How to Make Dough Ornament Cutouts With Cookie Cutters

Dough ornaments can be made with any size or shape of cookie cutter for any occasion.

Dough cookie-cutter ornaments are a classic craft perfect for lending a homemade touch to the holidays or any celebration during the year. Dough ornaments consist of very few ingredients and even children can participate in both baking and decorating the dough. Dough cutouts can be made into Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Valentine's or birthday ornaments and can be hung on a tree, door, wall or on top of any wrapped gift. The key to the perfect dough ornament is finding the appropriate cookie cutter for the occasion.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• ½ cup water
• Flour
• Cookie cutters
• Rolling pin
• Paint, brushes and decorations
• Ribbons

Instructions

1. Combine 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional for scent) and ½ cup water in a medium bowl and stir until the dough is thoroughly moistened. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface for kneading.

2. Knead the dough as if it were bread until the flour is completely incorporated and the dough appears smooth and shiny. If the dough does not come together by kneading, add more water 1 tablespoon at a time. If the dough sticks to your fingers even after kneading, add small portions (1/8 cup) of flour at a time.

3. Roll the dough into a large ball. Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough to a thickness of about ¼ inch. Select your cookie cutter (any size, any shape) and press firmly into the dough to create a cutout shape. Make the cuts as close together as possible to ensure the greatest number of ornaments. Re-roll the scraps and flatten to utilize as much of the dough as possible.

4. Place the dough cutouts on a baking sheet lined with parchment (not wax) paper or a silpat. Using a toothpick, poke one hole at the top of each cutout to allow for a hook or string attachment. Do not poke the hole close to the edge of the dough. Allow at least an inch of space.

5. Bake the cutouts at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for about two hours. The purpose of slow baking at a low temperature is to allow the dough to harden without cracking.

6. Remove the ornaments from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature. When they are cool, they are ready to either be used as-is or decorated. For hand-painted decoration, use small paint brushes with acrylic paint. Glue, glitter, sequins, jewels and stamps can also be used to decorate the ornaments. Allow the paint to dry before proceeding.

7. Cut small ribbons 4 to 6 inches in length (size depends on their purpose) and string the ribbon through the hole. Tie the ends together in a small knot. Hang the ornaments on the tree, around door knobs or tie them around a gift bag or top the centerpiece of a wrapped gift.

Tips & Warnings

• Magnets can also be made from cookie-cutter dough cutouts. Follow all steps, except don't create a hole near the top. After the cutout is dry and decorated, use a hot glue gun to attach a small magnet.

• You can also make colored dough (though it is more difficult to decorate) by adding liquid or powdered food coloring during Step 1.

References

• Gift Idea Center: Salt Dough Ornaments
• Channel 4: Salt Dough Decorations