Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments
Let’s pull out an oldie but a goodie! We made Easy DIY Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments as a family probably 30 years ago. We used them on the Christmas tree and on gifts.
2 ingredient cinnamon ornaments
These 2 ingredient wonders are so simple to make. With cinnamon and applesauce on the shelf you can mix up the dough in minutes. Then have fun making ornaments with family, friends or just by yourself!
Cinnamon ornament recipe
The recipe sits in my recipe box, and I have used it periodically as a special project for a group of kids at school, church or in the community. It’s always a hit.
Now I get to use it with our grandkids! Come and join me!
How do I make Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments for my tree?
The whole process is very similar to making sugar cookies. Except you can’t eat them in the end!
Grab your supplies and get ready for some fun! Any age “big” or “little” will enjoy helping.
Applesauce and cinnamon ornaments
Pour the apple sauce into a mixing bowl.
Then add the ground cinnamon into the bowl. You can use an inexpensive brand of cinnamon. Look for the large containers as it takes quite a bit!
Cinnamon dough ornament recipe- mix dough
Mix the apple sauce and cinnamon into a dough using a spoon. It shouldn’t be sticky. Add a bit more cinnamon until it is like pie crust or sugar cookie roll out dough.
Note: My dough was too sticky in the video. You will notice that the edges of the cookies were a bit jagged when I cut them out as a result. I smoothed them off, but it is easier to handle the dough if it isn’t sticky.
Roll out the dough
Sprinkle some cinnamon on a flat surface and put the dough down on it. You are using the cinnamon like you use flour when rolling out sugar cookies.
Tip: Some people like to roll these out between two pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper. Give it a try if you would like but I prefer this method for this recipe.
Press the dough into a flat round.
Sprinkle a bit more cinnamon on top. This is so it doesn’t stick to the surface or to the rolling pin. I even dust the rolling pin with a bit of cinnamon.
Tip: Be careful not to breath in the cinnamon or get it in your eyes, it is not healthy for you and burns the nose and eyes.
Use the rolling pin to roll the dough out to ¼ inch thick.
Note: I used a pastry mat as a surface to roll the dough out. This is optional but I did find it helpful for rolling out the dough and for clean up.
Tip: Don’t roll the cinnamon applesauce ornaments too thin. They break easily and curl up as they dry.
Cut out the ornaments with cookie cutters
Use your Christmas cookie cutters to cut out your Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments. Fit as many as you can on the rolled-out dough.
I used a piece of parchment paper to place on top of the cookie sheet. This makes it easy for the cookies to dry and not stick to the pan.
Pull the extra dough away from the cut out ornaments and then lift them onto the cookie sheet with your fingers or a thin spatula. Gently reshape them if they pull this way or that way a bit.
Make holes in the top
Now is the time to make holes in the top of the ornaments so you can add a ribbon.
I used the end of a drinking straw to make the holes in mine. This was a really good size and even my younger grandkids could get the ribbon through.
Make the holes at least ⅛ inch from the edge. Any closer and the ornaments will break.
Note: If you don't have a drinking straw you can use a tooth pick or an ice pick to make the hole. But be sure to make it more like the size of a straw so the ribbon slides through easily.
Cinnamon ornaments no bake- or bake in low oven
You can let your ornaments air dry on the cookie sheet for about two days or you can place them in a 200-degree oven for several hours. This depends on your time frame.
Be sure to turn the ornaments occasionally so they stay flat (either air drying or oven drying).
Note: The ornaments I placed in the oven were a darker brown than the ones I allowed to air dry. Air dried ornaments stayed a more red-orange cinnamon color. Both look great, I just wanted to let you know about the slight color difference.
If you like the look of the plain ornament, go ahead, and tie a ribbon or string in the hole and you are done.
Decorate your cinnamon applesauce ornaments
But if you are wanting more color, it is also possible to decorate your ornaments with paint or glue on decorations.
I chose to use white puff paint to make some of the ornaments look as if they had been decorated with frosting. They turned out so cute.
Tip: Paint in a bottle or tube is much easier to use than painting with a paint brush if you are edging the cookies like I did. They have a tip, and the paint comes out in a measured stream.
Tip: You can also use craft paint on the surface of the ornaments if you want. Just be sure not to use too much water as the ornaments will soften and dissolve.
Add a ribbon to the apple cinnamon ornaments
Let the paint dry and then add a ribbon or string to hang the ornament.
Don't eat!! Ha!
These really do look like gingerbread cookies. But you must promise one thing. Remember not to eat these things!! They are not edible, that’s for sure.
How will you use the Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments?
Hang these on your tree or tie them into the bow on top of your Christmas packages. They add a personal touch and also add a wonderful cinnamon scent to your room.
These would also work wonderfully on a fall wreath or garland! The cinnamon and applesauce scent works great for the fall as well as for Christmas, don't you think?
We had a lot of fun making ornaments over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Look how grown-up my grand is getting. Love them all to pieces. Glad to connect over a creative project!
If you are a YouTube fan check out this craft and subscribe there at this link: Easy DIY Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments YouTube Video!
More homemade Christmas ornament ideas:
Here are some more ornament ideas if you would like to make others! I love these!!
- DIY Sparkling Wire & Bead Ornament Stars
- Easy Glass Pebble Christmas Ornament
- DIY Cornstarch Dough Ornaments for Christmas
- Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments
- How to Make Gingerbread Cookie Ornaments
- How to Draw Christmas Ornaments (If you want to learn how to draw Christmas ornaments!)
Enjoy!
If you try this craft, let me know! Go ahead and leave a comment, rate it, and tag a photo with #WelcometoNanas wherever you post.
Come join the fun at https://welcometonanas.com
Easy DIY Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
- Rolling Pin
- Pastry mat for rolling out dough (optional)
- Cookie cutters
- Thin spatula
- Cookie Sheet
Items Required
- 1 cup Applesauce
- 1 ⅓-1/2 cup ground cinnamon
- Parchment paper
- Drinking straw (or toothpick)
- Ribbon or string (for hanging the ornament)
- White puff paint for decorating or craft paint (optional)
Instructions
- Use the rolling pin to roll the dough out to ¼ inch thick.
- Use your Christmas cookie cutters to cut out your Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments. Fit as many as you can on the rolled-out dough.
- Pull the extra dough away from the cut out ornaments and then lift them onto the cookie sheet with your fingers or a thin spatula.
- Now is the time to make holes in the top of the ornaments so you can add a ribbon. I used the end of a drinking straw to make the holes in mine.
- You can let your ornaments air dry on the cookie sheet for about two days or you can place them in a 200-degree oven for several hours (mine were dry in about 2 hours). This depends on your time frame.
- But if you are wanting more color, it is also possible to decorate your ornaments with paint or glue on decorations. I chose to use white puff paint to make some of the ornaments look as if they had been decorated with frosting.
Video
Notes
Supplies:
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1 ⅓-1/2 cup ground cinnamon
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
- Rolling pin
- Pastry mat for rolling out dough (optional)
- Cookie cutters
- Thin spatula
- Cookie sheet
- Parchment paper
- Drinking straw
- Ribbon or string (for hanging the ornament)
- White puff paint for decorating or craft paint (optional)
Donna says
I made these ornaments many years ago when I taught 1st grade, and never had a problem. I tried to make them this year. It was a mess. following the directions exactly resulted in a soupy mixture. The problem is the water content in the applesauce ( Mott's). I just couldn't find the right consistency.