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Cinnamon Ornaments: Homemade Holiday Craft Recipe

There’s something incredibly cozy about making your own decorations, and these Cinnamon Ornaments: Homemade Holiday Craft Recipe bring that warmth right into your home. I love how they fill the room with the scent of cinnamon and allspice—it’s like a little festive hug every time you walk by. Plus, crafting these with simple ingredients means no complicated trips to the store or pricey materials.

This recipe is perfect for holiday gatherings, especially if you have kids who love hands-on projects or friends who appreciate that personal touch. The Cinnamon Ornaments: Homemade Holiday Craft Recipe makes a great gift, a charming tree decoration, or even a fragrant accent for your kitchen. Trust me, once you try making these, you’ll want to whip them up every season.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of this Cinnamon Ornaments: Homemade Holiday Craft Recipe lies in its simplicity. A few pantry staples come together perfectly to create a dough that’s easy to work with and smells divine. A quick tip before you start: make sure your cinnamon is fresh for the most vibrant aroma.

  • Ground cinnamon: This is the star of the show—opt for high-quality, fresh ground cinnamon to get that deep, spicy fragrance.
  • Ground allspice: It adds a warm, slightly sweet note that balances the cinnamon beautifully.
  • Cinnamon applesauce: Acts as the moistening agent binding everything together. Using cinnamon-flavored applesauce boosts the scent and flavor naturally.
  • Optional extra cinnamon: For dusting or to add more spice if you want your ornaments extra fragrant.

Variations

I often tweak this Cinnamon Ornaments: Homemade Holiday Craft Recipe depending on the vibe I want to create or the ingredients I have on hand. Feel free to make it your own by experimenting with different spices or shapes.

  • Variation: I once added ground cloves for an even deeper holiday scent, which was a hit during Christmas crafting with my friends.
  • Dietary: If you prefer, try using unsweetened applesauce to keep the focus on the spices without added sugar.
  • Difficulty: For kids or beginners, stick with simple round shapes; for advanced crafters, get creative with intricate cookie cutters or embossing.

How to Make Cinnamon Ornaments: Homemade Holiday Craft Recipe

Step 1: Mix Your Spices and Applesauce

Start by combining ⅔ cup of ground cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of ground allspice in a bowl. Then stir in ½ cup of cinnamon applesauce until you get a soft dough. It’s sticky at first but becomes easier to handle when you dust your hands and workspace with extra cinnamon. If the mixture feels too wet, just sprinkle in 1-2 tablespoons additional cinnamon until it’s just right for rolling.

Step 2: Roll and Cut Your Ornaments

Once your dough is ready, roll it out between two sheets of parchment paper to about ¼-inch thickness. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. Use cookie cutters to stamp out festive shapes—stars, hearts, trees, you name it! For hanging, don’t forget to poke a small hole near the top of each shape with a toothpick or straw before baking.

Step 3: Bake Until Firm

Place your cutouts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 200°F (or lowest your oven goes) for about 2 hours. Low and slow is key here to dry them out without browning. I usually check halfway and flip the ornaments to make sure they dry evenly. Once cooled, they’ll harden beautifully and hold their shape for years.

Step 4: Add Finishing Touches

When your ornaments are fully dry, you can leave them natural or decorate with ribbons, twine, or even paint. I personally love tying simple red or burlap ribbons through the holes—it adds a rustic charm. If you want extra protection, a clear matte spray works well and preserves the smell without shine.

How to Serve Cinnamon Ornaments: Homemade Holiday Craft Recipe

A white plate holds several brown, textured cookies shaped like flowers, snowflakes, and squares with scalloped edges. Each cookie has a small hole near the top with red and white or green and white twisted strings looped through, giving the look of handmade holiday ornaments. The cookies have a rough, grainy texture. The plate sits on a white marbled surface with part of a white cloth and a decorative burlap sack with green sprigs in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

Since cinnamon ornaments are more decor than food, I like to use garnishes that highlight their aromatic nature. Fresh pine sprigs, holly berries, or star anise placed around them make the display pop and enhance the festive scent. These little touches turn your craft into a centerpiece.

Side Dishes

While not edible, placing these cinnamon ornaments beside a holiday cookie tray or warm mulled cider station creates an irresistible seasonal vibe. They complement cozy treats and drinks perfectly without competing for attention.

Creative Ways to Present

I’ve found that hanging these ornaments on small branches inside a wide vase gives a stunning minimalist display. You can also string several together as a garland or use them as gift tags tied onto wrapped presents—that always earns compliments and gets people chatting about how they smell so good.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

These cinnamon ornaments dry out and harden over time, so storing them in an airtight container keeps them fragrant and prevents moisture from softening them. I keep mine in a cool, dry place and occasionally dust off any accumulated cinnamon powder. They last beautifully for multiple holiday seasons.

Freezing

Freezing isn’t really necessary for this cinnamon ornament dough since it’s quick to make and intended to dry out rather than stay moist. But if you want to prep ahead, you can wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days before baking.

Reheating

These aren’t meant to be reheated or eaten, but if your ornaments feel a bit soft after storage, gently warming them in a low oven for 10 minutes helps to refresh and harden them without losing their scent.

FAQs

  1. Can I eat these Cinnamon Ornaments?

    While all the ingredients are edible, these ornaments are really designed as decorations. They have a dense, dry texture and are quite hard after baking, so they’re not pleasant to eat. Plus, the cinnamon and allspice quantities make them very flavorful but not quite candy-like.

  2. How long do finished Cinnamon Ornaments last?

    Stored properly in a sealed container away from moisture, your cinnamon ornaments can last for years! They tend to get better with time as the scent matures, making them a great keepsake for holiday traditions.

  3. Can I use other spices in this recipe?

    Absolutely! Mixing in ground cloves, nutmeg, or ginger can add depth and personalize your cinnamon ornaments. Just be sure not to overpower the cinnamon as it’s the key feature.

  4. What’s the best way to hang these ornaments?

    Before baking, always remember to poke a small hole near the top of each ornament. Once dry, thread ribbon, twine, or thin string through to hang on your tree or hooks. I find natural twine gives the most charming rustic look.

  5. Can I paint or decorate these ornaments?

    Yes! You can paint them with acrylics, add glitter, or glue on small embellishments. Just keep decorations light so the ornaments don’t warp or lose their scent. A matte clear spray helps seal in your work and preserve fragrance.

Final Thoughts

Making these Cinnamon Ornaments: Homemade Holiday Craft Recipe always brings back warm memories of cozy winter afternoons spent crafting with family and friends. There’s something so satisfying about mixing those simple ingredients ourselves and watching the magic happen. I hope you give this recipe a try—not just for the lovely aroma and charming decoration, but for the joy of creating something truly homey and heartfelt. Trust me, once you have these hanging on your tree or wrapped on gifts, they’ll quickly become part of your holiday traditions.

Print

Cinnamon Ornaments: Homemade Holiday Craft Recipe

Create charming and fragrant cinnamon ornaments perfect for holiday decorations and gifts. This easy homemade recipe combines ground cinnamon with applesauce and allspice to form dough that can be shaped, dried, and used as beautiful, scent-filled ornaments.

  • Author: Emma
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes (plus optional 1-2 hours baking or 24-48 hours air drying)
  • Total Time: 15 minutes prep + 24 to 48 hours air drying or up to 2 hours baking
  • Yield: 1012 medium-sized ornaments 1x
  • Category: Holiday Craft
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • ⅔ cup ground cinnamon, divided (plus 12 additional tablespoons, optional)
  • 2 tbsp ground allspice

Wet Ingredients

  • ½ cup cinnamon applesauce

Instructions

  1. Mix Ingredients: In a bowl, combine ⅔ cup ground cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of ground allspice. Gradually add ½ cup of cinnamon applesauce to the dry ingredients and mix until a soft, pliable dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, sprinkle in 1-2 additional tablespoons of cinnamon until the texture is manageable.
  2. Shape Ornaments: Knead the dough lightly on a surface dusted with cinnamon. Roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters or shape by hand into desired ornament shapes such as stars, hearts, or trees.
  3. Add Hanging Hole: Using a straw or skewer, poke a hole near the top of each ornament to allow for hanging later.
  4. Dry Ornaments: Place the shaped ornaments on a lined baking sheet or flat surface. Leave them to air dry for 24-48 hours until completely dry and hard. For faster drying, you can bake the ornaments in an oven set to the lowest temperature (around 175°F/80°C) for 1-2 hours, flipping halfway through.
  5. Decorate and Hang: Once dry, thread a ribbon or string through the hole to hang the ornaments on your tree or as decoration around your home.

Notes

  • Ensure ornaments are completely dry before storing or hanging to prevent mold.
  • You can customize the scent by adding other spices like cloves or nutmeg to the dough.
  • If baking to dry faster, keep the oven door slightly open to allow moisture to escape.
  • Store finished ornaments in an airtight container if not using immediately.

Keywords: cinnamon ornaments, holiday decorations, homemade crafts, scented ornaments, DIY holiday decor

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