3-Ingredient Extra Simple Salt Dough Recipe For Ornaments

3-Ingredient Extra Simple Salt Dough Recipe For Ornaments
3-Ingredient Extra Simple Salt Dough Recipe For Ornaments

It’s easy and fun to make some adorable decorations from salt dough. The greatest thing is that you can make your own salt dough right at home with only 3 simple ingredients. You can also let your kids join in this fun activity. Salt dough can be used to create many lovely and unique decorations, such as ornaments and lasting keepsakes with your personal touch. This kind of DIY salt dough project is affordable and definitely a great way for you to spend a joyful time with your family or kids.

So, check your kitchen counter right away for ingredients and try to see how easy this salt dough recipe will be. We also provide you with some choices of great tools so that you can create flawless salt dough ornaments. Let’s start this fun craft right away!

What is Salt Dough?

Salt dough is an easy and moldable medium for creating ornaments and miniature sculptures. It is pliable, allowing you to shape and customize items easily. While the main ingredient is all-purpose flour, the salt acts as a natural preservative that keeps your creations last for years. 

Salt dough is the favorite choice of many people for DIY crafts because of its non-toxic ingredients and low cost. Moreover, you seem to be able to get all the things for the salt dough recipe you need right in the kitchen. After shaping, the dough can be air-dried or baked to solidify and decorate later. It’s a fun, adaptable creative activity that will be suitable for all ages!

Simple & Easy Salt Dough Recipe 

The Salt Dough Recipe Has Just Only 3 Ingredients
The salt dough recipe has just only 3 ingredients

As easy as it gets, the salt dough recipe has just only 3 ingredients. And the best part is that you likely have everything in your pantry that you will need. Let’s break it down so you can get started on your salt dough creations!

Tools You Will Need 

Before putting your hand into making salt dough craft, you need to take out the following items: 

  • Mixing bowl – to mix the ingredients. 
  • Spatula/Wooden spoon – to combine & stir the ingredients. 
  • Rolling pin – for rolling out the salt dough.  
  • Cookie cutters – to shape the dough.
  • Oven & Baking sheet – for baking the salt dough. 
  • Paint tool – to paint the ornaments after baking.

Optional things:

  • Toothpick, skewer, lollipop stick, or straw – To create hanging holes in ornaments.
  • Threading ribbon or twine – To hang the ornaments.
  • Glitter & sealant – For a beautiful & lasting finish. 

Ingredients Of Salt Dough Recipe

As we said, you only prepare 3 ingredients to make salt dough. You can start right away because they probably are available on your counter now. 

Ingredients NameContent
All-purpose flour/ Plain flour2 cups
Table salt1 cup
Tap water 1 cup

How To Make Salt Dough – Step-by-step Guide

It’s exciting and easy to get your kids involved in making salt dough. Anyone can do this and have success from the first time. Keep in mind that salt dough is not edible so you can choose to buy cheap ingredients to save cost. 

Step 1: Preheat The Oven

Preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C). Don’t forget to line a baking sheet with parchment.

You Need To Preheat The Oven To 250°F Or 120°C
You need to preheat the oven to 250°F or 120°C

Step 2: Make the Dough

In a large mixing bowl, put all the all-purpose flour and salt together. Then, use the spoon to stir them together until evenly distributed. Then, gradually add the warm water to the dry mixture, stirring constantly until it begins to form a ball.

Mix All The Ingredients In A Large Mixing Bowl
Mix all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl

Step 3: Knead the Dough

Once the mixture comes together in a shaggy ball, place it onto a flat surface and knead the dough with your hand for about 5–10 minutes. You can stop when the dough becomes smooth, elastic, and not sticky. If it is dry, you can add a teaspoon of water at a time. If the salt dough is too sticky, try adding more flour.

Knead The Salt Dough With Your Hands For 5-10 Minutes
Knead the salt dough with your hands for 5-10 minutes

Step 4: Roll Out the Dough

Use a rolling pin and roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thickness. This is a perfect thickness for any of your desirable shapes.

Roll Out The Dough To About ¼ Inch Thickness
Roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thickness

Step 5: Cut Your Shapes 

Use cookie cutters of your favorite to cut out desired shapes. For ornaments, use a toothpick or straw to poke a hole at the top for threading ribbon or twine later. 

Use Cookie Cutters To Get Your Desired Shape Ornaments
Use cookie cutters to get your desired shape ornaments

Step 6: Bake the Dough

Transfer the shapes to a baking sheet. Bake for about 3 hours and don’t forget to flip halfway through. The ornaments should be hard and dry after the time. The baking time will vary based on the thickness, so you need to keep an eye on your salt dough ornaments. 

Let the baked ornaments cool entirely before painting. Then you can decorate your salt dough items with paint and glitter.

Bake The Salt Dough Ornaments For About 3 Hours Until They Get Hard
Bake the salt dough ornaments for about 3 hours until they get hard

Pro Tips For Perfect Salt Dough Crafting

Salt dough making is fun and rewarding, but a few pro tips can take your crafting to the next level! These tricks will ensure your dough is creative and lasting. 

No Bake Salt Dough Recipe

If you want to skip using the oven, a no-bake salt dough recipe is a great alternative. It will take longer to air dry, but it’s equally fun and effective in crafting ornaments or keepsakes. Once you have shaped your creations, take the shapes and place them on a flat surface lined with parchment paper or a non-stick mat. 

Allow them to dry in the air for 2–7 days at room temperature, depending on their thickness. Flip them sometimes so that they dry out evenly. To hasten the drying process, place the creations near a fan or open a window for good ventilation. 

Amazing Salt Dough Ornament Ideas

If this is your first time trying a salt dough recipe, you may want to look for some inspiration. Here are some excellent salt dough ideas you must try:  

Handprint Keepsakes – It’s perfect for kids or family projects to capture great moments in time.  

Pet Paw Prints – This is a sweet way for you to commemorate your furry friend.  

Holiday Ornaments – Shape rounds, stars, trees, hearts, socks, snowflakes, and candy sticks are some favorite choices of many people for the coming Christmas. 

Nature Imprints – You can press leaves, flowers, or shells into the dough to have unique textures on it.

Letter & Number Shapes – These shapes are great for educational purposes or home decor.  

Pendants – Round, oval, and heart are the most common shapes that you can try.

Tips To Preserve Finished Salt Dough Ornaments

For long-lasting salt dough ornaments, seal them properly with a clear acrylic sealant, sealer, or varnish to prevent moisture, and chipping as well as achieve a glossy finish. Store them in a cool, dry place and away from humidity, since it may weaken the dough over time. While salt dough is generally durable, it can be fragile if dropped. Padded storage containers will further protect the ornaments and keep them intact.

Tips To Preserve Left-over Dough

If you happen to have some leftover salt dough, don’t throw it away! You can wrap it closely with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container to keep it from drying out. The wrapped dough can last in the fridge for up to 3 days. Then, let it come to room temperature and slightly knead before use. For long-term storage, you need to freeze the dough. Thaw the freezer dough in the refrigerator overnight and then knead it well to regain its texture when needed.

Recommended Tools To Make Salt Dough

Great tools will help you have awesome salt dough ornaments. That’s why we are providing you with some suggestions of tools to best support you in salt dough crafting. 

Best Cutter For Salt Dough Recipe

Wilton Christmas Shapes Metal 18-piece Cutter Set

Wilton Christmas Shapes Metal 18-Piece Cutter Set

Photo credit: Amazon

Product Information

  • Brand: Wilton
  • Material: Steel
  • Theme: Christmas Shapes 
  • Quantity: 18 pieces

Amazon

$12.49

Pros

  • Various Christmas-themed shapes
  • Sturdy material and design 
  • Include a convenient storage container  
  • Comes with a recipe for roll-out dough  
  • Affordable price

Cons

  • May go rust if not dried thoroughly  
  • Sizes may be small for some people

Why We Love It

This is a playful Wilton Christmas Shapes Metal 18-piece Cutter Set in various shapes for Christmas. Each cutter is roughly 3 inches tall, firm enough to hold its shape well while cutting through dough with ease. The product comes with a reusable plastic storage container, which is convenient to keep the cutters organized and ready for use.

One of the highlights is the enormous variety of festive shapes, such as a Christmas tree, reindeer, snowman, star, gingerbread man, and many more. It makes for a great gift for kids and novices in baking and crafts. Even better, it comes with a roll-out cookie dough recipe that simplifies the process for beginners. However, some users reported that the cutters may rust if you don’t dry them carefully after washing. They may also be a little small for those who prefer larger shapes. 


Best Dinosaur Cutter For Making Salt Dough

Lubtosmn Dinosaur Cookie Cutter Set

Photo credit: Amazon

Product Information

  • Brand: Lubtosmn
  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Theme: Dinosaur
  • Quantity: 7 pieces

Amazon

$13.99

Pros

  • Made of stainless steel, sturdy & well-constructed
  • Distinct & adorable dinosaur shapes
  • Easy to clean with minor effort 
  • Multi-functional, suitable for salt dough craft & cakes

Cons

  • Dough may stick to the metal joints

Why We Love It

The Lubtosmn Dinosaur Cookie Cutter Set is a fun and versatile addition to your crafting collection. These cutters are made from food-grade stainless steel, thus they are durable, safe, and resistant to rust for long-lasting use. This set includes 7 adorable dinosaur shapes with a depth of 1 inch and easy-to-handle sizes, about 3.5″ x 3″ in size, making them very easy to use by both kids and adults. 

Besides homemade salt dough, you also can use these cute dinosaur cutters for clay modeling, cutting cookies, pancakes, sandwiches, fondant, soft fruits, and bread. It is also very easy to clean with minimal effort as you can utilize a toothpick for the tight spots. However, dough might stick in the metal joints, and you need to be careful when cleaning them.


Best Acrylic Paint Color For Salt Dough Craft

Caliart Acrylic Paint Color & Brushes Set

Caliart Acrylic Paint Color &Amp; Brushes Set

Photo credit: Amazon

Product Information

  • Brand: Caliart
  • Paint Type: Acrylic
  • Finish Type: Metallic
  • Quantity: 12 brushes & 24 colors

Amazon

$27.61

Pros

  • Wide range of 24 vibrant colors  
  • Non-toxic paint & safe for kids 
  • Work on multiple surfaces, including salt dough  
  • Affordable price with great value
  • Convenient storage box with 12 brushes 

Cons

  • Brushes may not be highly durable  
  • Some colors may need multiple coats for the desired opacity

Why We Love It

You can’t lack paint color in your salt dough ornament recipe. This Caliart Acrylic Paint Color & Brushes Set is a great starter for both beginners and experienced artists. With 12 brushes and 24 vibrant colors, the paints go on smoothly, dry fast, and have rich pigmentation for consistent and high-quality results. The creamy consistency makes them ideal to work on a wide variety of surfaces such as paper, stone, ceramics, metal, wood, and canvas, offering unlimited creative possibilities.

The non-toxic, water-based formula guarantees safety for artists of any age, even kids. Customers appreciate the ease of use, the bright colors, and the affordable price. While the paints are generally good, some users have noted that their brushes may not be as durable or professional-grade as expected.


Best Washable Paint Color For Salt Dough Craft

Colorations Tempera Washable Paints For Crafts & Arts

Colorations Tempera Washable Paints For Crafts &Amp; Arts

Photo credit: Amazon

Product Information

  • Brand: Colorations
  • Paint Type: Tempera
  • Finish Type: Matte
  • Quantity: 11 colors
  • Special Feature: Washable

Amazon

$43.54

Pros

  • 11 Vibrant & bold colors in large quantities  
  • Washable formula paint 
  • Allergen-free and safe for kids
  • Durable matte finish

Cons

  • Can leave stains on the skin & requires effort to clean

Why We Love It

The Colorations Tempera Washable Paints For Crafts & Arts will let your child go creative. This set comes in large 16 oz bottles with 11 different colors, which is suitable for various projects, from decorating salt dough to fun classroom activities.

The standout feature of Colorations paint is that it is washable on most surfaces. That means the kids can enjoy painting without worrying about permanent stains. Moreover, the paint has an allergen-free composition, according to ASTM-D4236 and AP standards, which means that it’s safe for your child. While the paints are advertised as washable, some customers say that these paints may stain skin and require scrubbing. Therefore it is not ideal for toddlers who prefer painting with their fingers.


Best Kid-sized Rolling Pin To Make Salt Dough

Woodpeckers Mini Wooden Rolling Pins (Pack of 6)

Woodpeckers Mini Wooden Rolling Pin

Photo credit: Amazon

Product Information

  • Brand: Woodpeckers
  • Material: Birch
  • Size: 5 inch
  • Quantity: Pack of 6
  • Item Weight: 13.61 g

Amazon

$9.99

Pros

  • Mini size ideal for kids
  • Made of nature birch wood 
  • Smooth surface, perfect for crafting 
  • Suitable for baking and decorative uses  
  • Very reasonable price

Cons

  • Requires varnishing or sealing before using

Why We Love It

These Woodpeckers Mini Wooden Rolling Pins are made of high-quality birch wood and are ideal for creative DIY projects. Sanded surfaces are safe and perfect for children to handle. Although the pins are 5-inch size, they are just perfect for rolling out salt dough, pizza crusts, and even tortillas. These rolling pins are very sturdy and look pretty, making them perfect for any sensory play or air-dry clay projects at school.

Since the rolling pins are made of unfinished wood, they do need to be varnished or sealed before use with food or playdough. Thus, this could be an extra step for some users. 


Best All-Purpose Flour For Salt Dough Recipe

365 Whole Foods Market All-Purpose Flour

365 Whole Foods Market All-Purpose Flour

Photo credit: Amazon

Product Information

  • Brand: 365 by Whole Foods Market
  • Diet Type: Vegan & Kosher 
  • Ingredients: Enriched & unbleached wheat flour
  • Item Weight: 5 pounds

Amazon

$4.49

Pros

  • Excellent choice for salt dough & baked goods.  
  • High-quality texture &flavor.  
  • Affordable with eco-friendly paper bag
  • GMO-Free & Kosher certified

Cons

  • Packaging could be improved

Why We Love It

The 365 Whole Foods Market All-Purpose Flour is a versatile, high-quality choice for both home bakers and the recipe for salt dough. This unbleached and enriched flour gives the right consistency a variety of recipes call for. The best part is that this product has an extra reasonable price to make salt dough, which is also ideal for bread, pancakes, biscuits, and other baked goods.

The highlight feature of 365 all-purpose flour is that it is unbleached and enriched. Therefore, it maintains the natural quality of wheat while providing essential vitamins and minerals and is suitable for those with a Kosher diet. The only drawback is that the packaging can be prone to leakage and make a mess.


Bottom Line

So, you can see the salt dough recipe is super easy and fun to join. You just need all-purpose flour, salt, water, and some basic tools to start this activity. It is great and meaningful if you can make a keepsake or ornament on your own and give it to your loved one. This kind of gift is adorable and will last for years to come. It’s time for you to gather your ingredients and let your creativity run wild.

The Salt Dough Recipe Has Just Only 3 Ingredients

Salt Dough Recipe

Extra Easy Salt Dough Recipe with only 3 ingredients! You can have your kids and the whole family enjoy this fun and interesting craft activity! Don't forget to prepare many colors and brushes to decorate your creations.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
20 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 40 minutes
Course ornament
Cuisine American
Servings 15 pieces

Equipment

  • 1 Mixing bowl – To mix the ingredients.
  • 1 Spatula/Wooden spoon – To combine & stir the ingredients.
  • 1 Rolling Pin – For rolling out the salt dough.
  • 1 Cookie Cutter – To shape the dough.
  • 1 Oven – For baking the salt dough.
  • 1 Baking sheet – For baking the salt dough.
  • 1 Paint tool – To paint the ornaments after baking.
  • 1 Toothpick, skewer, lollipop stick, or straw (optional) – To create hanging holes in ornaments.
  • 1 Threading ribbon or twine (optional) – To hang the ornaments.
  • 1 Glitter & sealant (optional) – For a beautiful & lasting finish.

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups All-purpose flour/ Plain flour
  • 1 cup Table Salt
  • 1 cup Tap Water

Instructions
 

  • Step 1: Preheat The Oven
    Preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C). Don’t forget to line a baking sheet with parchment.
    You Need To Preheat The Oven To 250°F Or 120°C
  • Step 2: Make the Dough
    In a large mixing bowl, put all the all-purpose flour and salt together. Then, use the spoon to stir them together until evenly distributed. Then, gradually add the warm water to the dry mixture, stirring constantly until it begins to form a ball.
    Mix All The Ingredients In A Large Mixing Bowl
  • Step 3: Knead the Dough
    Once the mixture comes together in a shaggy ball, place it onto a flat surface and knead the dough with your hand for about 5–10 minutes. You can stop when the dough becomes smooth, elastic, and not sticky. If it is dry, you can add a teaspoon of water at a time. If the salt dough is too sticky, try adding more flour.
    Knead The Salt Dough With Your Hands For 5-10 Minutes
  • Step 4: Roll Out the Dough
    Use a rolling pin and roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thickness. This is a perfect thickness for any of your desirable shapes.
    Roll Out The Dough To About ¼ Inch Thickness
  • Step 5: Cut Your Shapes
    Use cookie cutters of your favorite to cut out desired shapes. For ornaments, use a toothpick or straw to poke a hole at the top for threading ribbon or twine later.
    Use Cookie Cutters To Get Your Desired Shape Ornaments
  • Step 6: Bake the Dough
    Transfer the shapes to a baking sheet. Bake for about 3 hours and don't forget to flip halfway through. The ornaments should be hard and dry after the time. The baking time will vary based on the thickness, so you need to keep an eye on your salt dough ornaments.
    Let the baked ornaments cool entirely before painting. Then you can decorate your salt dough items with paint and glitter.
    Bake The Salt Dough Ornaments For About 3 Hours Until They Get Hard
Keyword salt dough recipe

Olivia

Olivia

I'm a passionate chef and baker with over 15 years of baking experience. With my dedication and persistence in research and creativity, you can trust that every recipe I present is a masterpiece

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