Cinnamon Dough Hearts

Description

Valentine Hearts Made with Cinnamon Dough, A great hands on activity that your child will enjoy. Hang as an decorative piece, add to potpourri or embellish a gift as a tie on. However you choose to use these cinnamon pieces, it is something that will last for many years and retain that wonderful smell.
Free Printable Cinnamon Hearts Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup cinnamon
• 1 cup applesauce

Materials

• Cookie Molds or Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter
• Medium Bowl
• Waxed Paper or Parchment Paper
• Plastic Wrap
• Rolling pin
• Baking Sheet
• White Crayon
• Coffee stir straw or skewer to poke a hole for hanging
• Ribbon if hanging

Steps

• Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
• Place on cinnamon dusted surface and knead until well blended.
• Spoon out enough to make a ball about the size of a golf ball, flatten slightly and place on surface of cinnamon, flip it over and dust the other side.
• Place the rest of the cinnamon dough in plastic wrap.
• Prepare the mold by dusting it as well with the powdered cinnamon.
• Roll out the ball of dough until it covers the top of the mold, keep the dough thick.
• Place on top of the mold and with rolling pin and hands tap on the dough, pushing it into the mold.
• Flip the mold over and allow the cookie to fall out.
• Cut around the edge, the thickness of the cookie should be approximately 3/8".
• Punch a hole in the heart if you want to tie with a ribbon or hang it up for decoration and wonderful aroma.
• Place in a warm oven 200 degrees or less and allow to dry slowly for several hours, make sure it is drying on powdered cinnamon.
• Next allow to cool, dust off, and color with white crayon.

Tips and Suggestions

• If dough is too sticky add a little more cinnamon or if too dry add a little applesauce.
• If your dough did not come out of the mold, knead again and repeat. The dough needs to be a little stiffer. Molds can be deep and you will the entire pattern to show.
• If you don't have a mold, use a heart shaped cookie cutter and let your child draw their own design!
• If you have any dough left over, store it by placing it in plaster wrap. Surprisingly it will last for months and months. Perfect for that afternoon you are looking for a toddler activity.

Variation on the Recipe

• 1 Tablespoon Ground Cloves
• 1 Tablespoon Allspice

Note that adding the Ground cloves and Allspice may create a drier dough that is best used immediately. The original recipe can be stored in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for a very long time