Whether you’re looking for a fun DIY project or you just want to know exactly what is in the playdough your kids are enjoying, there are many simple recipes you can use. Keep in mind that making and playing with playdough requires adult supervision at all times. This is especially true if your little one still tends to put things into their mouth or they are having too much messy fun pouring the ingredients all over your kitchen.
2 cups baking soda1 1/2 cups water1 cup cornstarchfood coloring (optional)
Mix the ingredients in a bowl with a fork until smooth. Add food coloring if desired. Boil in a pot over medium heat until thick. Spoon onto a plate or wax paper and allow to cool. Rubbery playdough may last two weeks or more in an air-tight container stored in your fridge.
1 cup flour1/2 cup salt2 tablespoons cream of tartar2 tablespoons oil1 cup waterBeet, spinach, or carrot juice
In a bowl, mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar, and oil. Slowly add the water to the mixture. Carefully cook in a pot over medium heat, stirring until the dough becomes stiff. Turn out the dough onto wax paper and let it cool. Knead the playdough with your hands until it gets to the right consistency. Divide it into small balls and add a few drops of the vegetable juices to make it pink, green, or orange. Wrap the playdough in cling film and put in a plastic food storage bag in the fridge to store it.
4 cups flour1/4 cup powdered tempera paint1/4 cup salt1 1/2 cups water1 tablespoon oil
Mix together the flour, powdered paint, and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine water and oil. Gradually stir water and oil concoction into the dry flour mixture. Knead the playdough as you add the liquid. Add a little more water if it’s too stiff and more flour if it’s sticky. Keep the playdough in a sealed container in the refrigerator for additional use.
2 cups flour1 cup salt2 teaspoons powdered alum2 cups water4 teaspoons oilLiquid food coloring
In a large pan, mix the food coloring, oil, and water. Add to it the alum, salt, and flour. Cook this combination on medium heat while consistently stirring until it is not sticky. Cool the mixture on wax paper. Once it is no longer hot to the touch, the dough is ready to use. This playdough keeps best in the refrigerator in a food storage bag.
1 cup flour1 tablespoon powdered alum1/2 cup salt1 cup water1 tablespoon oil2 tablespoons vanilla extractFood coloring
Mix all the dry ingredients in a pot. Add in the oil and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. Divide the dough into balls and knead in the food coloring. Repeated usage of the alum dough is possible if it is kept cool in an air-tight container. This recipe creates a stickier playdough than most, and it has a unique texture. If you want to give it even more texture, add a small amount of cornmeal or coffee grounds.
1 cup flour2 cups oatmeal1 cup water
Combine the flour and oatmeal in a bowl. Gradually stir in the water. Knead until mixed and add food coloring if you like. As with the other playdoughs on this list, your oatmeal dough may be used again if it is stored in the fridge. The mixture creates a fun playdough with a great fragrance. Also, there’s no cooking involved, so it’s ready for play and snacking right away.
1 cup smooth peanut butter2 1/4 cup powdered sugar1/2 cup honey
In a large bowl, mix the ingredients until they’re combined well. Allow to cool in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes. It might be good to play with this one on a covered surface because it may be a little sticky. To ensure the dough’s longevity, tightly wrap it with cling wrap and leave it in the fridge. It will stay for a few months, but don’t eat any of it after the first use. Kool-Aid playdough is super soft and very flexible. It’s fantastic for making vibrant playdough hair on little people and animals. Also, it keeps very well, so you should be able to reuse it for quite some time.
2 cups boiling water 1 package Kool-Aid (any flavor) 3 tablespoons corn oil 1/2 cup salt 1 tablespoon alum 2 1/2 to 3 cups flour
Combine the boiling water and Kool-Aid in a heat-safe bowl, stirring until it’s completely dissolved. Mix in the oil, salt, and alum. Add in flour and mix as needed until dough forms. Remove dough, let it cool, and then knead until it is smooth.
How can I fix dry playdough?
You can try to fix dry playdough by adding a few drops of water or oil (depending on the recipe’s original ingredients) and kneading until pliable. You can also try wrapping the dough in a moist paper towel for a couple of hours, and then kneading it back to softness.
