salt dough recipes and ideas what to do with it

doraexplorer

hello there,

Another rotten day out side stuck in with the kids. i am looking for a recipe for salt dough . the stuff that goes really hard . think i have to bake it . can i colour it and then bake it or can i paint it after ????

also looking for ideas on what to do with it . christmas ones would be nice .

will try and get the kids to make xmas decorations. i fancy making a centre peice. for my table for candles.

just dont know where to start . any ideas would be lovely .

thanks very muchly in advance

x

trayci

HI dora, I've got one hopeit helps...


Ingredients
4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1-1/2 cups hot water (from tap)
2 teaspoons vegetable oil (optional)
Mix the salt and flour together, then gradually add the water until the dough becomes elastic. (Some recipes call for 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil at this point.) If your mixture turns out too sticky, simply add more flour. If it turns out too crumbly, simply add more water. Knead the dough until it’s a good consistency—then get out rolling pins, cups, bowls, straws, cookie cutters, plastic utensils, and let the fun begin!
If you want colored dough, mix food coloring, powdered drink mix, or paint into the water before adding it to the dry ingredients. Or you can paint your creations after baking them at 200 degrees. Baking times will vary depending on the size and thickness of the object, but make sure that all of it is hard. If the dough starts to darken before cooking is complete, cover with aluminum foil. Painted keepsakes will need to be sealed on all sides with clear varnish or polyurethane spray.
You can store your salt dough in a sealed container in the refrigerator, but usually not more than a couple of days.

doraexplorer

thank you very much . trayci i tryed googling it but could not find one that looked easy enough.

was reading that you can cook them in the micrwave when done? is this right?

by the sounds of it think i will colour it before i cook it. or maybe not whats best coloured or paint it after ???

will go try and make this thanks again x

Badger_Lady

I make a fruit basket (very traditional):



1) Roll out dough and cut out main shape of basket - this should be the bit you can see plus extra at the top for the fruit to sit on.

2) Use the back of a fork to make indentations on the basket, so it has that wicker effect.

3) Roll out two sausages of dough and twist them together to make the handle. Stick the ends to the basket with a little water, so your basket is finished.

4) Make shapes of fruit and leaves to stick on top - this is where you can get creative! Examples:
- Orange: Roll into a ball, then sqash the back / cut in half. Use a cocktail stick to make little indentations all over, and a bigger one on top
- Apple: Same as above, but just one very big indentation at the top - snap a little bit of cocktail stick off to make a stalk
- Berries / grapes - little bits of dough rolled up and stuck on
etc...

Once it's baked, your basket is already a natural colour but you should paint / varnish to seal it. Then paint your fruit in bright colours (they will fade on the dough) and use a spray varnish to give it the glossy look :-)

The idea is that you can hang it on the wall using the handle. If you make something different, you can stick a bit of bent garden wire in the back before you bake, to make a hanging hook.

trayci

Badger lady that looks fab!! Think I could just about do tree decs lol!!

doraexplorer

fantastic basket badger lady . maybe a bit out of my league . im going to make christmas decorations and a centre peice for my table . think this is going to be my new hobby.

doraexplorer

was just reading a page and it said
make them with a twist. Just add cinnamon to the recipe (not too much but enough to make it smelly).

so they smell nice .... i am going to do this too

tru

I've got some in the oven right now

I used 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt and 3/4 of a cup of warm water.

It's my first time making it, I used star-shaped, bell-shaped and tree-shaped cookie cutters (mine are going to be Christmas tree decorations).

Look OK so far :T

doraexplorer

tru wrote: »

I've got some in the oven right now

I used 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt and 3/4 of a cup of warm water.

It's my first time making it, I used star-shaped, bell-shaped and tree-shaped cookie cutters (mine are going to be Christmas tree decorations).

Look OK so far :T

same recipe as me but i used 4 cups of flour . made loads of dough.

thats mine all done too, had a great afternoon with the kids. we made little bowls and small fruits . and me and little dora made a hand print plate.

best of all we made really easy candle holders. by wrapping the dough around a tealight and making a bottom. even little dora age 3 had the hand of it and was making her own candle holders.

they look great and we will paint them when they are dry and use them for xmas presents from the kids for the grandparents.

i have decided to air dry them , hope they will dry ok after all the hard work.

kids loved it and it was free as all the stuff was in my cupboard.

i never had xmas cookie cutters but will get some for next time.

what a great afternoon and it was free. i will post pics of mine when they are all painted . if i can work out how to do it .