How to Make Salt Dough Ornaments with Kids (That Actually Turn Out Cute)

To make salt dough ornaments with kids, mix 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt, and 3/4 cup of water into a smooth dough, roll it out, cut shapes, poke a hole at the top, and bake at 200°F for 2 to 3 hours. That's really it. No special equipment, no trip to the craft store, no stress. Just a messy kitchen and a really good afternoon.

I made a full batch with my kids last December and we ended up with 24 ornaments in one sitting. Some were lopsided stars. One was a handprint that barely fit on the tree. They were all perfect.

What You Need

Keep it simple. Everything here is probably already in your house.

For the dough:

For shaping and decorating:

• Rolling pin (or a smooth cup works fine)
• Cookie cutters in holiday shapes
• A straw or pencil to poke the hanging hole
• Baking sheet lined with parchment paper

After baking:

• Acrylic craft paints in whatever colors your kids love
• Paintbrushes, thin and wide
• Mod Podge or clear acrylic sealer spray
• Twine, ribbon, or thin rope for hanging

That's the whole supply list.

How to Make the Dough

The dough should feel like soft playdough. Kids can help with the kneading, and honestly it's one of the best parts.

Shaping and Cutting the Ornaments

• Lightly flour your work surface and roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick. Thinner than that and they can crack; thicker and they take forever to bake.
• Press your cookie cutters down firmly and lift straight up.
• Transfer the shapes carefully to your parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Use a straw to poke a hole near the top of each ornament, about 1/2 inch from the edge. Wiggle it slightly to make the hole a little bigger since it will shrink during baking.
• For handprint ornaments, press a child's hand gently but firmly into a flat piece of dough, then cut around the print leaving about a half inch of border.

Work quickly. The dough dries out faster than you'd think, especially if your kitchen is warm.

Baking Instructions

Place the tray in an oven preheated to 200°F (93°C). Bake for 2 to 3 hours depending on how thick your ornaments are.

Flip them over at the halfway point so the bottoms dry out evenly. They're done when they feel hard and dry all the way through, with a very slight golden color. Let them cool completely on the tray before anyone touches them.

Do not rush this with a higher temperature. They'll puff up and bubble and you'll be sad.

Painting and Sealing

This is where kids really take over, and where things get wonderfully chaotic.

• Set up a painting station with small cups of water for rinsing brushes.
• Let the kids paint however they want. Stripes, polka dots, full solid colors, glitter mixed into the paint. All of it works.
• Let the paint dry fully, at least one hour.
• Apply a coat of Mod Podge or sealer spray over the top. This step matters because salt dough absorbs moisture from the air over time and goes soft without it.
• Let the sealer dry, then thread your twine or ribbon through the hole and tie a knot.

Tips for a Smoother Process

• Make the dough the night before if you want, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap in the fridge.
• Have kids wash their hands before and after handling the dough. Oils from skin can affect how it bakes.
• Thinner ornaments bake faster. Do a separate tray if you have a mix of thick and thin shapes.
• Write the year and the child's name on the back with a permanent marker before sealing. You'll thank yourself in ten years.
• These are not edible. Remind small children of this more than once.

Fun Variations to Try

Stamped texture ornaments: Press a piece of lace, a fork, or a cookie stamp into the dough before cutting for a raised texture.

Painted sky ornaments: Mix watercolor-style paint in soft blues and whites for a soft winter look.

Photo ornament frame: Cut out a large circle, then use a smaller cutter to cut a window in the center. Once baked and sealed, glue a photo behind the window.

Air dry instead of baking: Skip the oven and let ornaments dry on a wire rack for 48 to 72 hours. Takes longer but works just as well.

Salt dough ornaments are one of those crafts that sounds almost too simple to be worth doing. And then you hang them on the tree and your kids lose their minds with excitement because they made that. That right there is the whole point.