C.J. Braden • 2 Minute Read
2 Ingredient Cinnamon Applesauce Ornament Craft
Article published: 2/20/23
Article updated with long-term care info to prevent mold: 1/21/25
In my organization of my in-law’s basement during my Hurricane Ian evacuation time period, I found a cookie cutter with a handwritten recipe attached. It was a recipe for “Cinnamon Cutouts”.
Completed Cinnamon Applesauce Ornament
I figured it was an ornament or craft recipe, so I decided to try it. The 2-ingredient cinnamon applesauce ornament turned out to be a very simple craft for all ages.
I created a Love Tree with my DIY ornaments
Because the directions weren’t super easy or detailed, I decided to write up some new plans for this timeless craft. While you may want to make these during the Christmas holidays, I actually made mine during Valentine’s Day and created a “love tree” using the cutouts as ornaments on a pink tree.
We didn’t get to celebrate Christmas at home in 2022 due to the hurricane and its severe damage to Sanibel and Southwest Florida, so I thought it was fitting to put up a mini tree and use it to celebrate a different holiday.
Ingredients for cinnamon applesauce ornaments
I think you could do the same in your home. Put up a mini tree and decorate it using different shaped cinnamon cutouts or ornaments of your choice. Each time there is a holiday or a new season approaching, create some new DIY ornaments. For example, you could make my DIY seashell ornaments and place them on a tree during the summer months.
Cinnamon Applesauce Ornament Dough
The cutouts make for great ornaments or they would make cute gift package toppers. They smell delicious, so a bunch of them on packages or on a tree make a room smell amazing. After they dry, they are super lightweight and could be painted with acrylic paint.
Measuring out the cinnamon applesauce dough
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See me making this craft in my one minute video tutorial below or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
Cinnamon Applesauce Ornament or Gift Tag Cutouts
You will need the following tools: glass or stainless medium mixing bowl, spatula, rolling pin, straw or pencil, ruler, cookie sheet, parchment paper, cookie cutter, string or ribbon
Ingredients:
10 tablespoons ground cinnamon
6 tablespoons applesauce
Note: My current Florida home tends to be a bit humid SO if I made these again, I’d add about a tablespoon or so of glue too because my ornaments got mold on them after being on display for about a year. The glue would act as a stabilizer, helping to prevent mold. If you do not add the glue, yours may mold over time…just wanted to add this info as I had to throw my batch away after a year. Or, I’d store them sealed in an air tight container in a very cool place.
Directions:
1. Heat your oven to 150 degrees.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cinnamon and applesauce.
3. Stir the cinnamon and applesauce with a spatula or your hands until it forms a ball of moist “dough”. If it seems too dry or “crumbly”, add a bit more applesauce
I re-rolled the dough after each batch to make more ornaments
4. Place the ball of “dough” onto a parchment lined flat surface. Roll it out until it is ¼” inch thick.
5. Use a cookie cutter of your choice to make some cutouts. I used a 3-inch metal heart cookie cutter and was able to make about 18 ornaments after cutting some and then re-rolling the dough out several times.
DIY Cinnamon Applesauce Heart Ornament
6. Use a straw or a pencil to cut a hole at the top of each ornament.
7. Pat any rough edges of the ornaments with your finger to smooth them out.
I smoothed the edges with my fingers prior to drying
8. Place some parchment paper onto a cookie sheet and use a spatula to place the ornaments on the sheet.
9. The original directions said to “bake” the ornaments for 6 hours at 150 degrees (F) with the oven door slightly ajar. You are basically drying them in the oven. It may take longer depending on how humid your house is. You could alternatively air dry them. I “baked” mine for the 6-hour time frame, then let them air dry for 24 hours on a baking rack until they were completely dry.
Dried cinnamon applesauce ornament
10. When they are completely dry, they will be a lighter brown. If you try to string them before they are dry, they will crack. Place some string or ribbon through the hole and tie. Hang from a Christmas tree or gift package and enjoy!
If you love this article, we know you’ll love this one too: DIY Butterfly Seashell Ornaments
C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.