Salt dough is a great recipe to make with children, as it is easy to prepare and fun to mould into different shapes. It is also an inexpensive way to make homemade decorations for Christmas or other special occasions, such as birthdays or Easter. In this article, we will provide you with an easy-to-follow recipe for UK salt dough, as well as some tips on how to make the most of this versatile material.
Ingredients
To make salt dough, you will need three simple ingredients that you can easily find in your kitchen: flour, salt, and water. Here is a list of the quantities you will need: - 2 cups of plain flour - 1 cup of salt - 1 cup of water
Instructions
Now that you have gathered all the ingredients, it's time to start making the salt dough. Follow these simple steps: 1. Preheat your oven to 120°C (250°F). 2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. 3. Gradually add the water and mix until you get a smooth and pliable dough. If the dough is too sticky, add a little bit more flour. If it's too dry, add a little bit more water. 4. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until it's smooth and elastic. 5. Roll out the dough to your desired thickness, usually around 0.5cm (0.25 inches). 6. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters or a knife. You can also use your hands to mould the dough into any shape you like. 7. Place the salt dough shapes onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. 8. Bake in the oven for 2-3 hours or until the dough is completely dry and hard. 9. Once the shapes are cooled, you can paint them with acrylic paints or decorate them with glitter, beads, or other embellishments.
Nutrition
Salt dough is not meant to be eaten, as it contains high amounts of salt. However, it is a fun and safe material to use for crafting and making decorations. If you have any concerns about using salt dough with children, make sure they do not ingest it and always supervise them during the crafting process.
Tips
Here are some tips to help you make the most of your salt dough creations: - Use different cookie cutters to create a variety of shapes, such as stars, hearts, or animals. - Add food colouring to the dough to make it more vibrant. - Use a straw to make a hole in the top of the shape before baking. Once it's cooled, you can thread a ribbon through the hole and hang it up as a decoration. - Make sure you store any leftover salt dough in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out. - If you want to make larger salt dough creations, such as a bowl or a vase, you can use a balloon or a ball as a base and cover it with the dough. Once it's baked and hardened, you can pop the balloon or deflate the ball and remove it from inside the shape.
Conclusion
We hope this article has inspired you to try making salt dough at home. It's a simple and fun recipe that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. Remember to be creative and experiment with different shapes and decorations. Happy crafting!