Salt Dough Ornament Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long will salt dough ornaments last? ›

If you preserve salt dough properly, it will last for decades.

My home ovens lowest temperature is 75C which is perfect for slow drying of the salt dough. If you find that your oven has the lowest temperature of above 150C then I would advise you to air dry your salt dough creations which will take considerably longer but will prevent the puffing up.

In order to keep your ornaments and use them for several years, it is best to seal them. Painting them with acrylic paint, if you choose to, will begin the process. But a coat of Mod Podge or Acrylic sealer that is applied like a spray paint will be needed. I prefer the spray sealer because it is faster and easier.

Good old fashioned table salt is ideal for making salt dough ornaments because it is finely ground. It mixes seamlessly into the dough. You do not need to get iodized. Just plain table salt will work.

Once you've formed your salt dough, you can cook the creations in the oven to make them set. Once baked, they will harden and can be painted and decorated after they cooled down!

Salt dough needs to dry completely and as quickly as possible to prevent mold from forming. The best way to air-dry salt dough is to leave it on a wooden tray near a warm heater. This method works pretty well in winter, as houses tend to be warm and dry, but I would recommend using an oven during humid seasons.

Mod Podge.

It's important to seal your ornaments once they're dried, so that they don't absorb moisture from the air. Use Mod Podge (in matte) to seal the dough and give them a more finished look.

6. When your project is cool, paint it with an acrylic paint. After the paint dries, seal it with an acrylic spray, or make your own sealant by mixing 1 tablespoon of Elmer's glue with 1 tablespoon of water.

Make sure your oven is set to 150°f. This is SUPER IMPORTANT. I have seen others use hotter temperatures but I haven't been able to do so without getting puffiness. So, plain all-purpose flour, 150ºf oven and 1/4 inch thickness = no puffy ornaments.

Tie on baker's twine or thin ribbon to hang as ornaments. Try to get the dough to an even thickness before baking so the ornaments bake evenly. Bake for the time indicated and then longer if your ornaments still feel soft. They should be firm to the touch without much give but do not need to be rock hard.

How thick should salt dough ornaments be? ›

Roll out to a thickness of 1/8 inch; cut desired shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer dough shapes to ungreased cookie sheets; use a toothpick to make a hole in each ornament for hanging. Bake in the preheated oven until hard, about 1 hour, switching racks halfway through.

Sealing your salt dough ornaments prevents them from becoming moldy and or cracking/crumbling. Any environment can cause salt dough to mold, even when extra precautions are taken. Once sealed, they are guaranteed to last a lifetime. This way, you can continue to enjoy your families memories, year after year.

How to Preserve Salt Dough Ornaments. To help preserve your finished dried ornaments, you can coat with a layer or two of Mod Podge or spray with a sealer. Either work well. I'd recommend coating or sealing both sides, so do one side and let it dry, and then do the second side.

Yes, you can make salt dough ahead of time, up to 5 day. Store it in the refrigerator in a completely air tight container or sealed ziplock bag.

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl, knead a little bit until smooth, that's it! You can make salt dough ahead of time and store them in airtight plastic bag or container for about 5 days or even longer.

Tip: excess dough can be put in an airtight container and placed in the fridge for about a week. Just take it out in advance so it reaches room temperature before using it. 3. Flatten each piece of dough with your hands on the table cover.