Salt Dough Ornaments - Raising Hooks (2024)

FAQs

Why are my salt dough ornaments rising? ›

Are you wondering why your salt dough ornaments turned out puffy? Typically there are two things that cause salt dough to get puffy: either your oven is too hot or you used self-rising flour.

It's important to use plain flour as self-raising will puff up in the oven and creations will lose their shape. To make the dough: Combine the flour and salt in a bowl and stir. Add water slowly until it has all been absorbed and knead the dough until well-combined.

Why is my salt dough puffing up? If you mistakenly use self-rising flour, they may puff. And sometimes it happens randomly. Keep the oven temperature low and if it happens consistently, you can try baking at an even lower temperature for a slightly longer amount of time.

If you take good care of them and store them properly they can last a very long time! I recently saw a post from someone saying that they had some in good shape that were 35 years old. How do you know when salt dough is done? It will be hard to the touch but still light in color on the top.

If you overcook them, they tend to bubble up.

Tips for Making Perfect Salt Dough

Let the ornaments air dry for a day first, if possible. This cuts back on the oven baking time and helps to prevent puffing. Don't forget to flip the ornaments when baking or air drying so that the bottoms will be exposed to air.

Your finished salt dough sculptures can either be air-dried or oven-dried to set.

If you preserve salt dough properly, it will last for decades. Without sealant, it will begin to crumble after a few weeks.

How do I preserve and store these Salt Dough Ornaments? In order to keep your ornaments and use them for several years, it is best to seal them. Painting them with acrylic paint, if you choose to, will begin the process. But a coat of Mod Podge or Acrylic sealer that is applied like a spray paint will be needed.

You could leave the ornaments out to air dry, but it may take more time and effort. The drying process will probably take several days, depending on how thick the ornaments are and how humid it is. You'll also need to flip the salt dough ornaments several times to keep the edges from curling.

Will salt dough harden without baking? ›

You can let salt dough air dry or bake it, but microwaving it is the fastest way to dry the dough.

Thus, while salt does slow the dough's expansion during fermentation, the long held belief that salt retards the yeast's gas production has been shown to be of only minor consequence to the fermentation rate.

Make sure your oven is set to 150°f. This is SUPER IMPORTANT. I have seen others use hotter temperatures but I haven't been able to do so without getting puffiness. So, plain all-purpose flour, 150ºf oven and 1/4 inch thickness = no puffy ornaments.

Without salt, your dough will rise faster than it normally would, leading to less flavor development and a weaker structure. To incorporate the salt, mix it with a few teaspoons of water. Return your dough to the mixer, tear it into three to six pieces, and drizzle the liquid on top.

Sealing your salt dough ornaments prevents them from becoming moldy and or cracking/crumbling. Any environment can cause salt dough to mold, even when extra precautions are taken. Once sealed, they are guaranteed to last a lifetime. This way, you can continue to enjoy your families memories, year after year.

Thus, while salt does slow the dough's expansion during fermentation, the long held belief that salt retards the yeast's gas production has been shown to be of only minor consequence to the fermentation rate.

However, if you want them relatively flat, bake them at 200 Fahrenheit, or use a flat weighted sheet pan on top to keep them flat if you bake them at 225 F to 325 F. Keep in mind the dough turn a darker color if baked at these temperatures.

Overcooking the salt dough creations could lead to bubbles or cracks. After cooling out the salt dough creations are ready for painting. If you don't have an oven (like in a nursery), you can also just wait until the salt dough dries out over time. This salt dough recipe works for no bake as well.

Salt dough is a great material for making basic sculptures and three dimensional craft projects. It is an all-natural alternative to commercial play dough and homemade air-dry clay. Your finished salt dough sculptures can either be air-dried or oven-dried to set.