DIY Cinnamon Ornaments

Every year when we pull out decorations for the Christmas tree, the box opens with a festive Christmas scent. That beloved, nostalgic smell was a result of these cinnamon ornaments. I think my original cinnamon ornaments date back to my preschool days (which was a long, long time ago!).

These ornaments are a fun project for children and adults during the Christmas holiday. Use holiday cookie cutters (love these) to create different shapes or emboss a handprint in the dough. Adding a few cinnamon ornaments to the Christmas tree will fill the room with an amazing smell! I also love to use these ornaments as decoration on top of presents for others.

Making the dough is simple as it involves only two ingredients: cinnamon and apple sauce. It can be sticky, so don’t be afraid to add extra cinnamon, if needed. Avoid adding flour, as it will alter the beautiful color. Be sure to apply a generous layer of cinnamon to the surfaces used to roll out the dough.

DIY Cinnamon Ornaments

Ingredients:

1 cup of applesauce, non-chunky
1 cup of ground cinnamon, plus more to coat working surfaces

Directions:

Preheat oven to 200 F.
In a large mixing bowl, mix applesauce and cinnamon until well blended.
Add a generous coat of cinnamon to a large sheet of parchment paper, to prevent sticking. Place dough in the middle of parchment paper, partially pressing flat with fingers. Pour additional cinnamon over top of dough. Cover with a second large sheet of parchment paper.
Roll dough flat with rolling pin. Add extra cinnamon to the dough if it is sticky.
Cut out shapes using cookie cutters. Poke holes in the shapes about the size of an eraser if you plan on stringing them.
Place on a non-stick baking pan.
Bake in oven for 1 hour 45 minutes. Allow them to cool and harden over night.
If the edges are rough, you can gently sand them down with sandpaper.
String on ribbon and use as desired!

Note: Using one cup of cinnamon and one cup of applesauce will make approximately 10 ornaments. You can increase or decrease the amount of ornaments made by adhering to a 1:1 ratio of ingredients.

Live your life joyfully so,