DIY Salt Dough Pumpkins Make Cozy Fall Decor

I adore an easy fall craft, especially one that includes an original salt dough recipe. DIY salt dough pumpkins make cozy fall decor, and the great thing about making salt dough creations is that they only require basic pantry staples. This is the perfect activity for the whole family. Over the last couple of years, I’ve had so much fun creating with salt dough, and honestly, I just can’t stop.

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DIY Salt Dough Pumpkins Make Cozy Fall Decor

Today, I’m sharing a fun project and an amazing recipe for DIY Salt Dough Pumpkins Make Cozy Fall Decor. This is a craft guaranteed to make your house smell like cloves and cozy fall spices. These little pumpkins also make adorable favors.  Add gift tags and place one at each place setting for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or any cozy fall gathering.

Ingredients: DIY Salt Dough Pumpkins Make Cozy Fall Decor

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 cups of table salt
• 4 cups of warm water
• 4 tsp. Ground ginger
• 4 tsp. Ground cinnamon
• 4 tsp. Ground clove
• 4 tsp. Nutmeg
• Essential oils – optional – I used this HERE

Equipment:

• Cookie sheet or baking sheet – these are in my kitchen
• Parchment paper – these are in my kitchen
• String, toothpick, or wooden skewer
• Large spoon
• Large bowl
• Matte Mod Podge – (optional) – HERE
• Foam brush or paint brush – my favorite – HERE
• Cinnamon sticks or small sticks – pumpkin stem

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients for Salt Dough Pumpkins

Place 4 cups of all-purpose flour, 4 cups of table salt, cinnamon, clove, ginger, and nutmeg into a large bowl. If you’re using essential oils, add about 10 drops into the dry ingredients. Mix everything with a spoon until well combined.

Cindy’s Note: In other salt dough projects, I recommend adding essential oils to the warm water. For this salt dough, you’ll want to add the oils directly into the flour before mixing the cup of salt and spices. This makes sure the fragrance is carried evenly throughout the dough.

Step 2: Slowly Add Warm Water to Your Salt Dough

Slowly pour in warm water while stirring; this is how the salt dissolves. Keep stirring until it forms a dough ball. It should be the consistency of play dough.

Cindy’s Food Coloring Tip: If you’d like to add color, mix food coloring into the warm water before combining. It may make the dough a little sticky, so you might need extra flour. I personally skip food coloring and instead paint afterward with acrylic paints.

Step 3: Knead the Dough for Perfect Salt Dough Creations

Knead the dough by hand for about 5 minutes. Since these are pumpkins, I didn’t want my salt dough creations to be perfectly smooth; I love a rustic, natural look. While kneading, preheat your oven to 200 degrees. A low temperature is key to drying any salt dough recipe.

Cindy’s Tip: Normally, I knead my dough for 10 minutes to get smooth results, especially when making homemade ornaments for Christmas time. It’s a great way to get a perfect finish. At the end of this post, I’ll share links to more of my favorite salt dough pieces.

Step 4: Shape and Form Your Pumpkins

Roll the dough into small balls (the size of a large meatball) and shape them into pumpkins. To make the classic pumpkin creases, I used both a string and a toothpick. Pulling the string too tight flattens the pumpkin, so press gently. Use the side of a toothpick to deepen the lines all the way to the bottom. Finish with a cinnamon stick on the top of the pumpkin for a pumpkin stem. Important: See note below about adding small sticks for a pumpkin stem.

Cindy’s Tip: If you’d rather use small sticks for the stem, make a small hole at the top of the pumpkin before baking and secure the stick with hot glue afterward.

Step 5: The Drying Process

• Place the pumpkins on a cookie sheet and bake at 200 degrees. Since they are thick, they’ll need extra time to harden fully.
• Bake for 3 hours on the cookie sheet.
• Move to a wire rack and bake for 1 more hour at 200 degrees.
• Let them cool completely
• Total drying time: 4 hours. They should feel completely hard once the drying process is finished.

Step 6: Seal with Mod Podge

Once cooled, brush on a thin coat of Mod Podge or matte polyurethane spray to the pumpkins. This protects them from moisture and helps them last for a long time. You will use these seasons after seasons.

Cindy’s Tip: Sealing is optional, but I always do it. The coat of Mod Podge has kept my salt dough creations looking great for years.

What is Salt Dough?

• All-purpose flour
• 1 cup salt
• A cup of warm water

After baking in a 200-degree oven, it’s hard and dry, perfect for ornaments, gift tags, or wreaths. Seal with Mod Podge and store in a cool, dry place.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Fun Project

This fun project checks each box. It uses simple supplies you likely already have at home, with little to no additional cost. Using basic pantry staples, you can mix up an original salt dough recipe that turns into charming pumpkins with cinnamon stick pumpkin stems. It’s also the perfect activity for the whole family; kids can help mix, roll, and decorate, and everyone will enjoy the finished look. Whether you’re decorating your mantel, making favors with gift tags, or adding cozy pieces to a place setting, these pumpkins add warmth, style, and seasonal charm.

• Uses simple pantry staples with little to no additional cost. Here’s an easy recipe for Pumpkin pie spice salt dough. I share an easy craft project too!
• A perfect activity for the whole family to enjoy together
• Makes your home smell like fall with cozy spices. Here’s a recipe for homemade salt dough ornaments using wooden molds. I share easy steps to remove the excess dough and making a small hole. These are perfect for the Christmas tree.
• Customize with gift tags or paint with acrylic paints or glitter glue pens to match your decor
• Adds a handmade, cozy piece to each place setting or mantel

Flower Pots for All Year Long – DIY

See This Post – Make Lime Flower Pots!

DIY Salt Dough Pumpkins Make Cozy Fall Decor An Easy Guide

These little pumpkins also make thoughtful favors, add gift tags, and place one at each place setting for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or any cozy fall dinner. Whether you display them on your mantel, as a table centerpiece, or gift them to friends, these handmade decorations will add warmth, personality, and the sweetest cozy charm to your fall decor.

Making DIY salt dough pumpkins make cozy fall decor a fun craft and a simple way to bring charm into your home. Using an easy recipe filled with cozy spices, you can roll, shape, and create salt dough creations that look just like real pumpkins. From mixing up the dough with basic pantry staples to adding a cinnamon stick for the pumpkin stem, this easy fall craft project proves that the best DIYs don’t have to be complicated. Happy crafting!

More Fun Craft Projects with DIY Salt Dough Click Image or Purple Link:

Pumpkin Pie Spice Salt Dough Recipe

​Pumpkin Salt Dough Wreath

Cinnamon Salt Dough Ornaments

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