Recipes Everyday Cooking More Meal Ideas DIY Salt Dough 4.6 (43) 37 Reviews 13 Photos This salt dough recipe is much like Play-Doh but can be baked to a permanent finish. The dough can be mixed with food coloring before modeling or painted afterward. Great for making Christmas ornaments with the kids for the tree! Submitted by IRISHEYE101 Updated on November 27, 2023 Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself. Meet the Allrecipes Test Kitchen Save Rate Print Share Trending Videos Close this video player 13 13 13 13 13 Prep Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs Additional Time: 20 mins Total Time: 2 hrs 40 mins Yield: 10 to 12 ornaments Use this salt dough recipe to make lasting treasures like ornaments, paw print impressions, and so much more. What Is Salt Dough? Salt dough is a malleable dough made with flour, water, and salt. Since it doesn't crumble or crack and it's easy to dry in the oven or microwave, salt dough is a popular DIY material for homemade crafts and ornaments. How to Make Salt Dough You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's a brief overview of what you can expect when you make salt dough at home: Mix the dry ingredients, then gradually add the water.Knead and let rest.Roll and cut the dough into shapes.Bake, decorate, and preserve the salt dough. Recipe Tip The yield will vary based on the size of the cookie cutters you use. How to Preserve Salt Dough Decorate your baked and cooled salt dough shapes with paint, then preserve them with a craft sealer (such as Mod Podge) or spray sealant coating. Allow the sealant to dry completely before storage. How Long Does Salt Dough Last? If you preserve salt dough properly, it will last for decades. Without sealant, it will begin to crumble after a few weeks. How to Store Finished Salt Dough Ornaments When it comes to storing your salt dough ornaments, it's important to avoid heat and humidity. Choose a cool, dry place and opt for a sturdy container for the best protection. For the best protection, wrap each ornament in wax paper before you store them away. Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise "Worked great," according to Dana Burke. "A little tip: Put dough in the fridge for 5 minutes to make it easier to make imprints." "Want your decorations to smell amazing? Add in some cinnamon to the dry ingredients and mix as directed," advises Patches Jackson. "Really smells great! Just make sure no one tries to eat them." "Super easy directions," says Lee Anne Barbara. "It's important to know that it turns out best if you SLOWLY add in the water!" Editorial contributions by Corey Williams Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup salt 1 cup cold water Directions Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Line a baking sheet. Combine flour and salt in a bowl. Add water, a few tablespoons at a time, mixing well after each addition. Knead dough for 10 minutes. Wrap and let rest for 20 minutes. Transfer dough to a floured work surface and knead until soft and pliable. Roll out to a thickness of 1/8 inch; cut desired festive shapes with cookie cutters. Transfer onto the prepared baking sheet; use a toothpick to make a hole in each ornament for hanging. Bake in the preheated oven until dry and hard, about 2 hours. Allow to cool completely before decorating. I Made It Print