The Best Salt Dough (for Ornaments and Crafting!) to Make with the Kids

The Best Salt Dough (for Ornaments and Crafting!) to Make with the Kids

Learn exactly how to mix, roll, bake, and decorate salt dough with your kids, plus how to seal and store your finished pieces so they last for years — it's one of the easiest, most budget-friendly kid-made gifts you can put together this season.

Salt Dough

Salt dough is one of those activities that feels like a rite of passage for little hands. I pull it out for holiday ornaments, but honestly, we make it any time we want a rainy-afternoon project — sometimes it's handprint keepsakes, sometimes it's just letting the kids press cookie cutters into flat little shapes and call them art. It's messy in the best way, and every batch turns into something different depending on who's at the table.

Salt Dough Recipe

Making salt dough is about as simple as kitchen crafts get — you're combining three pantry staples into a workable dough. Stick to the measurements and it's essentially foolproof, which makes it a great one to hand over too little helpers.

Ingredients in Salt Dough

  • Table salt
  • All-purpose flour
  • Water
TIP: Grab the cheapest store-brand flour you can find — this is a craft project, not a baking one, so there's no reason to spend more than you have to.

How to Make Salt Dough Step-by-Step

  1. Measure out the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. (photo 1)
  2. Add the water. (photo 2)
  3. Stir everything together with a wooden spoon. (photo 3)
  4. Keep stirring until the dough starts coming together and gets tough to stir. (photo 4)
  5. Turn it out and knead a few times by hand until it forms a smooth ball. (photo 5)
  6. Place the dough between two sheets of parchment paper and roll it out. (photo 6)
Head to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for exact measurements.
TIP: If you've got more than one kid crafting, split the dough into separate balls early on so everyone gets their own piece to roll and cut without any squabbling.

How to Cut Out, Bake and Decorate Salt Dough Ornaments

  1. Roll the dough out to about ¼-inch thick, turning it as you go. (photo 1)
  2. Press cookie cutters into the dough to stamp out shapes. (photo 2)
  3. Peel away the extra dough and transfer your shapes to a parchment-lined baking sheet. (photo 3)
  4. Poke a hole near the top of each piece if you plan to hang them. (photo 4)
  5. Press a small hand into the dough now if you're making a handprint keepsake. (photo 5)
  6. Bake, let cool completely, and decorate. (photo 6)
TIP: Don't toss the dough scraps — press them back together and re-roll for a few extra ornaments before you're done.

Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments

If you make just one thing with this dough, make a handprint keepsake — there's nothing quite like pulling out a tiny, dated handprint years later. It's a favorite for grandparent gifts, and it's one I look forward to every single year, even when it takes a few tries to get a clean print.
TIP: Hold your round cookie cutter up against your child's hand before you start rolling — you'll likely need something in the 4- to 5-inch range to fit the whole print comfortably.

Best Paint for Salt Dough Ornaments

Acrylic craft paint holds up the best on finished salt dough and gives the cleanest, most durable color, so it's my pick when kids are old enough to keep paint on the project instead of themselves. For younger toddlers who are bound to get more paint on their hands than the dough, washable tempera paint is the easier cleanup option.
TIP: Pour paint into the wells of an empty egg carton — it keeps colors separated and there's no extra dish to wash afterward.

How to Preserve Salt Dough Ornaments

Once your ornaments are fully cooled and dry, seal them with a coat or two of Mod Podge or a spray sealer to help them hold up over time. Do one side, let it dry completely, then flip and seal the other. If you're using a spray sealer, do it outside or in a well-ventilated space away from the kids.
TIP: For long-term storage between seasons, wrap each piece individually in bubble wrap and keep them in a sturdy container away from moisture.

Why Is My Salt Dough Puffing Up?

The most common culprit is accidentally grabbing self-rising flour instead of all-purpose — double-check your bag before you start. Occasionally pieces will puff a bit even with the right flour; if that keeps happening, try baking at a slightly lower temperature for a bit longer.

Tips for Making the Best Salt Dough Ornaments

  • If the dough feels sticky, knead in a little extra flour; if it's too stiff, work in a bit more water.
  • Different flours absorb liquid differently, so small adjustments are normal.
  • Use a paper lollipop stick or a skewer to poke your hanging holes.
  • Try to roll the dough to an even thickness so pieces bake at the same rate.
  • Bake for the recommended time, then check — if it still feels soft, give it more time.
  • Finished ornaments should feel firm all the way through with no give when pressed.
  • Let ornaments cool completely before you start painting.
  • On handprint ornaments, paint the background first, let it dry, then paint the handprint itself.
  • Tie on baker's twine or a thin ribbon once the sealer is fully dry, so pieces are ready to hang.
Location: United States

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