Does Christmas have a smell at your house? It does at mine.
It smells like pine, and balsam.
Like Vanilla and Cinnamon and all of the other wonderful spices used in holiday baking.
This year, in my kitchen, it smells like cinnamon...and applesauce...and ELMER's GLUE!!!
you might even say that they smell good enough to eat....but don't!
There are several different "recipe's" for these ornaments on the web but this is the one that I like the best
(it came from the Elmer's glue site):
- ½ cup + 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp. ground nutmeg
- 1 Tbsp. ground cloves
- ½ cup applesauce (this is the size of a single serving pack)
- 3 Tbsp. Elmer’s Glue-All
Be really careful with these...especially if you dry them on a cookie rack. Children of all ages will mistake them for real cookies....trust me.....
Even college kids...who will take a big bite...and chew for a minute before making a horrified face and spitting it into whatever is nearby...tissue, napkin, trash can....
I think that the paint must be a little tough to chew.....at least it's non-toxic...of course so is the glue...but I still wouldn't recommend eating it!
I find that it's safer to put ribbons through them as soon as is humanly possible..and them move them to the dining room table...on bubble wrap....
that seems to be a better visual aid or clue that they might not be edible!
Of course, hanging them on the tree also helps....
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, mix cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Add applesauce and glue. Work mixture with hands for 2-3 minutes, until dough is smooth. Divide into 4 portions. Roll out each portion to 1/4" thickness. Cut dough with cookie cutters and make a small hole in the top of each with a toothpick (I use a straw). Place cutouts on a wire rack to dry at room temperature for several days, turning once each day for even drying. When dry, thread string or ribbon through the hole in each ornament. You can also use whole cloves as decoration and for additional scent. Makes about 32 ornaments, depending upon size.NOTE: These are NOT edible.
Information and alternatives:
- It's helpful if you roll the dough out on a mat or a piece of parchment paper which has been sprinkled with a little cinnamon
- The dough should be smooth and slightly damp. If it's too dry, add more applesauce, too wet, add more cinnamon.
- I decorate my cookies using white acrylic "puffy paint" that is made for decorating T-shirts. you can also use small beads, regular paint, and clear crystals to look like "sugar".
They smell wonderful, make great tags for home baked goods and are a cute idea for a "take home" gift if you're hosting a cookie exchange!
If you'd like to see more of the tree, go here
Happy Holidays!
xo,
S
