Easy Salt Dough Ornaments | kid-friendly!

Nov 20

Created November 15, 2020 | Revised November 2025

Salt dough ornaments are one of the simplest and sweetest Christmas crafts to make with kids — and easily one of the most nostalgic. If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, you probably remember pressing your little hands into dough at school, stamping shapes with cookie cutters, or painting chunky stars that your parents hung on the tree for years.

Now as a mom, bringing back this simple tradition is one of my favorite ways to slow down during the season. Salt dough is cheap, easy to mix up, naturally kid-friendly, and gives you hours of hands-on fun. And the best part? These ornaments last for years. Your kids will light up when they see their homemade creations come out each December.

In this post, I’ll walk you through my step-by-step method, a few tips I’ve learned after making these with my boys, and some easy variations using dried oranges, wooden beads, and natural string for that cozy, old-fashioned Christmas look.

Why We Love Salt Dough for Crafts

Budget-friendly — flour, salt, and water… that’s it.
Hands-on + tactile — great for little hands and sensory play.
Simple enough for preschoolers, fun enough for big kids.
Customizable — paint them, leave them natural, add beads, dried oranges, twine, stamps, glitter, or cinnamon.
Memory-making — Even though these are used for Christmas, you can use the recipe any time of year to create fun keepsakes for different holidays!

Supplies Needed

Mixing bowl
Rolling pin
Holiday cookie cutters (stars, gingerbread, trees, etc.)
Straw or skewer for making holes
Twine or ribbon for hanging
Baking sheet + parchment paper

shop supplies on amazon

Salt Dough Ornament Recipe

Yields: ~12–20 ornaments (depending on cutter size)
Prep Time: 10 - 20 minutes
Bake Time: 2–3 hours
Total Time: 2.5–3.5 hours (plus cooling time)

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup salt
1 cup warm water (a little more if needed)

How to Make Salt Dough Ornaments

1. Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Slowly add warm water, mixing until a dough forms. If it’s too sticky, add a bit more flour. If it’s too dry, add a splash more water.

2. Turn the dough onto the counter/table and let your kids knead it until smooth. This part is always their favorite — very play-dough-like but actually useful!

3. Dust your surface with a bit of flour and roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Thinner dough = smoother ornaments, thicker dough = chunkier, more rustic ones.