Cinnamon Applesauce Heart Ornaments

Posted on | December 19, 2011 | 13 Comments

DSC0240 Cinnamon Applesauce Heart Ornaments

I’ve been brainstorming handmade crafts I could make with my nieces. When I was a kid we made these simple heart ornaments. Made of cinnamon and applesauce this craft is kid-friendly and fun for all ages.

I streamlined the recipe—omitted the glue—and stuck them in the oven to shorten the drying time.

What you’ll need:
1 cup of applesauce
1 1/2 cups cinnamon (look for a big containers at $1 stores, bulk stores or amazon.)
2 T cloves optional (grind with a spice grinder)
heart cookie cutters in different sizes
string for hanging (mine is from Studio Carta)

Mix 1 cup of applesauce with 1 cup of cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix, mix, mix. This is the kinda recipe you’ll need to use your hands to really incorporate the spices. Make sure you don’t miss any wet spots. Add the additional 1/2 cup of cinnamon, cloves and continue to incorporate. If it’s too wet add more cinnamon, too dry add more applesauce. But be patient. It takes time to mix so don’t add cinnamon or applesauce till you’re absolutely sure it’s well mixed.

Scatter some cinnamon (like if you were rolling out cookies with flour) and roll out applesauce/cinnamon dough to 1/4″ thick. If the dough is too wet it will make a huge mess and stick to your rolling pin.

Use your cookie cutters to cut out the hearts. I noticed the first time around my dough was too wet and the edges were straggly. Once I add more cinnamon the edges were clean.

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Place the hearts on a cookie sheet with a silpat. The hearts can be really close together but not touching; they won’t rise in the oven. Using a skewer carefully make a hole through each heart. Stick the ornaments in the oven for an hour or more. The juice from the applesauce needs to evaporate. The range in cooking time depends on your house, humidity and climate. My house is cold so I had them in for 1.5 hours and then I turned the oven off and left them to set overnight. They should be rock hard. If they’re not, give them some more time in the oven.

The next day loop a string through each of the holes to hang on the tree, string together to make a garland or attach to a package. Enjoy!

p.s. the hearts are not edible.

cutting out cinnamon hearts Cinnamon Applesauce Heart Ornaments
applesauce cinnamon heart ornaments Cinnamon Applesauce Heart Ornaments
cinnamon hearts in oven Cinnamon Applesauce Heart Ornaments

hearts on package Cinnamon Applesauce Heart Ornaments

Category: diy, holiday

Comments

13 Responses to “Cinnamon Applesauce Heart Ornaments”

Jane Flanagan
December 19th, 2011 @ 10:48 am
I love these! So sweet!
0 likes
erin
December 19th, 2011 @ 11:13 am
How long do they hold their scent?
0 likes
Katy Elliott
December 19th, 2011 @ 11:18 am
The scent will last through the season. If you packed them away for next year I’m sure they’ll have a trace of scent but nearly as strong.
0 likes
Suzanne
December 19th, 2011 @ 11:55 am
Mmmm! I can almost smell them through the screen. And they’re so cute!
0 likes
mopar
December 19th, 2011 @ 12:53 pm
No flour? Just cinnamon and applesauce? What a curious concoction :)
0 likes
Katy Elliott
December 19th, 2011 @ 1:00 pm
Yup, no flour. The applesauce juice evaporates in the oven and makes them rock hard.

It’s totally an old-fashioned craft you might have made in grade-school.
0 likes
chelsea
December 19th, 2011 @ 2:26 pm
I love this, Katy!
0 likes
Muraca Design
December 20th, 2011 @ 7:01 am
Love these! I may have to try this with my daughter.

Sandy Muraca
0 likes
Laney
December 22nd, 2011 @ 4:42 am
These won’t go moldy or anything if I pack them away properly and store them in a dry, dark area?
0 likes
ileana
December 22nd, 2011 @ 7:39 am
thank you for posting this recipe. one of my daughters made a reindeer like this in preschool – she is now in high school and every year it hangs on our tree (a photo is on my last post). we store it in it’s own small box in tissue paper and it has remained in perfect shape. i love the red and white string you used with these, they are very sweet.
0 likes
Katy Elliott
December 22nd, 2011 @ 10:06 am
Laney,

I hope they don’t get moldy but you’re always taking a risk with natural chemical free ingredients– a risk I’m willing to take. I’m sure you’ll be fine if you store them properly. If not, make some more!
0 likes
Netchen
January 4th, 2012 @ 4:29 pm
My son came home with these wonderful ornaments in nursery school back in 1993 and I have wanted to duplicate them!I am thrilled to find the recipe!!!!!Yeah!
0 likes
Netchen
January 4th, 2012 @ 4:30 pm
The Best!
0 likes