Create beautiful Christmas decorations with a salt and flour dough! It's easy and fun, just follow the steps described in this guide. It can be a fun idea to keep the kids entertained too! This article contains all the instructions you need to create wonderful Christmas decorations by baking the dough in the microwave or in the oven.
Ingrediants
- Oil (to taste for the hands)
- 4 Cups of flour
- 1 and a half cups of water
- 1 cup of salt
- Food colors
Enough quantity for a dozen cookies
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Making the Dough
Step 1. Rub some oil on your hands
In this way, the dough will become more and more resistant during processing.
Step 2. Combine the flour, water and salt
For best results, knead with your hands. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes.
Step 3. Roll out the dough onto a floured surface
The dough should be about half a centimeter thick. If it is too thick, it will take a long time to dry and it could be soft even after cooking; if it were too thin it could crack, breaking easily.
Step 4. Cut the cookies with the molds
The decorations in the shape of reindeer, elves, stars, snowflakes, Christmas trees, birds or angels are perfect for the Christmas atmosphere.
Alternatively, let the children draw whatever shapes they like. These decorations do not necessarily have to have precise and articulated lines. Let your imagination go by creating unique pieces
Step 5. Insert a thick needle into the top of the cookie, making a hole for hanging the decoration
The hole must be at least 3mm away from the edge.
Step 6. Move the cookies to a baking sheet or microwave plate, depending on the cooking method you choose
Method 2 of 4: Bake in the Oven
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 150 ° C before starting to knead
Step 2. When the oven is ready, cut the cookies and let them bake for 30 minutes
Then, wait for them to cool.
Step 3. Spread the plastic wrap or parchment paper on the table or flat surface
This way, you will avoid dirtying the kitchen while you color the decorations.
Step 4. Paint the cookies with gouache paints
Decorate them until you are satisfied, then spray a layer of clear polyurethane spray on both sides to keep them better.
These decorations are not edible. Do not ingest them for any reason
Step 5. Once dry, thread the string through the hole
Alternatively, use ribbon or thread to hang them.
Method 3 of 4: Microwave Cooking
Step 1. Spread the plastic wrap or parchment paper on the table or flat surface
This way, you will avoid dirtying the kitchen while you color the decorations.
Step 2. Pour 1/4 of the bottle of food color into 1 cup of water to paint the cookies
Alternatively, use gouache paints. The traditional colors of Christmas are green, red, silver, gold and deep blue.
Step 3. Paint the decorations with a regular or kitchen brush
To get a semi-transparent color, use a cotton swab. Decorate the cookies until you are satisfied.
Step 4. Place four cookies in the microwave at a time
Cook them for about 2 minutes at maximum power.
Step 5. Check the consistency of the dough
It should feel like a slightly damp sponge. If it already looks dry, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool.
Step 6. Microwave the cookies for another minute
Remove them from the oven and let them cool.
Step 7. Spray them with hairspray (strong hold) or use a thin layer of acrylic paint (such as Varathane) or decoupage paint
This way, you will add a nice shiny finish to your decorations.
Attention: Do not microwave decorations after applying lacquer or paint. They are flammable products that could cause a fire.
Step 8. Let the decorations dry overnight
Method 4 of 4: Decorating Ideas
Step 1. Add the silver sugar beads while the cookies are still fresh
You will give the decorations a nice sparkling touch because the beads will reflect the light.
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Sprinkle the devils, sprinkles or sugar beads on the cookies, then apply light pressure to make them stick to the dough.
Make Christmas Ornaments with Dough Step 20Bullet1
Step 2. You can use floss to create hair, a smiling mouth or other types of decorations
Lightly wet the floss before applying it to the biscuits: this will make it easier to shape and prevent it from darkening during cooking in the oven or in the microwave.
Step 3. Use pieces of dough to decorate the cookies
Take some coloring paste in different colors so you can use it to make eyes, mouths, shoes, buttons and so on. Use different colors to create a nice contrast.
Step 4. Use a needle to create contrasting textures by etching a series of marks or dots on the cookie
For example, you can make a checkered fabric, circles or simple wavy lines.
Step 5. Finished
Advice
- The pan or plate must be greased (with oil or a non-stick spray) to prevent the dough from sticking.
- Children love to work with dough, cut cookies with molds and decorate them, while the little ones love to roll out the dough. Let them help you, so they too have a chance to have fun!
- If you paint the cookies before drying them, you will get a greater contrast between the colors, especially if there are two or more tints.
- Be creative!
- Remember that lacquer, acrylic or decoupage paint will not make decorations last longer, but they do give them an additional aesthetic value. Also, do not bake the dough after using the lacquer or paint as they are flammable!
Warnings
- Do not put metal objects in the microwave.
- If swallowed, call your doctor right away if you have used food colors. If there are no toxic substances in the cookies, make sure your child gets plenty of fluids throughout the day, as the dough contains large amounts of salt.
- Do not ingest this mixture !!!
- This type of dough is not edible due to the high concentration of salt, especially if you use sprays or other toxic substances; however, ingesting a small amount is not dangerous. In any case, the flavor discourages the ingestion of large quantities.
- Adult supervision is recommended when using the microwave.
- Do not place the dough on newsprint as it will get stained with ink.
