Preheat oven to 195° F / 90° C. Line a half-sheet rimmed baking tray with parchment.

Add cinnamon, applesauce, and salt to a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on low speed until a soft paste forms. If the mixture seems too sticky to roll, add more cinnamon to adjust the consistency.

Use gloved hands* to finish bringing the mixture together, then flatten it into a disc.

Place disc between two sheets of parchment. With a wooden rolling pin, roll to about 1/4-inch thickness.

With a cookie cutter, cut the dough into desired shapes.

With a small stepped palette knife or flat metal spatula, transfer ornaments to prepared tray.

Re-roll scraps and repeat until you’ve used all of the dough.

Use a drinking straw or piping tip to cut a hole in the top of each ornament, about 1/2 inch from the top. (This is where you’ll place the string.)

Bake in preheated oven for 2 hours. Turn off oven and allow ornaments to cool in the oven, about 1 hour more.

Thread a 12-inch piece of ribbon through each hole. Tie at the back, then use sharp scissors to trim away any excess.