How to Make Birdseed Ornaments

By Editorial Assistant: Emily VanSchmus
Help feathered friends throughout winter with bird suet and birdseed treats. Here's how to make suet and use it for both bread cutout cookies and cake cone ornaments that birds can eat.
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Feed the birds

Hanging edible ornaments outdoors is a win-win in the winter months. These ornaments are fast and fun to make, and will provide a nutritious snack to the birds.

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Suet cookies

Suet and nuts last longest in the cold outdoors.For homemade suet cake: in a microwave safe bowl combine 2 cups suet, 2 cups birdseed, 1 cup cornmeal, and ½ cup peanut butter. Heat in a microwave for about 30 seconds to soften the fats. Stir to blend. See the next slides for how to make suet cakes into "cookies" for birds.

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Bread cutout cookies materials

You will need:Bread slicesCookie cuttersTwineScissorsSuetSafflower seeds

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Bread cutout cookies, step 1

Use cookie cutters to cut shapes from bread slices.

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Bread cutout cookies, step 2

Poke a small hole near the center of each bread cutout and thread a length of twine through it. Knot the twine ends to make a hanging loop.

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Bread cutout cookies, step 3

Dip one side of the bread into melted suet, then press it into safflower seeds. Set the bread cutout on a baking sheet until the fat hardens.

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Bread cutout cookies, step 4

Coat the other side of the bread cutout with melted suet. Sprinkle seeds onto it and press them into place.

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Cake cone ornaments materials

You will need:Suet cake mixCake ice cream conesIce cream scoopCranberriesTwineScissors

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Cake cone ornaments, step 1

Make suet cake in a mixing bowl. Combine 2 cups suet, 2 cups birdseed, 1 cup cornmeal, and ½ cup peanut butter. Heat in a microwave for about 30 seconds to soften the fats. Stir to blend.

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Cake cone ornaments, step 2

Scoop suet cake mix into cake cones. Top each still-soft suet cake with a cranberry.

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Cake cone ornaments, step 3

Using twine, make a hanging loop for each cone.

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