Easy Cinnamon Ornaments

A word first: these are decorations, not snacks. These cinnamon ornaments are a classic no-bake holiday craft that fills the house with the warm scent of cinnamon and lasts for years.

The ‘dough’ couldn’t be simpler, applesauce stirred into a whole bottle of ground cinnamon until it forms a stiff, clay-like dough you can roll and cut.

Roll it about a quarter-inch thick, press out shapes with cookie cutters, and poke a hole near the top for hanging ribbon before they dry.

Then it’s just a matter of patience: let the ornaments air-dry over several days, turning them occasionally so they harden evenly and don’t curl.

Once fully dry, they’re hard, deeply fragrant, and ready to hang on the tree, tie onto gifts, or tuck into a bowl as natural potpourri. The cinnamon scent lingers for an entire holiday season and beyond.

Crafting Tips

• Keep the dough stiff; if it’s sticky, work in more cinnamon, and if it cracks, add a little more applesauce.
• Poke the ribbon hole before drying, and re-open it partway through if it shrinks closed.
• Turn the ornaments daily as they dry so they cure flat and evenly without curling.

Variations

• Stir in white craft glue for sturdier, longer-lasting ornaments.
• Add ground cloves or nutmeg to the dough for an even spicier scent.
• Decorate the dried shapes with puffy paint, ribbon, or a dusting of glitter.