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Playdough Recipes

Basic Dough
** Take precautions when preparing this recipe as it involves the use of hot water **
  • 2 cups of flour
  • 2 Tbsp of oil (vegetable, olive or coconut is fine)
  • ½ cup of salt
  • 2 Tbsp cream of tartar
  • 1 ½ cups boiling water​
Mix the dry ingredients well. Slowly add the oil and boiling water and mix. Allow the mixture to cool down and knead until it achieves the desired consistency.
Gluten Free Dough
  • 1 cup baby rice cereal
  • 1 cup of Cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 3 Tablespoons of vegetable oil
  • Food coloring

Combine well.
Silky Dough
  • 1 cup hair conditioner
  • 2 cups corn starch
  • Food coloring
Mix all ingredients until a silky dough forms.
Easy Cola Dough
  • 1 ¼  cups flour
  • 2 Tbsp salt
  • ½ cup cola 
Knead until combined.
3 Bears Dough
** Take precautions when preparing this recipe as it involves the use of hot water **
  • 2 cups plain flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
  • 2 cups of boiling water
  • 1-2 cups of oats 
Mix in the dry ingredients, add the oil and stir through. Carefully add the boiling water and stir well. Let the dough cool and knead it until it is no longer sticky. Add the oats and knead until it is the desired consistency.
Cooked Play Dough
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1.5 cups salt
  • 6 tsp Cream of Tarter         
  • 3 tbsp oil
  • 3 cups water
Pour all ingredients into a large pot.  Stir constantly over medium heat until a ball forms by pulling away from the sides.  Knead the play dough until the texture matches play dough (1-2 minutes). Store in plastic container. Should last for at least 3 months.
Cooked Play Dough #2
  • 1 cup baking soda    
  • 1/2 cup corn starch             
  • 3/4 cup water
Have your child mix the baking soda and corn starch in a pot.  Use hands to make sure all the lumps are broken up.  Add water.  The adult should put the pan on the stove over medium heat and stir constantly.  As soon as the mixture gathers together, remove from the heat.  When it cools, have your child knead it into a smooth play dough.  You can add food coloring to the water before mixing the dough, or divide it into balls and add the coloring after the children mix. 
Note: Don't overcook this play dough or it will crumble when the children use it.
Oatmeal Clay
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 2/3 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup water
Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl.  Add more flour if necessary for the dough to form a lump. Have the children knead the dough on a floured surface until it is mixed and knead it. Your children's finished crafts can air dry overnight.  
Note: You can store the clay in the refrigerator in a Ziploc bag for up to 3 days.
Bread Clay
  • 3 slices soft white bread crusts removed torn into small pieces (the amount of bread may vary depending on the size and type of bread—Wonder bread is very moist and requires more bread)
  • 2 Tablespoons of white school glue (make sure that it’s non-toxic) 
Drizzle the glue over the bread, mix with a fork until you have to get your hands in there and knead.  As you roll it in your hands, the glue and bread will mix and everything will start to stick to itself and come off your hands. 

We added acrylic craft paints, a drop or two at a time, to color the clay.  But, this can be painted after it has dried, usually a day or two. If you use food coloring to mix in this clay mixture, we recommend wearing disposable gloves so that you don’t dye your hands.
Uncooked Play Dough
This recipe is easy and ideal if you care for younger children and don’t want to use a hot stove.
  • ¼ cup salt
  • 1 cup flour
  • ¼ cup water
  • food coloring
Mix the salt and flour in a bowl.  Add water and food coloring.  Knead dough to make a clay consistency. 
Note:  this dough doesn’t last as long as the cooked recipe.
Pizza Play Dough
  • 1-1/2 cups cornmeal          
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1-1/2 cups salt                    
  • 6 tablespoons oil
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder  
  • 2 tablespoons basil
  • 2 tablespoons oregano          
  • 6 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
  • 3 cups water
Into the pot, have children accurately measure all ingredients and stir to combine.   Cook and stir over medium heat until lumps disappear and dough sticks together.   Remove from heat.   On a floured surface, give each child a lump of dough to knead and play with.   Store in an air-tight container. 
Kool-Aid Play Dough 
  • 2 1/2 cups flour                  
  • 1 cup salt
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil   
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 2 packages unsweetened Kool-Aid
Mix dry ingredients. Add oil and water.  Wearing gloves, knead for 10 minutes. Store in zip lock bag in refrigerator.  
Note: Your hands may smell of the Kool-Aid flavor even with gloves.
Peppermint Play Dough
  • 4 cups flour                        
  • 2 cups salt
  • 8 teaspoons Cream of Tartar        
  • 4 tablespoons oil
  • 4 cups water                       
  • multicolored glitter
  • 4 teaspoons peppermint extract
Into the pot, have children accurately measure all ingredients (except glitter) and stir to combine.  Cook and stir over medium heat until lumps disappear and dough sticks together.  Remove from heat.  On a floured surface, give each child a lump of dough to knead and play with. Sprinkle with glitter.  Store in an air-tight container. 
Peanut Butter Play Dough for Lactose Intolerant  
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter          
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 4-6 oz. corn flour or corn meal
Combine together peanut butter and honey. Add the corn flour until it reaches the desired consistency.  Note: Corn muffin mix (like Jiffy-Mix) can be substituted for corn meal. 
Pumpkin Pie Play Dough 
  • 5-1/2 cups flour                  
  • 2 cups salt
  • 8 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 1 container pumpkin pie spice (1 oz approx) or 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 2 teaspoons ground dried ginger and 2 teaspoons allspice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract     
  • 4 cups water
  • orange tempera paint (or liquid watercolor) 
Into the pot, have children accurately measure all ingredients and stir to combine.   Cook and stir over medium heat until lumps disappear and dough sticks together.   Remove from heat.   On a floured surface, give each child a lump of dough to knead and play with.   Store in an air-tight container. 
Cornstarch Clay 1 (Porcelain type) 
​    Ideal for items under 3/4" thick
  •     2 cups cornstarch                
  •     2 cups baking soda              
  •     11/4 cups cold water
In a saucepan, combine cornstarch and baking soda. Gradually add water until the mixture is smooth. Heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches a moist mashed-potato consistency.  Turn onto a plate, cover with a damp towel. Knead clay when cool enough to handle. Clay is now ready to shape into craft projects.

-Children can add food coloring to make different colors. 
-Roll out the dough 1cm thick and have children make hand prints.
-Takes a long time to air dry so you can dry in a warm oven (200F) may brown.
-Clay may crack if items too thick or bulky. 
Cornstarch Clay 2 
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch 
  • 1/4 cup white glue
Mix completely. Add extra corn starch or glue to get a workable consistency. Store in a plastic baggie. Should last for months with no mold.
Projects can be air dried.
Try rolling out very thinly, then leave overnight. In the morning use cookie cutters to create designs before it is completely dry. Dries like china.
Lemon Poppy-Seed Play dough 
  • 1 package lemon poppy seed muffin mix
  • 2 cups flour                      
  • 1-1/2 cups salt                 
  • 6 teaspoons Cream of Tartar        
  • 6 tablespoons oil
  • 3 cups water (add yellow food coloring if desired) 
Into the pot, have children accurately measure all ingredients and stir to combine. Cook and stir over medium heat until lumps disappear and dough sticks together. Remove from heat. On a floured surface, give each child a lump of dough to knead and play with. Store in an air-tight container. 
Strawberry Cake Play Dough 
  • 1 package strawberry cake mix
  • 2 cups flour                        
  • 1-1/2 cups salt
  • 6 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
  • 6 tablespoons oil
  • 3 cups water (add red food coloring if desired) 
Into the pot, have children accurately measure all ingredients and stir to combine. Cook and stir over medium heat until lumps disappear and dough sticks together. Remove from heat. On a floured surface, give each child a lump of dough to knead and play with. Store in an air-tight container.
Nature's Play Dough 
  • 1 cup flour                         
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • 1 cup water                        
  • 2 T oil
  • 2 T Cream of Tartar             
  • beet, spinach, and carrot juice
Mix flour, salt and oil, and slowly add the water. Cook over medium heat, stirring until dough becomes stiff. Turn out onto wax paper and let cool. Knead the dough with your hands until of proper consistency. Use as is, or divide into balls and add a few drops of the vegetable juices to make green, pink, and orange. 
Rubbery Play Dough  
  • 2 cups baking soda              
  • 1-1/2 cups water
  • 1 cup cornstarch
Mix with a fork until smooth. Boil over medium heat until thick. Spoon onto plate or wax paper.
Nutty Butter Play Dough  
  • 1 C. Peanut butter               
  • 1 C. Powdered Milk
  • 1 C. Honey                         
  • 1 C. Oatmeal
Mix together and play and/or eat.
Make & Bake Play Dough 
  • 2 c. salt                             
  • 2 c. warm water
  • 5 c. flour
​Mix salt, flour and water together (add water as needed to make dough easy to handle). Knead the dough with your hands until it is smooth. Roll out with rolling pin on waxed paper to 2 1/2 inch thickness. Use a knife or cookie sheet. If you want to hang your play dough creation, poke a hole in the top of it. Bake at 300 degrees for an hour. After it cools, it can be painted, then cover with clear shellac.