These charming cinnamon spice ornaments are an easy and delightful holiday project, filling your home with a cozy, festive aroma. Made with simple ingredients like cinnamon, cloves, and applesauce, they’re both nostalgic and practical, offering a warm holiday touch to your decor.
Perfect as a family activity or a thoughtful handmade gift, these ornaments add a rustic, personal element to your Christmas tree or holiday display. Customize each ornament with your favorite cookie cutters, and decorate with colorful ribbons for a truly unique holiday craft experience.
Full Recipe:
- 1 cup ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground cloves
- 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1 tablespoon white school glue
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, combine cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Mix well.
- Gradually add applesauce and glue to the dry ingredients, working the mixture with your hands for about 2-3 minutes until it forms a dough-like consistency. Adjust by adding more cinnamon if too wet or more applesauce if too dry.
- Dust a clean surface with a bit of cinnamon, then roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness.
- Use cookie cutters to shape the dough as desired, creating festive designs. Make a small hole at the top of each shape using a toothpick for hanging later.
- Place ornaments on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Dry them in a slow oven at 200°F (100°C) for several hours or air dry in a warm, sunny spot for 4-5 days until firm.
- Decorate the finished ornaments with ribbons or gingham as desired.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Drying Time: Several hours or 4-5 days | Total Time: Varies
Kcal: Non-edible | Servings: 12-15 ornaments
Cinnamon Spice Holiday Ornaments: A Traditional DIY Christmas Craft
The holiday season brings a warm, nostalgic aroma into homes, and nothing captures that essence better than homemade cinnamon ornaments. These cinnamon-scented decorations are more than just ornaments—they embody the holiday spirit, bringing a sense of warmth, creativity, and tradition into your home. This article delves into the history, benefits, and creative possibilities of making cinnamon spice ornaments, offering tips on how to make them a memorable part of your holiday celebrations.
A Tradition Rooted in Nostalgia
Creating handmade holiday decorations has long been a cherished tradition, particularly among families who enjoy crafts together. Cinnamon spice ornaments, in particular, hold a special place in holiday history. The earthy, sweet scent of cinnamon is closely associated with the holidays, evoking memories of cozy winter evenings, baking, and family gatherings. These ornaments date back to an era when families would use natural, readily available materials to make holiday decorations. As commercial Christmas decorations gained popularity in the 20th century, cinnamon spice ornaments retained their appeal as an affordable, homemade alternative with a distinct seasonal fragrance.
Why Cinnamon Ornaments Are Perfect for the Holidays
1. The Aromatic Ambiance of Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a quintessential holiday scent, reminiscent of mulled wine, warm cookies, and wintertime comfort. It has a unique ability to fill a room with its rich, inviting aroma, enhancing the festive atmosphere of any home. Cinnamon ornaments act as a natural air freshener, releasing a subtle, spicy fragrance that lingers long after the ornaments have dried. Whether hung on a tree, displayed on a wreath, or placed around the house, they add a sensory layer to holiday décor that no store-bought item can replicate.
2. A Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Choice
One of the main appeals of cinnamon ornaments is their sustainability. Unlike plastic decorations, these ornaments are biodegradable, made from natural ingredients like cinnamon, applesauce, and sometimes cloves and nutmeg for extra scent. This makes them an eco-friendly choice, ideal for those looking to reduce their environmental impact during the holidays. After the season, they can be composted or saved for the following year if stored properly. Their natural materials mean they are safe for homes with pets or small children, adding to their appeal for eco-conscious families.
3. A Fun and Creative Family Activity
The process of making cinnamon ornaments is simple and safe, making it a great activity for families. Kids especially enjoy rolling out the dough, using cookie cutters, and decorating the final product with ribbons and paint. It’s a perfect way to involve younger family members in holiday preparations, creating memories that will last far beyond the holiday season. The hands-on nature of this craft also helps to build fine motor skills in children, as they knead, roll, and cut the dough. Additionally, the activity provides an opportunity to slow down, disconnect from screens, and engage in mindful, creative work together.
4. Customizable to Match Any Holiday Theme
The versatility of cinnamon ornaments is one of their strongest attributes. They can be tailored to suit various holiday themes and styles. For a rustic, traditional look, keep the ornaments simple with a gingham ribbon and natural finishes. For a more festive appearance, you can add holiday-themed paint, glitter, or colored ribbons. If you have a tree with a color scheme, the ornaments can be customized with complementary ribbons or metallic paint. With a bit of creativity, each ornament can be made to reflect your unique holiday style.
Crafting with Natural Ingredients
Using simple, pantry-friendly ingredients like cinnamon, applesauce, and glue, this recipe avoids harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances. The ingredients are not only affordable but also widely available, making the recipe accessible to anyone looking to bring a little extra holiday spirit into their home. The use of glue helps bind the ingredients together for a sturdy finish that ensures the ornaments hold up well, even when stored for future holiday seasons.
Storing and Maintaining Cinnamon Ornaments
1. Proper Storage for Longevity
After the holiday season, these ornaments should be stored carefully to maintain their scent and structure for years to come. Place them in an airtight container or a sealed plastic bag, separating each ornament with tissue paper to prevent them from sticking together. Store them in a cool, dry place to avoid humidity, which can soften the ornaments and cause them to break down.
2. Refreshing the Scent
Over time, cinnamon ornaments may lose some of their potency. To revive the scent, you can lightly sand the surface of the ornament with fine-grit sandpaper to release more of the cinnamon aroma. Alternatively, you can add a few drops of cinnamon or clove essential oil, allowing them to soak in overnight for a refreshed fragrance. This small maintenance step helps the ornaments smell as fresh as when they were first made.
Creative Uses Beyond Tree Decorations
While these cinnamon ornaments are traditionally used as tree decorations, there are countless other ways to incorporate them into your holiday décor.
- Gift Tags: Add a personal touch to wrapped gifts by using cinnamon ornaments as gift tags. Simply write the recipient’s name on the ornament with a marker or paint and tie it to the gift with ribbon or twine.
- Wreath Accents: Attach these ornaments to a holiday wreath for a homemade, rustic addition that complements greenery beautifully. The scent pairs well with pine and fir branches, creating an earthy, inviting decoration for your front door.
- Table Decorations: Use the ornaments as part of your holiday table settings. Lay one at each place setting for a festive touch, or scatter them across the table for a subtle holiday aroma during meals.
- Garlands: String several ornaments together to create a charming garland for a mantle or window. This is a great way to display multiple shapes and designs, adding visual interest and holiday fragrance to different areas of your home.
Crafting Tips and Tricks
- Get Creative with Shapes: Experiment with cookie cutters in various festive shapes like stars, hearts, and snowflakes. This adds variety to your decorations and allows you to create a personalized look.
- Control Dough Consistency: Since the dough can be adjusted for consistency, feel free to add more cinnamon if it’s too sticky or more applesauce if it’s too dry. This flexibility ensures that the dough can be rolled out and cut with ease.
- Perfect Drying Methods: You can choose to air dry or bake the ornaments at a low temperature, depending on the time available. Air drying takes about 4-5 days but preserves the scent better, while baking at 200°F for a few hours speeds up the process if you’re short on time.
- Personalize with Embellishments: Once dry, add embellishments like glitter, paint, or small beads. These personal touches make the ornaments unique and can match the rest of your holiday décor.
Why Cinnamon Ornaments Make Great Holiday Gifts
Homemade gifts are cherished for the thought and effort that goes into them, and cinnamon ornaments are no exception. They offer a personal, heartfelt option for gift-giving, especially for those who appreciate handmade items or are fans of rustic, farmhouse décor. Presenting these ornaments in a gift box or small bag with a festive ribbon adds to the charm and makes them ready for gift-giving. They are ideal for teachers, friends, and neighbors, adding a warm touch to the holiday season with a gift that’s handmade, fragrant, and lasting.
Conclusion: The Lasting Appeal of Cinnamon Ornaments
Cinnamon spice ornaments are more than just holiday decorations—they’re a sensory experience that brings warmth, creativity, and tradition into the home. The simplicity of the ingredients and the ease of preparation make this craft accessible to all, whether you’re an experienced crafter or trying a holiday DIY project for the first time. Beyond their fragrant charm, these ornaments represent the spirit of the holiday season, emphasizing time spent with family, sustainable practices, and creative expression.
Whether you’re adding them to your Christmas tree, giving them as gifts, or using them to decorate around the house, cinnamon ornaments are sure to be a beloved part of your holiday traditions for years to come. This season, consider gathering your family, mixing up a batch of this wonderfully fragrant dough, and enjoying the timeless tradition of crafting cinnamon spice ornaments.
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Cinnamon Spice Holiday Ornaments
- Total Time: 15 minutes
Description
These charming cinnamon spice ornaments are an easy and delightful holiday project, filling your home with a cozy, festive aroma. Made with simple ingredients like cinnamon, cloves, and applesauce, they’re both nostalgic and practical, offering a warm holiday touch to your decor.
Perfect as a family activity or a thoughtful handmade gift, these ornaments add a rustic, personal element to your Christmas tree or holiday display. Customize each ornament with your favorite cookie cutters, and decorate with colorful ribbons for a truly unique holiday craft experience.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground cloves
- 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1 tablespoon white school glue
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Mix well.
- Gradually add applesauce and glue to the dry ingredients, working the mixture with your hands for about 2-3 minutes until it forms a dough-like consistency. Adjust by adding more cinnamon if too wet or more applesauce if too dry.
- Dust a clean surface with a bit of cinnamon, then roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness.
- Use cookie cutters to shape the dough as desired, creating festive designs. Make a small hole at the top of each shape using a toothpick for hanging later.
- Place ornaments on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Dry them in a slow oven at 200°F (100°C) for several hours or air dry in a warm, sunny spot for 4-5 days until firm.
- Decorate the finished ornaments with ribbons or gingham as desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes