Salt dough isn’t just for kid’s handprint ornaments! I’ll show you how to make a wreath out of a gingerbread version of salt dough that’s truly adorable!!
Thrifty Style Team Monthly
Every month the Thrifty Style Team brings you great thrifty decorating and styling ideas. This month the team is all about Christmas!! Wait until you see all the good ideas they have cooked up this month; I have all the links at the end of my gingerbread wreath tutorial.
gingerbread salt dough recipe
- 2 cup flour
- 1 cup salt
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup cinnamon (I bought the cheapest one at Walmart) The more cinnamon the darker the “cookies” will be. You can even up the cinnamon to 3/4 cup if you want very dark ornaments.
- 1 ½ cups really hot water
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Make The Gingerbread Salt Dough
Mix the dry ingredients together, then pour the hot water in and stir well. Knead the dough until it is thoroughly combined and smooth.
I rolled out the dough on a silicone mat until it was about 1/4 inch thick before cutting out the gingerbread man shapes. I used this 2 piece gingerbread man set that I grabbed at Walmart for this wreath, it has a normal and a small cookie cutter (it’s in the holiday baking aisle).
Bake at 250° for 2 hours, turn the cutouts after 1 hour to speed up the drying process.
You can see a step-by-step tutorial on my How To Make Gingerbread Salt Dough Ornaments post from last Christmas.
I’m using the large gingerbread men to make ornaments. The medium and small ones are what I’m using to make this gingerbread wreath.
Decorating The Gingerbread Salt Dough
Once the salt dough was cooled it was time to decorate them.
I used red and white puffy paint. It’s so easy to use and you can pipe it on and it looks like icing.
The base of this wreath is one of those bamboo wreath forms from the Dollar Tree (it’s around 10″). I used 9 of the larger gingerbreads and 8 of the mini ones. I left an empty space at the top so I could add a ribbon for hanging.
Making The Gingerbread Wreath
I used my hot glue gun to attach the “cookies” to the wreath base. I used a pretty generous amount of the glue on the back of the gingerbread men and then held them onto the wreath to let the glue set up.
I glued on 2 of the larger gingerbread men and then nestled a mini one in between them.
I left a space at the top of the wreath so I could add a length of ribbon for hanging.
To make the hanger I tied a piece of narrow red ribbon around the top leaving a long enough loop for hanging. Then I tied a bow around the red ribbon using a thicker red gingham. Both ribbons are from Walmart…out with the Christmas wrapping paper and boxes… $2.58 a roll!
Finished Gingerbread Salt Dough Wreath
Isn’t it adorable??!! It’s perfect for my red and white kitchen Christmas decorations this year!!
100’s of holiday ideas in the bloggers’ 10 days of Christmas!!
Now Please Go Check Out What The Rest Of The Team Is Sharing Today!
Redhead Can Decorate – Fresh Pine Christmas Centerpiece
Our Crafty Mom – DIY Christmas Cone Trees
I Should Be Mopping The Floor –Free Retro Santa Printables
DIY Beautify – Chippy White Spindle Christmas Tree
2 Bees In A Pod – DIY Christmas Matchbox – Perfect Gift
The How To Home – How to Dress Up a Cheap Poinsettia Plant so it Looks Expensive
Postcards From The Ridge – Festive Christmas Table Decorations That Anyone Can Do
Vinyet Etc. – Create Holiday Magic – Have yourself a Vintage little Christmas!
Sweet Pea – Painted Christmas Stocking
Lora B. Create & Ponder – Scrabble Holiday Art How To
The Tattered Pew –How To Make An Ivy Topiary From a Wire Hanger
Cottage On Bunker Hill – Make a Wreath Out of Gingerbread Salt Dough
Goodness, this is ADORABLE, Jennifer! And that puffy paint DOES look like icing. What a perfect wreath for the season. Merry, merry Christmas! xoxo
It really does look like icing!! I had to cover the tray up while they were drying because I was afraid my boys would try and take a bite…and break their teeth!!
That wreath is adorable Jennifer!! I’ve made salt dough projects before but never with cinnamon!! Brilliant! Pinning 🙂
It looks like gingerbread!! Make them next year!! Merry Christmas friend!!
Jennifer, this is such an adorable wreath! I’ve actually never made any salt dough ornaments and am putting this on my to do list. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!
Merry Christmas Angie!! Thanks, I think it came out cute!!
Jennifer,
This is just adorable and I’d like to share a link on my Sunday, Dirt Road Adventures. Have a bless Christmas.
Thank you, friend!! Merry Christmas!!
Your wreath is the cutest…but now I want cookies! I made a salt map of the state of Maine when I was is 2nd grade. I wonder if it’s the same idea. Merry Christmas, Jen!!
Are you from Maine??
So adorable! Yes, love Walmart’s ribbon section; always have to pick up a “few” options;)
Thanks Lora!! I was at Walmart early this morning…I had to stop myself from getting more of that shimmery gingham!!
Such a cheerful wreath! I love it and I have never heard of gingerbread salt dough. I’ll have to add this to my list of crafts to try.
OMG Jennifer, this is so cute! We have never made gingerbread salt dough before. Can’t wait to give this a try! Thanks for the introduction – and tutorial. Have a very Merry Christmas, friend!
I love your gingerbread man wreath so much and it is wonderful that you will be able to enjoy it for years to come.
Thanks Paula…I think it came out so cute!!!