Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (2024)

Home > Crafts for and with Kids > Gingerbread Christmas Salt Dough Recipe

ByCerys ParkerPublished on

Did you know that you can use spices in your salt dough recipe to give it a scent and colour?

Our favourite salt dough to make for Christmas decorations is to use the spices we use for our gingerbread men and houses. This colours the dough and once dry it still smells of gingerbread too.

So here we go our best Christmas gingerbread Salt Dough Recipe.

Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (1)

Go to Printable Step-by-Step Guide

What You'll Find on This Page

Gingerbread Salt Dough Ornament Recipe

Normally the recipe for salt dough only contains 3 ingredients – salt, flour and warm water.

But, by adding some ground spices you can transform it and take it to the next level.

Because the spices also add a little colour instead of fully painting the dried ornaments you could add finer details only with acrylic paints.

What I have found is that sometimes I need to add a little more water but add it gradually and only if the mixture is a little bit drier.

Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (2)

Unlock the Secrets of Salt Dough Crafting!

Subscribe today and get our top-rated recipe to gorgeous craft ideas straight to your inbox. Plus an exclusive printable recipe.

Christmas Salt Dough Gingerbread Ingredients

  • 1 cup Flour
  • 1/4 – 1/2 cup Water
  • 1/2 cup Salt
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Check out our Salt Dough Gingerbread Men Ornaments for how we made them brown when dry without needing to paint them fully!

How to Make Gingerbread Salt Dough

Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (3)
  1. In a bowl add the salt, flour and spices and combine.
  2. Add the water (if you are colouring add this to the water now and mix) to the dried ingredients
  3. Stir till a dough is formed.
  4. Remove from the bowl and knead until smooth.
Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (4)

With the dough made you are now ready to create some scented Christmas decorations.

Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (5)

Make Memories every day as you countdown to Christmas

24 Simple and easy activities to do at home with your kids this Christmas.

Buy Now From Our Store

Can you paint the Salt Dough Before Drying?

This is no as the dough is too soft and the colour will not take as well. Instead oven-dry the dough let cool and then paint afterwards.

You can also use the same spice mix with our quickest ever salt dough recipe and follow the instructions carefully in the post. This will reduce the drying time to 2 to 3 minutes it varies with your microwave.

It’s also possible to air dry these scented Christmas Tree Ornaments. Place them on the baking tray and then in a warm place. It will take a long time for them to dry – depending on the temperature it could be 2 days or more!

Ideas for Using this Gingerbread SAlt Dough Recipe

Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (6)
Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (7)

We’ve used this recipe in 2 crafts so far –

  • Gingerbread man garland T at 3 years old threaded this to create a pattern and decoration for the house.
  • With a little extra we were able to make the gingerbread salt dough darker and retain the colour once dried. Then made Gingerbread Men Ornaments.

Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (8)

Gingerbread Salt Dough Recipe for Christmas Tree Ornaments

Cerys Parker

Simple Christmas salt dough recipe for making gingerbread scented ornaments for the Christmas Tree

5 from 1 vote

Print Instructions

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Activity Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Equipment Needed

  • Rolling Pin

Materials Needed

Instructions

Making the Dough

  • In a large mixing bowl add the salt, flour and spices and combine.

    Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (9)

  • Add the water (if you are colouring add this to the water now and mix) to the bowl.

  • Stir till a dough starts to form.

  • Knead on a surface for about 3 minutes until you have a smooth dough. Now use as you would your normal salt dough recipe.

    Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (10)

Keyword Christmas Crafts, Christmas Decorations, Christmas Ornaments, Salt Dough

Have you Made This?Let us know how it went!

More Christmas Salt Dough Recipes

Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (11)

Not everyone likes the smell of gingerbread so a great alternative to use is our cinnamon salt dough recipe.

Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (12)

Author

Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (13)

Cerys Parker

Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.

Gingerbread Scented Salt Dough Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make a salt dough gingerbread house? ›

Instructions
  1. Combine the flour, salt, and cinnamon in large bowl.
  2. Add in 3/4 cup of water and mix with to combine. ...
  3. Roll out the dough on a piece of parchment paper with a rolling pin. ...
  4. Place the pieces on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper to bake. ...
  5. Let cool and decorate with dimensional puff paint.
Dec 4, 2023

What is the ratio for salt dough? ›

The salt dough recipe

You want a ratio of one part salt and two parts flour. For making just a few little salt dough creations with your kids, one cup salt and two cups flour should be enough. If you want to prepare more, just increase the number of cups proportionally.

Can you add scent to salt dough ornaments? ›

In the recipe above, I added a couple of 'bells and whistles' to the recipe to make a smoother dough but the oil and glycerin are optional. These ornaments last for years. They are fun, easy, and inexpensive to make. You can even add scent, colors, glitter, paint, and beads if you like.

What is the best sealant for salt dough ornaments? ›

You can paint a coat of glossy decoupage glue over the entire ornament to seal and protect it, and to give it a shiny finish. You can also spritz it with a light coat of polyurethane spray. Both methods, along with the salt acting as a natural preservative, help to extend the ornament's longevity.

How to make a gingerbread house step by step? ›

  1. Step 1: Prepare the Patterns. When making a gingerbread house, the most important step is building a strong, sturdy base—and the best way to do that is with a balanced structure. ...
  2. Step 2: Make the Dough. ...
  3. Step 3: Cut Out Shapes. ...
  4. Step 4: Make the Icing. ...
  5. Step 5: Assemble the Base. ...
  6. Step 6: Attach the Roof. ...
  7. Step 7: Decorate.
Nov 26, 2018

How to tell when salt dough is done? ›

How do you know when salt dough is done? It will be hard to the touch but still light in color on the top. You want to make sure to cook them low and slow to prevent the outside from browning while the inside is still raw.

What happens if I put too much salt in my dough? ›

If the percentage of salt added to a dough becomes too high, excessive dehydration will eventually kill the yeast and bacteria. Most scientists believe that at 2% of the flour weight or less, salt alone does not significantly alter either the yeast's gassing power or the bacteria's acid production.

Can you overcook salt dough? ›

If you overcook them, they tend to bubble up. As everyone's dough will be mixed differently and microwaves have different levels of power, please keep an eye on your creations when they are cooking. Take them out to check their dryness – CAREFUL - THEY WILL BE HOT!

How do you add scent to salt? ›

Simple Scented Bath Salt Recipe

In a mixing bowl, add drops of the essential oil to the bath salt and mix well. Store in a glass jar. Add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the scented salts to a bath for a soothing, luxurious experience!

Can you use Sharpie on salt dough? ›

Before baking the ornaments, press rubber stamps into the dough with holiday greetings, the year or even the names of loved ones. If you like to pay attention to every little detail, a fine-point marker is the perfect tool for the job (we like to use Sharpie Fine Point Permanent Markers).

What is the best salt for dough? ›

Most baking recipes typically use either one of these salts: table salt, kosher salt, or sea salt. While all three types will work in most baking recipes, it's best to use the specific one that the recipe recommends. And if the recipe doesn't specify, I recommend using table salt or kosher salt.

What happens if you don't seal salt dough? ›

Sealing your salt dough ornaments prevents them from becoming moldy and or cracking/crumbling. Any environment can cause salt dough to mold, even when extra precautions are taken. Once sealed, they are guaranteed to last a lifetime. This way, you can continue to enjoy your families memories, year after year.

Why did my salt dough ornaments crack? ›

Dough that is too thin may crack around the edges and dough that is too thick will definitely bubble.

What to spray on salt dough ornaments? ›

How do I preserve and store these Salt Dough Ornaments? In order to keep your ornaments and use them for several years, it is best to seal them. Painting them with acrylic paint, if you choose to, will begin the process. But a coat of Mod Podge or Acrylic sealer that is applied like a spray paint will be needed.

Is it better to bake or air dry salt dough? ›

If you have thin ornaments for the tree then in the oven they may only take an hour or two. However, if you are drying something thicker like a sculpture or a candle holder then this will take much longer and it may be better for you to dry using the air drying method.

How do you stick salt dough together? ›

Hot glue: Hot glue can be used to quickly and securely attach salt dough pieces, but it may not be the best option for projects that will be exposed to high temperatures or moisture. Epoxy glue: Epoxy glue is a strong adhesive that can be used for salt dough crafts that need to be especially durable or water-

What is the fastest way to harden salt dough? ›

Salt dough drying tips
  1. Microwave. The quickest method to dry dough is in the microwave, but the dough will probably rise a bit. ...
  2. Oven. Alternatively, put the moulds into a cool oven. ...
  3. Air dry. Leave the moulds in a cool dry place for between 24-48 hours (thinner designs will dry quicker).
Jul 29, 2021

Does baked salt dough last? ›

In our experience, salt dough decorations will last for years once you've baked and decorated them, so they make a lovely keepsake. We've had decorations last over 20 years with no deterioration. To help them last longer, paint them with a layer of decoupage glue or clear varnish to seal the colours.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Maia Crooks Jr

Last Updated:

Views: 5791

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Maia Crooks Jr

Birthday: 1997-09-21

Address: 93119 Joseph Street, Peggyfurt, NC 11582

Phone: +2983088926881

Job: Principal Design Liaison

Hobby: Web surfing, Skiing, role-playing games, Sketching, Polo, Sewing, Genealogy

Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.