Kaitlin Deese

CD4 Teacher, MLST

   Though the holiday season has come and gone, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year to experience and reflect on for a four year old. While it may look like Ms. Fennell and her students were busy baking gingerbread cookies, those aren’t cookies. They’re ornaments! 

   Students in Child Development through 6th grade participated in a Gingerbread Unit. They read many versions of the classic fairytale, discussed each book, identified similarities and differences, and ended by making gingerbread ornaments. The library was filled with the smell of gingerbread for several weeks. 

  This fun, no-bake dough has only four ingredients. Students stirred, rolled, and cut out their very own gingerbread man. After the ornaments dried, students enjoyed decorating and couldn't wait to take them home. 

   The flavors and aromas of the winter season are still here, so if you are looking for a fun, family activity, Ms. Fennel shared her recipe below. The ornaments can be used for future Christmas trees or other decorative projects! Enjoy! 

Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments Recipe

Prep time: 1 hour; total time: 2 days; servings: 12 ornaments

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ground cinnamon

• 3/4 cup applesauce

• 2 tablespoons basic white glue

• 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg or cloves

Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Use a spatula and make sure all the cinnamon is absorbed into the applesauce.

• Gather the dough with your hands. Knead it several times, pressing the dough firmly into a ball. It will be about the size of a softball.

• Sprinkle some cinnamon on a cutting board or other smooth surface. Flatten the ball into a disc with your hands. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough. Turn the dough several times while rolling, adding more cinnamon to prevent sticking.

• Roll until the dough is about 1/4 inch thick and cut out the shapes using cookie cutters.

• Gather the leftover dough after the first cutting and again knead it several times, pressing it firmly into a ball. Repeat the rolling process.

• Repeat until all the dough is used.

• Place ornaments on a baking sheet covered with wax or parchment paper. Using a skewer or small straw, make a hole in the top of each ornament.

• Ornaments should dry in 24 to 48 hours. Turn them occasionally so they dry evenly.

• String with a piece of twine or ribbon to hang.