roll.
How to Store the Ornaments: The thicker the ornaments, the sturdier they will be, but these finished ornaments do tend to be a bit brittle/delicate. Since mixture also has a tendency to slough off little crumbles of cinnamon, I like to store these decorations in their own box. Be sure they are completely dry and store them between sheets of tissue.
How Long Do the Cinnamon Ornaments Last? These ornaments can last years! I do store them separately from other décor and if you ever see signs of mold, toss them.