Cinnamon Ornaments: Irresistibly cheesy, perfectly charred.

A Kitchen Full of Smells

Making these ornaments fills your whole house with smell. It smells like Christmas morning and gingerbread cookies. I still smile when I get a whiff.

That is the magic of cinnamon and cloves. They are warm and happy smells. Doesn’t that smell amazing? This matters because good smells can make a heart feel light.

A Little Story From My Kitchen

My grandson once tried to eat one. He thought it was a cookie! I still laugh at that. He learned that not everything that smells good is for eating.

That is why we use glue in the dough. It makes the ornaments hard and last for years. Have you ever mistaken a decoration for food? I would love to hear your story.

Let’s Make Some Dough

Get a medium-sized bowl. Put in the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Stir them up with a spoon until they are one color.

Now, add the applesauce and the white glue. Time to use your hands! Mix and squeeze until it feels like clay. This is the fun part.

Shaping Your Memories

Roll the dough flat on a table. Use your favorite cookie cutters. Stars, trees, and bells are my go-to shapes.

Poke a hole at the top with a straw. This is for your ribbon later. Lifting them with a spatula keeps them from breaking.

The Slow Warmth of the Oven

The oven needs to be very low, just 200 degrees. They will bake for a long time. Two or three hours, until they are hard.

This slow baking matters. It makes them strong. It fills your home with that cozy smell for hours. What is your favorite holiday smell? Is it cinnamon like mine?

A Gift From the Heart

Once they are cool, tie a ribbon through the hole. You can hang them on your tree. Or you can tie one to a present for a friend.

A handmade gift is special. It says you took time for someone. That is a wonderful feeling. Will you be giving any of your ornaments away this year?

Ingredients:

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Ground Cinnamon	1 cup
Ground Nutmeg	1 tbsp
Ground Cloves	1 tbsp
White All-Purpose Glue	½ cup
Applesauce	¾ cup

Making Cinnamon Ornaments with Grandma Anna

Hello, my dear! Come sit with me in the kitchen. The air is full of spice today. We are making cinnamon ornaments for the tree. They make your whole house smell like Christmas morning.

My own grandma taught me this recipe long ago. I still laugh at that. I got more dough on my apron than on the table. But the fun is in the making. Let’s create some sweet-smelling memories together.

• Step 1: Get a medium-sized bowl. Pour in your cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Doesn’t that smell amazing? Stir them all together with a spoon. You want the spices to be best friends. This is the secret to a wonderful scent.
• Step 2: Now, add the applesauce and white glue. The glue holds everything together. The applesauce makes it smell even better. Mix it all up with your spoon at first. It will look a bit messy. That is perfectly okay.
• Step 3: Time to use your hands! Squish and knead the dough. You want it to feel like soft clay. If it’s too sticky, add a tiny bit more cinnamon. (My hard-learned tip: Wash your hands right after. That glue can be tricky!).
• Step 4: Roll the dough out on the table. Make it about a quarter-inch thick. That’s like the thickness of two pencils. Use your favorite cookie cutters to make shapes. I love stars and little trees. What’s your favorite shape? Share below!
• Step 5: Poke a hole at the top of each shape. A straw works perfectly for this. This is for your ribbon later. Carefully lift them with a spatula. Place them on a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Step 6: Now, we need patience. Bake them at 200 degrees for a few hours. They need to become hard and dry. Your house will smell like a cozy bakery. Let them cool completely before you touch them.
• Step 7: The final touch! Thread a pretty ribbon through each hole. Tie a nice, strong bow. Now you can hang them on your tree. Or tie one to a special gift for a friend.

Cook Time: 2–3 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Yield: About 12 ornaments, depending on size
Category: Craft, Holiday

Your Creative Twists

Once you know the basics, you can get creative. I love adding little personal touches. It makes each ornament a tiny piece of art. Here are a few fun ideas for you to try.

• Sparkly Snowflakes: Press the dough into glitter before baking. They will twinkle on your tree.
• Orange Spice: Add a teaspoon of orange zest to the dough. It smells like Christmas citrus.
• Vanilla Dreams: Mix in a teaspoon of vanilla extract. It makes the scent even sweeter and warmer.

Which one would you try first? Comment below! I always love hearing your clever ideas.

Serving & Savoring Your Creations

These ornaments are not for eating, of course! But they are for enjoying. I like to tuck them in with my sweaters. They make my clothes smell lovely all season long. You can also hang one in your car.

While you craft, you need a good drink. A warm cup of spiced apple cider is perfect. For the grown-ups, a little mulled wine pairs nicely. Which would you choose tonight? I think I’ll have the cider, with an extra cinnamon stick.

Keeping Your Cinnamon Ornaments Perfect

These ornaments are not for eating. They are for making your home smell wonderful. Store them in a cool, dry place when not hanging up.

I keep mine in a cardboard box with tissue paper. This keeps them safe from dust and moisture. I made a big batch for my whole family last year.

I remember my first batch. I left some in a damp basement. They got a little soft, so I learned my lesson. Storing them right means they last for many Christmases.

This matters because these little ornaments hold memories. Taking good care of them lets you enjoy the smell year after year. Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!

Fixing Common Cinnamon Ornament Troubles

Sometimes the dough can be too sticky. Just add a tiny bit more cinnamon. Knead it in until the dough feels like clay.

If your shapes break when you move them, the dough is too dry. I remember this happening to my first star. Mix in a teaspoon of applesauce to fix it.

Are they taking forever to dry? Make sure you rolled the dough thin enough. Thick ornaments take much longer to harden in the oven.

Fixing these small issues builds your confidence. It also makes your final ornaments look beautiful. Which of these problems have you run into before?

Your Cinnamon Ornament Questions Answered

Q: Can I make these gluten-free?
A: Yes! This recipe is naturally gluten-free. The glue and spices contain no gluten.

Q: Can I make the dough ahead?
A: You can make it a day before. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. This keeps it from drying out.

Q: What if I don’t have cloves?
A: You can use all cinnamon. The smell will just be a little different. Fun fact: cinnamon comes from the bark of a tree!

Q: Can I double the recipe?
A: Absolutely. This is a great recipe for making a big batch with friends.

Q: Any other tips?
A: You can add a little glitter before they dry. It makes them extra sparkly. Which tip will you try first?

A Little Note From My Kitchen

I hope you have so much fun making these. The smell will fill your house with joy. It is one of my favorite holiday traditions.

I would love to see your creations. Your tree will look so pretty with your handmade ornaments. Have you tried this recipe? Tag us on Pinterest!

Thank you for spending this time with me. I hope your season is filled with warmth and good smells.

Happy cooking!
—Anna Whitmore.