Christmas Crafting: Cinnamon Ornaments

I remember making cinnamon ornaments like these in preschool. Actually, Ms. Johnson probably made them for us and we scribbled on them with markers and took all the credit. I had that ornament for years and years and the smell never faded. It was puzzling how something that smelled so much like food and looked so much like food wasn't edible, but I was a naturally obedient child and never tried to take a bite. Since part of the fun of this time of year is getting all wrapped up in nostalgia, I decided to revisit cinnamon ornaments. They make a sweet, little homemade gift to pass around or attach to presents under the tree.

Cinnamon Ornaments
Adapted from Martha Stewart

1 cup ground cinnamon
1/4 cup applesauce
1/2 Elmers glue

In a medium bowl, mix together 1 cup ground cinnamon and 1/4 cup applesauce using a rubber spatula. Stir in 1/2 cup craft glue. Stir the dough until consistency is smooth and dry. Let stand 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Turn dough onto a cool, flat surface. Flatten with your hands, then flatten with a rolling pin to 1/4 inch thick. If dough becomes too dry, spritz with water. If it sticks to rolling pin or work surface, sprinkle with additional cinnamon. Use the cookie cutter of your choice, then use a straw to poke a hole in each ornament for string or ribbon to go through. Transfer ornaments to a baking sheet. Bake for approximately 2 hours, flipping ornaments over once halfway through. Makes about 20 ornaments.