Homemade Salt Dough Ornaments That Last for Years
A three-ingredient dough, a few cookie cutters and a slow bake give you sweet keepsake ornaments the whole family can make.
By the HotsBuzz team ·
- Skill levelEasy
- Time30 minutes active, plus 2-3 hours baking and drying
- Budget$5-$15
- Steps7
Salt dough ornaments are the classic family holiday craft for good reason: the dough costs pennies, kids love rolling and cutting it, and a well-sealed ornament can come out of the decoration box for decades.
The recipe is just flour, salt and water. The trick is in the details: rolling to an even thickness, baking low and slow so the ornaments dry instead of puffing up, and sealing them so humidity does not soften them in storage.
One batch makes roughly 20-25 ornaments with 3-inch cutters, which is plenty for your own tree and a few to tuck into gift tags.
Materials & tools
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You’ll need
Tools
Step-by-step instructions
Mix the dough
Stir the flour and salt together, then add the water gradually while mixing. Knead for 5-7 minutes until the dough is smooth and firm, like play dough. If it cracks, add water a teaspoon at a time; if it sticks, add a spoonful of flour.
Roll to an even thickness
Roll the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Laying a paint stir stick on each side of the dough as a guide keeps the thickness even, which means everything bakes at the same rate.
Cut shapes and make holes
Cut shapes and move them to the parchment-lined sheet with a spatula. Press a straw through each one about 1/2 inch from the top for the hanging hole. Handprint ornaments work best on a 4-inch circle of dough pressed gently with a clean palm.
Add texture or stamps
Before baking, you can press in a fork pattern, rubber stamps, lace or a sprig of rosemary for a pretty impression. Smooth rough edges with a damp fingertip. Re-knead the scraps into a ball and roll again; dough that has sat out for an hour or more may need a few drops of water.
Bake low and slow
Bake at 250°F for 2-3 hours, flipping halfway through so the bottoms dry evenly, until the ornaments feel hard and sound hollow when tapped. Thicker pieces take longer. Let them cool completely on the sheet; air-drying for another day helps in humid climates.
Paint
Paint with acrylics, letting each coat dry before adding details. White paint pens are great for names and dates on the back.
Seal every surface
Apply two thin coats of sealer to the front, back and edges, letting each coat dry fully. Unsealed edges are where moisture gets in. Spray outdoors or in a well-ventilated space, then thread ribbon through the hole.
Tips for success
- Use fine table salt rather than coarse salt for a smooth finish; coarse salt leaves a grainy surface.
- If ornaments puff or bubble, your oven is too hot. Drop to 200°F and give them more time.
- These are not edible. The high salt content can be dangerous to dogs and other pets, so keep raw dough and finished ornaments out of their reach and supervise young kids.
- Store finished ornaments wrapped in tissue in an airtight container with a silica packet to keep them dry year to year.
- Write the year and the maker’s name on the back with a fine paint pen before sealing. In a few years those little details are what make the ornaments special.
Make it your own
Cinnamon-scented dough
Replace 1/4 cup of the flour with ground cinnamon for a warm brown color and a cozy scent. Leave them unpainted for a rustic look.
Embossed white ornaments
Skip the paint and just seal the stamped pieces with matte varnish. The plain white with a pattern looks elegant on a Scandinavian-style tree.
Gift tags
Cut small rectangles or circles, stamp an initial, and use them as reusable tags on wrapped presents.
Pet paw prints
Press a clean paw gently into a 4-inch circle of dough, then wash the paw right away. Keep the pet away from the raw dough and finished ornament, since the salt is harmful if eaten.
Frequently asked questions
Can I air-dry salt dough ornaments instead of baking them?
Yes, but it takes two to five days depending on thickness and humidity. Flip them twice a day so they dry evenly and do not curl. Air-dried pieces are a little more fragile, so seal them well.
Why did my ornaments crack?
Usually the dough was too dry, or it was baked too hot. Knead in a little more water next time and bake at a lower temperature for longer. Small hairline cracks on a finished piece can be filled with a dab of white glue, then painted over.
How long do salt dough ornaments last?
When fully dried, sealed on all sides and stored dry, they can last many years. Moisture is the main enemy, so avoid damp basements and attics.
