Gifts from Home
Some of the best gifts are ones that you can make right at home. Every year that I hang our homemade salt dough decorations on our tree I’m so glad that we took the time to make them.
Salt Dough Santa Hands Poem
The year that I gave these out as gifts I attached the following poem:
This is to remind you
When I have grown so tall,
That once I was quite little
And my hands were very small.
~Author Unknown
Basic Salt Dough Recipe for Santa Hands
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup salt
3/4 cup water (plus 2 Tbsp, if needed)
2 Tbsp canola oil
In a medium bowl, mix together the flour and salt. Add water and oil to the flour mixture.
Using your hands, mix to form a soft, smooth ball of dough. I used my stand mixer to make this go a bit faster. Add the additional 2 Tbsp of water, if needed.
Roll out the dough, cut into shapes and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Use a drinking straw to make a hole in each cookie for the ribbon.
Bake in a 220F oven for 1 hour or longer if your cookies are thick.
Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before painting your cookie decrations.
Note: You can refrigerate the dough. We baked our cookie decorations over two days.
Wishing you and all your loved ones a magical time of year!
Be Well…Jenn
