I make these around Christmas time for my Booth#555 at the Peddlers Mall. They are a steady seller. Especially at Christmas time because they are adorned with the yummy smell of cinnamon!
Here's how I make them. I start out by making up a batch of salt dough.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup salt
- ½ cup water (sometimes you add a bit more)
- 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil (this makes it a little more flexible, and is optional)
I mix it all up in a bowl, adding a bit more of water, if needed. It should be firm but still good and flexible.
Knead it for a bit and get it all mixed good. If you want colored dough, you could easily add food coloring or something natural like coffee or tea. I prefer it plain for most uses.
I then knead it out into a big ole baking sheet. Then use my star cookie cutter to make the shapes. And then here's where I add a little extra. I take a small star stencil and press it into the center of the star. It just adds a lil extra touch and makes it cuter. And it's totally optional!
And this is what a few of them looks like, notice the star stencil at the top:
and here's a closer pic of the star, after I pressed down on the stencil, just a tad bit. And repeated it on every other one, if you want.
Next, it's time to do the dusting of cinnamon to make them totally smell yummy! I just spread them all out on the old baking sheet and sprinkle with some cinnamon sugar. I press the granules down into the salt dough very easily to make it adhere, but not hard enough to misshape the star.
Then I stick them in the preheated oven at 300* for about 45 minutes. Sometimes more, sometimes less. It mostly depends on the thickness of the salt dough. The just take them out and let them cool, then package as desired.
UPDATE: Sometimes, but not always, I take it a step farther. After allowing them to dry from baking, I dip them down into some scented, melted wax with an old fork, one by one. In the pic below, I had scented my wax with apple cinnamon. Then set aside to dry on wax paper. And here's what it looks like:
The wax just makes them appear way smoother, kinda like a wax tart. I love it! Yet, if you opt out of dipping them in wax, you get a more grungy, prim look! Oh, I just can't decide which way I like best. lol.
Here's another look at them UNDIPPED of wax, just with the cinnamon sugar finish:
And here's a closeup of a few of them dipped in the wax:
Ah, I think my favorite is the dipped in wax finish!
When they are all finished, I package 5 of them in a cellophane treat bag, from Walmart. And add a string of homespun fabric as a tie. Sometimes I will also add a stick or two of cinnamon to the bag. It makes for an almost instant bowl filler. I then price them for $3.95 and put them in my Booth#555 at the Peddlers Mall
Have you ever made anything from salt dough before?
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I have never made salt dough before. I thought about making salt dough ornaments for my tree one year, then never got around to it.
ReplyDeleteHi Nona, oh yes, ornaments for the tree out of salt dough would be great. After the dough dries completely, you can paint them or whatever and I read somewhere they will keep forever. It's easy to take a toothpick and put a whole in the top for hangers. I have made salt dough buttons before and put wire hangers on them for my small prim tree, but havent yet made any other designs. Maybe we'll both get around to it soon. lol
DeleteNo, I've never made a thing from salt dough. I would never have thought to make something like these but I will now, they look pretty straight forward.
ReplyDeleteI agree I also like the ones dipped in wax, I can see the difference in the photos.
Thanks for this post, you've given me some ideas.
Hi Michelle and keep in mind, the many different cookie cutter shapes out there, the styles could be endless!
DeleteIt is really as easy as it sounds, mix, shape, bake then if u want the cinnamon or wax. But after you bake, u could always go with painting them as well.
Glad u got some ideas! Send me a link if u get to try'em out, i'd love to see them. :-)
I tried making these, but mine puffed up, rather than staying flat... Yours are so much cuter!!
ReplyDeleteWhere do you find the treat bags at Walmart?
ReplyDeleteMandy, I'd say its because of the flour. I used self rising if that helps. although seems like self rising would make it puffier lol odd. bet urs look cute puffy though. that way would make great snowmen lol
ReplyDeleteMichelle, I find those treat bags in the cupcake/party aisle area. where they have the cupcake stands and such. they have a few different sizes to choose from. hope that helps ya! :-)
ReplyDeleteYes thank you! I'll look next time I'm there!!
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of wax do you use to to dip them in?
ReplyDeleteHi! I just keep a butterscotch rum (yellowish color) candle on the candle warmer and use that to dip them in but I added some drops of APPLE CINNAMON Wax flavoring for the smell.. it's turns to the more whiteish color though, not really yellow at all once it dries. I'm sure that any candle will work to give it a wax sheen on them. Hope this helps. -Lisa
ReplyDeleteHow do you make it so the bottoms do not have one big glob after you dip them and lay them out?
ReplyDeleteHi Jessica,
DeleteI give them a quick dip, in and out, and I guess they don't grab a lot of wax. Then I lay them out on wax paper to dry. And when dry they havent yet had globs on the bottom, so I'm guessing it's where I dip in and out quick.
Hope this helps!