Easy Cinnamon Christmas Tree Ornaments: A Holiday DIY You’ll Love

(updated Nov 23rd, 2024)

Few things evoke the magic of Christmas like the warm, inviting scent of cinnamon wafting through your home. These easy cinnamon Christmas tree ornaments are a timeless holiday craft that combines the charm of homemade decorations with the cozy aroma of spices. Whether you’re looking for a fun family activity, a personal touch for your holiday tree, or a unique handmade gift, this simple recipe has you covered.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. Delightfully Fragrant: These ornaments act as natural air fresheners, filling your space with the warm and festive scent of cinnamon for weeks.
2. Simple Ingredients: You only need a few pantry staples to create these ornaments, making them budget-friendly and accessible.
3. Customizable Designs: From classic tree and star shapes to custom cookie-cutter designs, these ornaments allow for endless creativity.
4. Kid-Friendly: This recipe is an excellent craft for kids to enjoy. They’ll love rolling out the dough, cutting shapes, and decorating.
5. Long-Lasting: With proper care, these ornaments can be stored and reused for years to come.
6. Perfect for Gifts: Add a festive ribbon, and these handmade ornaments make wonderful holiday gifts or party favors.

Ingredients and Their Role

1. Cinnamon (Ground)
   The star of the recipe, cinnamon provides the irresistible scent and gives the ornaments their beautiful deep brown color.
2. Applesauce
   Acts as a binder, bringing the cinnamon together to form a pliable dough. Its natural sugars also enhance the sweet aroma.
3. White School Glue (Optional)
   Adding a small amount of glue strengthens the ornaments, ensuring they hold their shape and last longer.
4. Ground Cloves or Nutmeg (Optional)
   For a deeper spice profile, you can mix in ground cloves or nutmeg. These spices add complexity to the scent without overpowering the cinnamon.
5. Water (Optional)
   A small amount of water can help adjust the consistency of the dough if it feels too dry or crumbly.

Ways to Change This Recipe

1. Add Glitter: Sprinkle fine glitter into the dough for ornaments that sparkle on the tree.
2. Essential Oils: Boost the fragrance with a few drops of essential oils like cinnamon, clove, or orange.
3. Different Spices: Swap some cinnamon for ginger, cardamom, or allspice to create unique scent blends.
4. Paint and Decorate: Once dried, paint the ornaments with acrylic paint or decorate them with puffy paint for a personalized touch.
5. Shapes and Sizes: Use various cookie cutters ( I have these from Williams Sonoma but you can also find pretty great ones at Dollarama) to make ornaments in shapes like snowflakes, reindeer, or candy canes. Smaller shapes can be strung together to create garlands.

How to Make Easy Cinnamon Christmas Tree Ornaments

Ingredients:

• ground cinnamon
• applesauce
• white school glue (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix the Dough
2. Roll It Out
3. Cut Out Shapes
4. Make Hanging Holes
5. Dry the Ornaments
6. Thread and Decorate

Storing and Make-Ahead Instructions

• Storing: Store finished ornaments in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. To avoid breakage, layer them with tissue paper or bubble wrap. Properly stored, they can last for several years.
• Make Ahead: Prepare the dough up to a day in advance and store it wrapped tightly in plastic wrap in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature before rolling out.
• Refresh the Scent: Over time, the scent may fade slightly. Simply add a drop of cinnamon essential oil to each ornament to revive the aroma.

Similar Recipes to Try:

1. Salt Dough Ornaments: These versatile and easy ornaments are another great way to create personalized holiday decorations (recipe coming soon).
2. Gingerbread Garland: A fun and edible way to decorate your home for the holidays. Use your favourite gingerbread cookie recipe, poke holes before baking and string them together for a beautiful decoration.
3. Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix: Pair these ornaments with a jar of hot chocolate mix for a cozy and fragrant holiday gift set.
4. Spiced Holiday Potpourri: Keep your home smelling festive with this blend of dried fruit, spices, and essential oils.
5. Try This Cool Christmas Cocktail: This specialized cocktail using clear ornaments is perfect for a holiday soiree!!!

These easy cinnamon Christmas tree ornaments are a delightful way to celebrate the holiday season. They’re simple to make, fill your home with the nostalgic scent of cinnamon, and add a warm, personal touch to your holiday decorations. Whether you hang them on your tree, tie them to gift packages, or string them into garlands, these ornaments are sure to become a beloved holiday tradition.

So, roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and let the festive crafting begin! 🎄

Cinnamon Tree Ornaments

Prepare to make these special ( and fragrant!!) ornaments for the holidays!! The also make great girft tags – and they smell beautiful too!!!

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Servings 15

Ingredients

  

• 1 1/2 cups ground cinnamon plus more for rolling
• 1 cup apple sauce
• 2 tbsp white glue

Instructions

 

• In a medium bowl, combine ground cinnamon and applesauce. Add glue and mix until the dough comes together into a thick, pliable consistency. If the dough feels too dry, add a teaspoon of water at a time. If it’s too wet, add a bit more cinnamon.
• Lightly dust a clean surface with cinnamon. Roll out the dough to about ¼-inch thickness using a rolling pin.
• Use your favorite holiday-themed cookie cutters to cut shapes out of the dough. Re-roll scraps to use up all the dough.
• Using a straw or skewer, poke a small hole near the top of each ornament for threading a ribbon or string.
• Place the ornaments on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Allow them to air dry for 24-48 hours, flipping occasionally for even drying. Alternatively, bake them at 200°F (93°C) for 2 hours, flipping halfway through.
• Once fully dried, thread ribbon or twine through the holes for hanging. Add decorative touches if desired.

Video

Notes

These ornaments can be shaped and pressed with knives and sticks to create more interest on the final product.

If you want to make use of the entire batch of cinnamon dough without waste, use a christmas cookie cutter and press the final amount into the cookie cutter and push out.

You can use cookie presses but make sure you dust the dough with plenty of cinnamon to ensure the dough doesn’t stick to the cutter.

If you can find cheap cinnamon, now is the time to use it!! You are not going to ingest this so the cheaper the better!!

Keyword DIY