Description
This recipe helps you craft beautiful, fragrant cinnamon ornaments using ground cinnamon, applesauce, and optional glue. They are decorated with vibrant painted royal icing, making them perfect for festive, family-friendly holiday fun.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ground cinnamon
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 Tbsp white school glue, optional
- 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
- 3 Tbsp meringue powder
- A few drops assorted food coloring gels
- 1–3 tsp clear extract or water
- 0.5 tsp ground cloves or nutmeg, optional
- Edible glitter, optional
Instructions
- Mix The Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup ground cinnamon and 1 cup unsweetened applesauce until a stiff dough forms. Add 2 Tbsp white school glue if using. Knead briefly for 1-2 minutes until it feels smooth and uniform, not sticky to the touch.
- Roll And Cut Shapes: On a lightly cinnamon-dusted surface, roll the dough to about 0.25-inch (6mm) thickness. Use various cookie cutters to create your desired shapes. Don’t forget to make a hole with a straw near the top of each piece for hanging, ensuring it’s wide enough for ribbon.
- Dry The Ornaments: Place ornaments on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 200F (95C) for 2-3 hours, flipping them halfway through, until hard and dry to the touch. (Alternatively, air dry on a wire rack for 2-3 days, turning daily, until completely rigid and lightweight).
- Prepare Royal Icing: In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups sifted powdered sugar and 3 Tbsp meringue powder. Gradually add 1-3 tsp clear extract or water, a tiny bit at a time, until the mixture is thin enough to paint with; it should flow smoothly off a spoon like thin tempera paint.
- Color And Paint Designs: Divide the prepared royal icing into small bowls. Stir in a few drops of food coloring gels until you achieve your desired vibrant shades. Using small, clean paint brushes, apply your designs onto your completely dried cinnamon ornament pieces. Allow the painted royal icing to dry undisturbed for several hours (ideally overnight) until it’s completely hard and won’t smudge.
Notes
For a stronger scent, add about 0.5 tsp of ground cloves or nutmeg to the cinnamon dough. A sprinkle of edible glitter can add extra sparkle once the ornaments are dry. If the dough feels too sticky to roll, knead in an extra tablespoon or two of ground cinnamon until it reaches a firmer, more workable texture. Ensure ornaments are completely dry before painting.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 150 minutes
- Category: Decoration
- Method: Baking, Crafting, Decorating
- Cuisine: General
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ornament
- Calories: 0 calories
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 0 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg