Homemade Playdough Recipe
Homemade playdough is so easy to make and lasts for months! You can also change its color and add scented oils or glitter for an even fuller sensory experience. There are two ways we make playdough. Bar makes it in a pan on the stove, and Shannon makes it in a standing mixer using boiling water. They turn out the same, so choose whichever works best for you and your children to make playdough together.
Homemade Playdough / Stovetop
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 tspns cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 tblspn veg oil
Food coloring or liquid watercolor
Instructions
- Mix dry ingredients in a big-ish bowl (this is so that kids can help and not spill any out when stirring - if it’s just you, your bowl can be medium).
- Add water, oil and food coloring. When fully mixed (it’s ok if there are still a few lumps), pour into a non-stick pan over medium-low heat.
- Cook and flip for about 3 minutes, or until the mixture solidifies and draws away from the pan. Cool on a tray. If you are going to use it right away, wrap it up in plastic wrap as it cools.
- Store in an airtight container (deli containers work great) or a ziploc baggie.
Homemade Playdough / Mixer
Ingredients (makes a double batch)
2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tblspns cream of tartar
2 tblspns veg or coconut oil
Food coloring or liquid watercolor
1-1.5 cups boiling water (add in increments until it feels right)
Instructions:
- Mix dry ingredients first in the stand mixer.
- Add the oil and coloring.
- Slowly mix in the boiling water from a tea kettle. Allow it to cool down then take it out of the bowl and knead it until it’s not sticky anymore. If it remains too sticky add a touch more flour.
Notes (for both recipes):
If you don’t have cream of tartar, you can use a different acid like lemon juice, white vinegar or rice vinegar in equivalent proportions.
You can substitute gluten-free flour but the playdough gets a little lumpier and not as soft. But the kids don’t notice the difference.
Playdough for the win!
There are as many ways to use and play with playdough as there are stars in the sky. Playdough is our number one go-to material when we need something sure to keep our children engaged. Kids never tire of this squishy, sensory experience.
Bring out cookie cutters and mini rolling pins for imaginary bakery play, or give the kids potato mashers and a garlic press. Collect sticks, stones and pinecones from outside to press into the playdough. Set out some toothpicks and beads to make mini sculptures. Smush it around and in between blocks to build a tower. Or simply let them mix all the colors together and make new colors.
With these easy recipes, you can make playdough often, create every color in the rainbow, and never buy store bought again!
Do you need help reimagining your classroom as a hub of creativity where children share ideas and feel seen, known, and celebrated? Learn more about our Materials Matters course and Professional Learning Workshops and transform your creative practice today.