Traditional Salt Dough Recipe

Salt dough is by far my favourite quick and easy homemade clay to use with the kids. I always have the ingredients to hand and can mix up a batch really quickly. I love using this classic salt dough recipe from my own childhood which my mum used to mix up and was given to her by my godmother who used to use it in her classroom back in the 1950’s

This traditional salt dough recipe was originally written in oz but I have converted it to grams (you can find the oz version at the end) as that is what my scales use. It does air dry but will take between 24 hours and a week depending on what your child decides to make, the humidity and the air temperature. With larger models, we tend to air dry but I have used the oven-dry method as well.

Ingredients for the Classic Salt Dough Recipe

500 g plain flour – self raising flour will make the salt dough bubble as it dries especially in the oven.

250 g table salt – any fine cooking salt will work

125 ml warm water

These measurements make around 24 ornaments of a medium cookie cutter size.

Free Printable Salt Dough Recipe

Would you like this recipe (cups and grams) in a printable form then subscribe below and it will be delivered straight to your inbox along with some other fantastic ideas for salt dough you don’t want to miss out crafting with this year.

a painted salt dough Christmas Tree ornament hanging on a tree branch with light behind it.

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Try these Salt Dough Handprint Ornaments or Christmas Decorations made using this recipe.

How to make Salt dough with Kids

weighing out flour on electronic scales to make salt dough
  1. Mix together the flour and the salt in large bowl
    Kid Approved classic Salt Dough Recipe that is in grammes and oz perfect for rainy day activities and works every time.
  2. Add the warm water slowly mixing together at the same time
    Kid Approved classic Salt Dough Recipe that is in grammes and oz perfect for rainy day activities and works every time.
  3. When combined turn out onto a lightly floured surface
    Kid Approved classic Salt Dough Recipe that is in grammes and oz perfect for rainy day activities and works every time.
  4. Knead for 5 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic
    Kid Approved classic Salt Dough Recipe that is in grammes and oz perfect for rainy day activities and works every time.
  5. This dough can be stored for a couple of weeks in an air tight container or ziplock bag with the air expelled
  6. Once your ornament is made either leave to air dry or
  7. Place in the oven at 150C for around 1hr and check it may need longer
3 beautiful salt dough stained glass star ornaments with ribbon ready to hang on the Christmas Tree

Once you have your salt dough made, why not use it to create some beautiful salt dough stained glass stars.

Kid Approved classic Salt Dough Recipe that is in grammes and oz perfect for rainy day activities and works every time.
cover of count down to Christmas make memories together in 2020 ebook for parents

Make Memories every day as you countdown to Christmas

24 Simple and easy activities to do at home with your kids this Christmas.

How Long Do you Cook Salt Dough For?

This is one of the most asked questions here on Rainy Day Mum, how long do you cook salt dough for exactly and the answer isn’t exact I’m afraid.

For a cookie cutter ornament around 1/2cm thick it’s about 1 hour, however, it varies depending on the amount of water that you needed to use for your flour as well as your oven, thickness of the ornament or model that you are drying. So just check it and if it needs longer then put it back in.

Is your Salt Dough Puffing up? Want to know how you can store salt dough or whether it will air dry we have all of these questions answered on our Salt Dough Questions Answered article.

Kid Approved classic Salt Dough Recipe that is in grammes and oz perfect for rainy day activities and works every time.
a ball of salt dough ready to use with kids using a classic 1950s recipe

Salt Dough Recipe for Ornaments and Decorations

Cerys Parker
This classic salt dough recipe from the 1950’s is ideal to use with children to make ornaments, decorations and models
3.96 from 81 votes

Recipe Video

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Play Recipe
Servings 24 ornaments

Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • Baking Tray
  • Rolling Pin

Ingredients
 
 

Instructions
 

  • Mix the salt and flour together
    salt and flour being mixed together
  • Gradually add the warm water as you mix it together by hand
    adding water and mixing by hand
  • Turn out onto a lightly floured surface
    Simple Salt Dough Butterfly Craft to make with friends as a kindness activity
  • Knead for 5 to 10 minutes until smooth
    Simple Salt Dough Butterfly Craft to make with friends as a kindness activity
  • Shape and mold as you wish
    Simple Salt Dough Butterfly Craft to make with friends as a kindness activity
  • Air dry OR bake in the oven for 1 hour+ at 300F (150C) until dry

Notes

This is not edible simply use to create Christmas ornaments and decorations
Keyword Air Drying Clay, Christmas Ornaments, Salt Dough, salt dough recipe
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
collage for pinterest of making salt dough with kids

More Salt Dough Recipes you may like

Check out these variations on this recipe to make with kids

Author
Cerys Parker

Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.

a painted salt dough Christmas Tree ornament hanging on a tree branch with light behind it.

Unlock the Secrets of Salt Dough Crafting!

Subscribe today and get our top-rated recipe to gorgeous craft ideas straight to your inbox. Plus an exclusive printable recipe.

21 Comments

  1. We used the recipe and needed to add a lot more water to get the dough to form. We used 1.5 cups and it worked perfectly. The dough had a lovely texture. We also experimented with using rock salt to give the ornaments more texture which worked well too.

    1. Thank you for your input, we’re finding that different humidities and flours are needing more or less water this year.

  2. Iā€™m just wondering how long the classic recipe takes to air dry? Thanks

    1. Hi, that really depends on how thick the decoration you’ve made is and how humid and hot your room is. A warm dry environment with a cookie cutter ornaments can dry within 24 – 48 hours but things like Diva’s and sculptures can take up to a week because of the thickness.

  3. Hi! How many dinosaur fossils can you get with one batch of the salt dough?

    1. Hi, it really depends on the size of your dinosaurs that you use to make the fossil. With the small ones, we have in our collection, this batch made 6 “chunky” fossils. If you were careful and not making with toddlers you could use less salt dough per fossil and stretch out the mixture more.

  4. I’m really curious why the ratios for the microwave salt dough and the classic salt dough are different. Here the flour and salt are in equal quantities, whereas the microwave one the salt and water are in equal quantities. I wonder what the science is behind it

    1. I tried out the classic dough in the microwave but for some reason, it ended up soft never really dried almost pastry like on the bottom (as the fabulous Mary Berry would say it has a Soggy Bottom!) It also bubbled more readily so not great for ornaments. However, the microwave dough recipe does also work in the oven and has no problems.

  5. Absolutly love this recipe even when i was a little girl, years on and I have tought my little girls it tweeking a little by adding colouring and small amount of oil they play with it for days like play doh thank you.

    1. Mrs Kelly says:

      Wondering if I can make it a day or so ahead of the lessonā€¦ If so how would I store it airtight container? In the fridge? Room temperature?

      1. Hi, Yes I’ve made the salt dough up the night before. I actually stored it in big ziplock bags to take into school. Just sprinkled with a little water in the bag so it didn’t dry out and then inside my work bag to go in the next day.

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