Learn how to make classic salt dough with the kids, with baking, painting, and storage info.
Add 4 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt, and 1.5 cups water to a large bowl. Mix the ingredients together using a wooden spoon.
When it becomes too stiff to stir, use clean hands to bring the dough together. NOTE: If the dough is too wet and sticky, knead in more flour, about 1 T at a time.
If it's too stiff, add more water, about 1 T at a time. There is a big range in the way different flours absorb liquid, so there is a normal range of variation here.
Divide dough into 2 or 4 sections and roll out to about 1/4-½ inch thick between two sheets of parchment paper. This will help prevent sticking.
Cut out with cookie cutters. Transfer shapes to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat rolling and cutting out shapes to use up the dough.
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Use a lollipop stick to poke a hole in any you plan to hang as ornaments.
Do a 4-5-inch circle and press in a child's handprint if desired. If making ornaments, bake for 90 minutes to 2 hours; if baking handprints, bake for 2-3 hours.
Continue baking both ornaments and handprints as needed until they are until just firm to the touch, checking every 20 minutes.
Remove from oven, let cool, and paint if desired with acrylic or washable tempera paint. Once paint is completely dry, seal with Mod Podge if desired.
– Tie on baker's twine or thin ribbon to hang as ornaments. – Try to get the dough to an even thickness before baking so the ornaments bake evenly.