Toddler Activities: Easter Salt Dough Ornaments Using Copper Mold and Cutters
Toddler Activities: Salt Dough Ornaments for Easter
DESCRIPTION
This is a wonderful toddler activity. Using cookie cutters and a copper mold you can make pretty patterns for
your child to color.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup salt
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon Alum (optional)
3/4 cup cold tap water water
Crayons
MATERIALS
Crayons
Cookie Cutters
Copper Mold
Medium Bowl
Rolling Pin
Straw to make hole in ornament
Floured surface to work on
Generously floured cookie sheet to bake cookies on
Ribbon to attach to ornament so it can be hung or tied to gift
Gloves to keep food coloring off of hands
STEPS
In a medium bowl, place all dry ingredients and mix to blend dry ingredients thoroughly.. - Add food coloring to half the amount of water (start with 8-10 drops) If the color is what you want, add the rest of the water and mix.
If you want the color darker, add more food colouring to the remaining water and mix.
- Add water to the dry mixture and mix with hands. Use gloves if you don't want the color on your hands.
If the dough is sticky add more flour and if it is too dry add a little more water. The dough should be nice and smooth and
will not separate when it is kneaded properly. Roll out a quarter of the dough on a floured surface. Roll the dough as close to 1/4 inch as possible. Press the dough into a floured copper mold. Cut with a cookie cutter and while the cookie cutter is in place, use a straw to punch a hole in the cookie so you can later attach a ribbon. Prepare cookie sheet with a generous layer of flour Place the cookies on the floured baking sheet and bake in warm oven below 200 degrees, most ovens have a warm setting for 2 to 3 hours.
(Parent step only!) Remove from oven, turn over and return to oven. Repeat at least 3 times. Turn off oven and let cookies remain inside until cool. After the cookies are dry, brush off excess flour decorate with crayons and tie with ribbon.
This baking process allows the cookies to dry slowly, if the oven is too hot they will start to brown and salt dough should be as white as
possible for the prettiest results.
TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS
This toddler activity is best done in two days. The first day make the dough, cut it out and bake. On the second day decorate and display.
Don't make the dough in advance or use leftover dough.
Alum is optional. Alum is an astringent that aids in binding the ingredients.
Cookies larger that 2 1/4 inches may not dry flat. If you are experiencing this, allow the cookies to dry at room
temperature for 24 hours on a floured cookie sheet, then continue to dry out in warm oven. Most average size cookies are dry in 24 hours.
OTHER SALT DOUGH DESIGN VARIATIONS
EDUCATIONAL TIPS
Write or Print out the recipe for your toddler to follow along to help develop sequencing skills.
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Easter Salt Dough Rabbits Using Cookie Cutters
Easiest method of salt dough ornaments using just cookie cutters and crayons appropriate for even the youngest toddler to make.
