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By Wendi Wachtel
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Make this cornstarch dough recipe for handmade Christmas ornaments. Remember using salt dough as a kid? Think of these cornstarch dough Christmas ornaments the grown up version of DIY home-made dough. I say grown up because it’s more versatile.
I’ve included an easy to make cornstarch dough recipe to share with you below. Cornstarch dough doesn’t stick to your fingers like salt dough does and it has a smoother finish You can even sand these handmade dough Christmas ornaments to soften the edges if needed. Looking for more ideas, check out the 102 Homemade Christmas Ornaments I collected from some of my favorite bloggers.
Geez, I can’t believe Thanksgiving has come and gone already. I took some time off from the North House and went home for a wonderful week of family time. We had a few hours to spare when the kids were getting ready to go to the airport to go home. My solution to keep things fun until the end? A DIY project of course! We made cornstarch dough Christmas ornaments together. We also made a batch of salt dough for ornaments too. Basically because I wanted to see which was easier to work with.
It was no contest. I liked the smoother consistency and the white color of the cornstarch dough a lot better. I also loved that it wasn’t sticky at all which meant I didn’t need to dust the pastry board with flour to keep it from sticking. Bottom line, it was a lot less messy which is good when there’s little kids and grandkids in the creative mix 🙂
Recipe For Corn Starch Dough Christmas Ornaments
I use affiliate links so you can easily find the products I used.
- 1 cups corn starch
- 2 cup baking soda
- 1 1/4 cups water
Supplies needed
- pastry mat
- parchment paper
- rolling pin
- cookie cutters – these Christmas ones are great and come with a rolling pin!
- skewer
Mix the ingredients in a saucepan over low heat and stir until dough forms. It will be the consistency of really thick icing and not sticky. Empty onto parchment paper knead a bit when cool enough to handle. It will be the consistency of Play Dough.
Let air dry or put in oven at 200 degrees for 4 – 6 hours. If drying the ornaments in the oven turn them over after a few hours. Depending on how thick they are they may be a little soft in the center. Let them finish air drying before painting them. You can also sand the ornaments to soften the edges.
Sand Dollar Cornstarch Dough Christmas Ornaments
Sand dollar Christmas ornament are easy to make. Roll a ball about a 1″ to 1 1/2″ in your hands. Flatten the ball out on a pastry mat or parchment paper. Take a plastic knife or something similar and press 5 sections in the middle. Use the handle end of the knife to push in a few edges on the outside. Use a skewer or toothpick to poke a hole for hanging.
Cookie Cutter Cornstarch Dough Christmas Ornaments
Roll dough into a ball with your hands. Flatten it onto a pastry mat. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough about 1/4″ thick. Press cookie cutters into the dough. Carefully take the excess dough away. Use a spatula or thin piece of cardboard to lift the dough ornaments onto a baking sheet to air dry or bake. This dough is perfect for using cookie cutters, it doesn’t stick and it’s firm enough to hold it’s shape. It’s also easy to reuse the leftover dough around the cookie cutter without needing to re-flour a surface.
We made these in Florida and they traveled back to VT with me to finish this post. You know I couldn’t resist photographing my cornstarch dough Christmas ornaments in real snow for you guys!
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Do you remember making dough Christmas ornaments as a kid too? What were your favorite ones to make? Leave me a comment below!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Renee says
Could you add cinnamon to this dough to give it an aromatic without compromising the consistency?
Wendi Wachtel says
Hi Rene,
Thats a good question! I think the scent wouldn’t stay long and it would change the color of the dough. What may work is using essential oils though. I’d try that and see how it does. Plus, you can always freshen it up with a few more drops if needed.
Thanks so much for your note and visit!
Michelle says
I am hoping it isn’t to late to ask a question regaurdibg this. I have never made this dough before but I am wondering since you say it doesn’t stick if you think it is something I could stick in a pizzelle iron to make an ornament with. I love the pattern but don’t really know how else to try to replicate it, or do you think it would be easier to just make the cookie and then press it into the dough for a reverse imprint?.
Wendi Wachtel says
Hi Michelle!
That’s a good question. I think it would be easier to make the cookie and maybe even overcook it or let it become stale first. Then maybe coat it with clear sealer like a clear spray paint and then use it to stamp the dough. You might try it without the sealer too. Have fun!
handmade by amalia says
These look like a lot of fun to make.
Amalia
xoWendi says
Hi Amalia! They were a lot of fun ad simple too which is the best type of DIY during the crazy busy holiday season. I’m sure you’d do something special with them & make great ornaments 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by & Happy Holidays!
Definitely pinning this recipe to try next year when that Grandbaby of mine will be old enough to make them with me. Glad you got a break from the north house with your family in Florida. Can’t wait to see all the projects you’ve been so busy working on!
Wendi says
Hi Marie! Oh my gosh, you will have so much fun with him making these. The cornstarch dough was much easier to work with and a lot less messy. We even made a handprint ornament which is my favorite of all that we created together:) I’m ready to start sharing the projects I’ve been working on too! It’s been DIY crazy here!
I just finished making salt dough ornaments and managed to burn them to a crisp Wendi. Not that it stopped me from painting them and hanging them on the tree. Haha! I am so glad you have given me an alternative here. I’ll be pinning this to try out for next year.
Wendi says
Hi Mary… That’s too funny 🙂 Paint is like magic elixir, it works for everything! I’m sure your ornaments look fabulous and it’s even better that they gave you a good laugh! Thanks for pinning this recipe, you’ll love using the cornstarch dough. I was surprised by how easy it is to make and how easy it is to use! Thanks so much for your visit!
Patty says
I love these sand dollars, so cute, this is something my granddaughter would love to do with me. We usually make ornaments every year and we have so much fun. This will be perfect. Thanks Wendi, your the best.
Wendi says
Hi Patty! I’m SO happy you’ll be able to use this recipe! It’s perfect for grandkid projects no matter what the age group. Especially because it’s quick, easy and really inexpensive to make. Share a picture of your ornaments when you make them. I hope you’re enjoying the season!
Christina in FL says
Good morning Wendi! Great tutorial and recipe because I had never heard of using corn starch! Brilliant. I’ll get on this when I get home today. 🙂 Thanks so much!
Wendi says
Hi Christina! I hope you had as much fun with this recipe as we did. I have so many ideas for making projects using the dough now. Holiday and not! Thank YOU for your visit and of course sweet note. Happy Holidays!
