Salt Dough Ornaments Kids Can Make for Christmas

You mix flour, salt, and water into a dough, cut Christmas shapes, and bake them hard. Kids paint the cooled ornaments and hang them on the tree the same afternoon. The dough costs pennies and the ornaments last for years when you store them dry. One adult must handle the oven from start to finish; kids do everything else.

The recipe below makes about 12 medium ornaments. Plan one hour of hands-on time plus two to three hours in the oven.

This dough is NOT edible. It tastes awful and the salt can upset a child's stomach, so keep it away from toddlers' mouths and wash hands after kneading.

Materials You'll Need

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
• 1 cup table salt
• 1 cup water
• Mixing bowl and spoon
• Rolling pin
• Christmas cookie cutters
• Drinking straw for poking hanging holes
• Parchment paper and a baking sheet
• Washable or acrylic paint and brushes
• Ribbon or string for hanging

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Mix the Dough

Stir the flour and salt together in the bowl. Add the water a little at a time, stirring as you pour. Knead with your hands for five minutes until the dough feels smooth like playdough.

Step 2: Roll and Cut Shapes

Roll the dough 1/4 inch thick on a floured counter. Press the cutters straight down and lift straight up. Gather the scraps, re-roll, and cut again until the dough runs out.

Step 3: Poke the Hanging Holes

Push the straw through the top of each shape to make a clean hole. Keep the hole at least 1/4 inch from the edge so the ribbon doesn't tear through. Widen any small holes now; they shrink as the dough dries.

Step 4: Bake Until Rock Hard (Adult Only)

Heat the oven to 200°F. Lay the shapes on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 2 to 3 hours, flipping once halfway, until each ornament feels rock hard and sounds hollow when tapped. An adult puts the tray in the oven, takes it out, and checks doneness. Kids stay clear of the oven the entire time.

Step 5: Paint Both Sides

Wait until the ornaments cool before painting. Paint the front, let it dry, then flip and paint the back. Two thin coats cover better than one thick coat.

Step 6: String and Hang

Thread ribbon through each hole and tie a loop. Hang the ornaments on the tree or wrap them as gifts. Write the year on the back with a marker so your family remembers when you made them.

Tips for Different Ages

Toddlers (ages 1-3): Keep toddlers away from the raw dough because the salt makes it unsafe to taste. They can paint cooled ornaments with washable paint while you hold the piece steady.

Preschoolers (ages 4-5): They can knead, roll with help, and press the cutters. You handle the straw holes and every part of the oven work.

Early elementary (ages 6-8): They can do every step except the oven. Let them invent their own shapes with a dull butter knife when the cutters get boring.

Older kids (ages 9+): They can double the batch and mix custom paint colors. They can also make full sets as gifts for teachers. The oven still belongs to an adult.

Variations to Try

• Press a handprint. Flatten a ball of dough, press your child's hand into it, and bake. Paint it after cooling for a keepsake ornament.
• Make gift tags from old cards. Cut small rectangles from last year's holiday cards, poke a hole, and tie them to presents with ribbon.
• Hang them with paper snowflakes. These ornaments look great next to paper snowflakes cut by the same kids.
• Decorate the front door. Hang a handprint wreath outside while the ornaments dress the tree.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is salt dough safe for kids to handle?

The finished ornaments are safe to touch and hang. The raw dough is not food; it holds far too much salt, so keep it away from toddlers' mouths and wash hands after kneading.

What temperature bakes salt dough ornaments?

Bake at 200°F for 2 to 3 hours. Low heat dries the dough without puffing or browning it. The ornaments are done when they feel rock hard and sound hollow when tapped.

How long do salt dough ornaments last?

They last for years when you keep them dry. Store them wrapped in tissue paper in a dry closet. Damp basements soften them and ruin the paint.

Why did my ornaments puff up or crack?

The oven ran too hot or the dough was too thick. Roll to 1/4 inch and hold the temperature at 200°F. Small cracks add character; deep cracks mean that batch baked too fast.

Can I air-dry salt dough instead of baking?

Air-drying works but takes 3 to 5 days, and thick pieces may never harden all the way through. Baking gives you a stronger ornament in one afternoon.

Can toddlers play with salt dough?

No. Give toddlers regular playdough instead. The salt content makes this dough unsafe for mouthing, and toddlers mouth everything.

Be safe and have fun!