Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Ornaments: DIY Gingerbread Man Ornaments
- Jessie
- Dec 16, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 23
All art projects & crafts require adult supervision. This post may contain affiliate links. Read our full disclosure policy.
Fill your home with the cozy scent of the holidays with these Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Ornaments: DIY Gingerbread Man Ornaments! This easy, hands-on craft combines creativity, sensory play, and the warm aroma of gingerbread cookies—without turning on the oven! Perfect for kids of all ages, this Christmas ornament craft is simple to make using common kitchen ingredients and is a wonderful way to create lasting holiday memories together. Whether you’re decorating your Christmas tree, making handmade gifts, or enjoying a festive family activity, these gingerbread ornaments are sure to add a homemade touch of holiday magic.
There’s something so special about crafting during the holidays, and this gingerbread salt dough recipe is one of those timeless traditions that families love year after year. The dough is infused with real spices—ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves—that fill the room with the scent of freshly baked gingerbread. Once shaped and dried, the ornaments look just like cookies but last for years! Kids will love using cookie cutters to create classic gingerbread men, stars, hearts, and holiday shapes, then painting and decorating their creations with festive flair.
This DIY gingerbread ornament craft is as fun as it is simple. With just flour, salt, water, and a few aromatic spices, you can whip up a batch of salt dough that’s soft, easy to shape, and perfect for kids to work with. The best part? It’s mess-free, non-toxic, and smells absolutely amazing! Once baked or air-dried, these ornaments harden beautifully, ready to be painted, sealed, and hung on your Christmas tree or used as handmade gift tags for friends and family.
Parents and teachers love this Christmas salt dough ornament craft because it’s budget-friendly, fun, and educational. Kids can practice measuring, mixing, and rolling while strengthening fine motor skills and learning basic science through the process. It’s a fantastic project for classroom holiday parties, family craft nights, or winter-themed art lessons. Plus, each ornament can be personalized with names, dates, or handprints—turning a simple dough craft into a keepsake that captures the joy of the season.
The gingerbread-scented ornaments also make wonderful gifts! Once dry, kids can decorate them with paint, glitter, or puffy paint to mimic icing, then add ribbon or twine for hanging. They’re perfect for gifting to grandparents, teachers, or friends—handmade treasures that carry the warmth and spirit of Christmas. You can even make a batch each year to build your own collection of homemade ornaments that tell the story of your family’s holidays through the years.
If you love this festive craft, be sure to check out all of the other fun Christmas crafts for kids on the blog! Create a Nutcracker Snow Globe, make your own Paper Stocking that actually holds treats, or try the Santa and Present Agamograph, where Santa magically appears as you tilt the picture. Kids will also love the Crayon Resist Stocking Craft and the Santa Cootie Catcher, which is full of playful Christmas fun. Each project is simple, creative, and designed to make the holiday season merry, bright, and full of hands-on joy.
These Gingerbread Salt Dough Ornaments are more than just decorations—they’re memories in the making. The scent of gingerbread will fill your home as your kids roll, cut, and decorate their ornaments, turning crafting time into a cozy family tradition. Every ornament becomes a little piece of your holiday story, ready to hang on the tree year after year.
So gather your ingredients, warm up your holiday playlist, and get ready to mix up a batch of Christmas cheer! These Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Ornaments are easy, festive, and perfect for families who love to create together. With their sweet scent and handmade charm, they’ll fill your home with joy and leave you with keepsakes as heartwarming as the season itself.
Materials You'll Need For The Salt Dough Mixture:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
1/2 cup cinnamon
1 TBS Ginger
1 TBS Clove
Additional Materials:
Rolling pin
White Puffy Paint
Black Puffy Paint
Red Puppy Paint
Gingerbread Man Cookie Cutter
Baking sheet
Parchment Paper
Scented Salt Dough Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Salt Dough
Involve your kids in the culinary fun by letting them measure and mix the ingredients together. In a mixing bowl, blend the flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
Pro Tip: This presents a fantastic opportunity for your little ones to practice their kitchen skills. The forgiving nature of this salt dough recipe allows room for error, making it a great learning experience. Even if the measurements are a tad off, the dough is likely to turn out just fine. Share the trick of getting an exact cup of flour by slightly overfilling the cup and using a butter knife to level off the excess – a handy kitchen tip!
Next, gradually add water while stirring until the mixture forms a dough. Knead the concoction until it achieves a smooth, pliable texture. The infusion of cinnamon not only adds a delightful scent but also imparts a gingerbread-like appearance to the dough, enhancing the sensory experience of this creative culinary adventure.
Step 2: Roll Out Salt Dough
Preheat your oven to 220°F. On a flat surface, roll out the salt dough to approximately ¼ inch thickness. I found putting a piece of parchment paper below me worked best. It made it easier to transfer the ornament to the baking sheet. Take a gingerbread man cookie cutter and carefully cutout each gingerbread man.
Using a straw, carefully punch a hole in the top of the gingerbread man. This will create the hole that will allow the ribbon to go through it in the last step.
Step 4: Bake and Dry
Carefully transfer the snowflakes to a baking sheet and place them in the preheated oven. Bake for around 2-3 hours until completely dry and hard. Keep an eye on them to avoid burning. Let them cool to room tempature before handling.
Pro Tip: Here's a little trick to maintain the vibrant brown color of your dough: if it loses some of its richness while baking, fear not! Once the dough has cooled to room temperature, take a moment to rub canola oil over it. Allow the oil to soak in and dry, revitalizing the color and ensuring your gingerbread salt dough looks as charming as ever.
How To Decorate Gingerbread Man Salt Dough Ornaments
Now comes the exciting part of the process! Once the salt dough has cooled, it's time to draw the details on the gingerbread man with puffy fabric paint. If you haven't experienced the joy of working with puffy paint, get ready for a delightful treat. This unique paint adds a three-dimensional effect to your artwork, creating a thick layer where applied. Watch as your snowflakes come to life making each uniquely festive and ready to stand out in your Christmas decor.
Begin by drawing the bowties using red puff paint. To create each bowtie, draw two triangles with their points meeting in the center. This simple shape gives the perfect bowtie look, adding a fun, textured detail to your project!
Next, use black puff paint to create the eyes by drawing two large dots side by side.
Then use the white puff paint to draw the mouth.
With the white puff paint, add fun details to the gingerbread figure! Create a line of buttons down the front, and add squiggly lines along the edges of the arms and legs to give the appearance of decorative frosting or clothing. These accents make your gingerbread character even more charming and festive!
Once the black eyes have dried, use the white puff paint to add two small dots in each eye, giving your gingerbread character a lively, animated look. These highlights bring the eyes to life and add a touch of personality!
Once dry and fully decorated, tie a piece of ribbon through the hole. and then your snowflakes are ready to be displayed. Hang them as ornaments, arrange them on a mantel, or use them as part of your Christmas table centerpiece.
Preserving Salt Dough Ornaments for the Long Haul
For ensuring the longevity of your dried creations, consider applying a layer or two of Mod Podge or using a protective sealer. Both methods work effectively. It's advisable to coat or seal both sides of the ornaments—apply on one side, allow it to dry, then repeat for the other side. If opting for a sealer, it's best to carry out this task in a well-ventilated area and away from children.
Pro Tip: When storing these ornaments between festive seasons, wrap them carefully in bubble wrap for added protection. Place them in a sturdy container that prevents excessive movement, avoiding exposure to moisture or potential impact. This way, your ornaments can be safely stored and cherished for years to come.
If you loved making these Gingerbread Man Ornaments, there’s a whole world of creative fun waiting for you on the blog! Explore even more kids’ crafts like the adorable Penguin Origami Craft, the colorful Rainbow Fish Craft, where you use tinfoil to transfer washable marker designs and create a bright rainbow effect, or the roaringly fun Lion Paper Bag Puppet that’s perfect for pretend play. And when you’re ready for a wintery twist, learn how to make beautiful Coffee Filter Snowflakes that look just like real ones—no two are ever the same! Each craft is simple, hands-on, and full of creativity, making it easy to keep kids inspired and crafting all year long.
Comments