So technically, this is a recipe, but not exactly edible. But I just had to share it here because it’s such an easy, sweet little handmade idea. You will love the way your house smells if you make these! Little Boy #2’s preschool teacher makes this cinnamon applesauce dough with her class every year at Christmas time, and I love hanging these ornaments on my tree. I decided to make my own batch, and here are some ideas I came up with to decorate my cut outs.
Gingerbread Man Garland
I cut out ten handsome gingerbread men from my dough and poked two holes in the middle of each with the end of a straw. I baked them and let them dry out, and then strung them together with some ribbon.
To make it easier to string your ribbon through the tiny holes, wrap Scotch tape around end of the ribbon, like a shoelace. I used cookie cutters similar to these.
These guys hang from the hood in my Lovely Little Kitchen, and I enjoy their company immensely while I do all my baking. This idea was inspired by Donna Hay.
Cinnamon and Cloves
I love how simple and natural this one is. Just use sharp scissors to trim most of the stem off the clove, and press them into the dough before it dries. Be sure to poke your hole for some twine before you bake them. Smells so heavenly!
Cute as a Button
Simply glue small neutral colored buttons onto the tree after it has dried out with hot glue. Some ribbon and a little bow finish it off.
Star With Twine
This idea works well with a star cut out. Just make holes with a straw while the dough is soft in the center of each point, and in between points. Once the star is dry, weave twine in and out of the holes and tie a loop at the top to hang it by. Once again, wrap Scotch tape around the end of your twine to make it easier to get it through the tiny holes.
If you make these cinnamon applesauce ornaments with kids, warn them that the dough is totally yucky and not to lick their fingers. It smells so good, they might just want to taste it! For an edible dough that is also great for doing cut outs with kids, try these homemade graham cracker snowflakes.
Another fun Christmas treat to make with kiddos is my Chocolate Covered Strawberry Christmas Trees!
Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments
Had to share these applesauce cinnamon ornaments here because they are such an easy sweet little handmade idea.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Category: Holiday
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 cups applesauce
- 2 cups ground cinnamon***
Instructions
- Mix together equal parts cinnamon and applesauce until well incorporated and dough forms. If too sticky, add more cinnamon.*** You may need more cinnamon, depending on how thin the applesauce is. I like to buy the cinnamon at the dollar store since quality isn’t important.
- Roll out dough between two pieces of parchment paper to 1/4 inch thickness.
- Cut out shapes and place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake at 200 degrees F for 2 hours.
- Allow the shapes to set out on a cooling rack for 24 hours to dry out completely.
- You can use sandpaper to smooth out the edges if they are jagged once the shapes are dry.
- Makes about 18 ornaments, depending on size.
Notes
I used cookie cutters similar to these.
Disclaimer: the links in this post for the cookie cutters are Amazon affiliate links.
Her pictures are cute, but this is the worst cinnamon ornament recipe I’ve ever used. Had to add way more cinnamon than recipe called for and the dough was still too wet to properly cut out shapes. Baked for the required two hours and they’ve been drying for 3 days now and are just way too crumbly and soft. I’ll stick to my old recipe with glue
What kind of applesauce should I use? I would love to make these with my grands.
This looks so good! What a fun craft to make with kids!
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
I have had mine for years and years!
hey i wanna thanks to you i have used this last christmas and everyone just love it
As a Girl Scout leader, we made these with 10 girls. Still have them – and these girls are now in their 40’s. I wrap mine in tissue paper every Christmas and put them with the other ornaments in a large plastic tub. Will make some new ones this year as my Brownies/Girl Scouts are now grandmothers.
Could you tell me if you used regular or unsweetened applesauce?
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I used jarred Mott’s applesauce and I have to say that the ratios of this recipe must be based on a much thicker applesauce because the ratio I needed to achieve dough was more like 3:1 cinnamon:applesauce.