Every year, as the chill of winter creeps in, I find myself longing for the cozy warmth of home and the smell of cinnamon floating through the air. Isn't there something magical about making holiday ornaments that not only decorate our trees but ignite memories of laughter and love? I can almost hear my grandmother's soft laughter as we’d roll out dough and cut out shapes—how simple yet profound those moments were! I mean, who doesn’t cherish creating something with their own hands that brings joy, right? And what better way to add a personal touch to the holidays than with delightful cinnamon ornaments? It's like wrapping up a bit of joy and nostalgia into each one. So, I’m gearing up to make some this year—who wants to join me in this wonderful mess of spice and creativity?
Items You’ll Need
- Cinnamon Powder
- Applesauce
- Flour
- Cookie Cutters
- Rolling Pin
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Straw or Toothpick
- String or Ribbon
- Airtight Container
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Gathering My Materials
First things first, I need to gather all my materials. I grab the cinnamon powder, applesauce, flour, and my cookie cutters. I make sure to also have my rolling pin, baking sheet, parchment paper, and some string or ribbon for hanging the ornaments later. Let's do this!
Step 2: Mixing the Dough
In a mixing bowl, I combine 1 cup of cinnamon powder, 1 cup of applesauce, and 1 cup of flour. I mix it all together until I have a smooth dough. The cinnamon scent fills the air, and I can't help but smile! It’s starting to smell like the holidays already.
Step 3: Rolling Out the Dough
Next, I dust my countertop with a little flour to prevent sticking. I take my dough and roll it out with the rolling pin until it's about a quarter of an inch thick. The dough smells so good, I could almost eat it (but I won't, it’s for ornaments!).
Step 4: Cutting Out Shapes
Now, the fun part! I take my cookie cutters and start cutting out holiday shapes — stars, gingerbread men, candy canes, you name it! I place the cut-out shapes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 5: Making Hanging Holes
Before baking, I need to make holes for hanging. I take a straw (or a toothpick) and carefully poke a hole at the top of each ornament. It’s a little tricky, but I want to make sure they can hang beautifully on the tree!
Step 6: Baking the Ornaments
I preheat my oven to 200°F (93°C), then pop the baking sheet in for about 2-3 hours. I check on them occasionally to make sure they're drying out and hardening instead of cooking.
Step 7: Cooling Down
After a couple of hours, I take the ornaments out and let them cool completely on a rack. The aroma in my house is incredible — it feels like the holidays have arrived!
Step 8: Stringing the Ornaments
Once they’re cool, I take my string or ribbon and cut small pieces to thread through each ornament's hole. I tie them into loops, making them ready to hang on the tree.
Step 9: Storing the Ornaments
Finally, I store the finished ornaments in an airtight container to keep them safe until it's time to decorate the tree. I can’t wait to hang these gorgeous cinnamon ornaments and get into the holiday spirit!