Aren’t gingerbread people the cutest thing? I love the way they look, and I am going to show you how you can hang those cute little guys from your tree. With these DIY Cinnamon ornaments not only will you have gingerbread people on your tree, but they will smell amazing for years to come. This recipe is simple and fun to make.
Ingredients & Supplies:
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1 1/2 cup cinnamon
- mixing bowl
- straw
- rolling pin
- cookie cutters
- baking sheet
- tin foil
In the mixing bowl combine the applesauce and cinnamon and mix it well until it is a nice dough consistency.
You will want to roll out the dough onto a flat surface. If it is sticky add more cinnamon. You can rub some cinnamon onto the rolling pin if it sticks. Once dough is rolled out, not too thin or they will break, use your favorite cookie cutters. They do not have to be gingerbread people — but they are fun!
Peel away extra dough and move cookies onto tin foiled covered cookie sheet.
Warning: Some gingerbread people were harmed in the making of these ornaments!
Some shapes did not do as well. Thicker cookies transfer to the sheet better. Cookies without thin sections also do better. The horse seen below, sadly, did not make it.
Once the cookies are on the cookie sheet, take your straw, and make the holes for the ribbon to hang them. If you try to make a hole once they are hard they will break.
Now there are two methods of hardening these cookies. The first would be to let them air dry for several days. The second method for those who are not so patient is to bake them for about two hours at 200 degrees. You may need to bake them longer depending on the thickness. At two hours my thinner cookies were cracked, and a few off the thicker were still soft in the center. Most of the cookies though were just about perfect in that time. After they cool you can decorate them however you would like. I paint mine and embellish with glitter, rhinestones, and even some fabric for scarves. Let the paint dry completely before you hang them on your tree.
These ornaments are fun and easy, so be sure to ask the kids to help you. My children love making Cinnamon Ornaments and giving them away as Christmas presents. They are so proud of their works of art.
These ornaments are not edible, but they do smell good enough to eat. That being said dogs will eat them, so if you don’t want your ornaments to be gobbled up, place them high on your tree. I have made them in the past and mine are still doing fine. They still smell good and look great after many years.
Are you looking for holiday gift ideas?
Visit Mom Does Reviews’ 2015 Christmas Gift Guide for great gift ideas!