Need something for your kids to do?
Here’s my absolute favorite recipe for Homemade Playdough. It’s easy, it’s quick, and if any of my kids decide to eat it…then I don’t have to freak out.
I love it because it only takes me about 10 minutes to make.
And if I get the kids to knead the food coloring and essential oils into the playdough for me, then it only takes about 5 minutes.
(Downside of taking that shortcut? The kids will get their hands stained with food coloring. Consider yourself warned. But it’s still worth it.)
And the best part? Instead of getting all “sugared up” after cooking with you in the kitchen, your kids will instead have hours of fun using their imagination, strengthening the hand muscles needed for fine motor control, and (most importantly) leaving you with some free time to hide in the bathroom and eat some chocolate.
Easy, Homemade Playdough
Ingredients
- 2 cups White flour
- 2 cups Warm Water
- 1 cup Salt Inexpensive table salt is best.
- 2 Tbsp Oil Use whatever you keep in your kitchen, I typically have avocado oil handy.
- 1 Tbsp Cream of Tartar, (optional) Increases elasticity of the playdough
- Food coloring, (optional) You can play with it plain, but that would be boring!
- Essential oils, (optional) Since there's oil in the recipe, the essential oils will be able to incorporate into the playdough
Instructions
- Mix the flour, water, salt, oil, and cream of tartar (if using) into a pot.
- Heat on medium-low heat. Stir continuously until the playdough looks like mashed potatoes, is pulling away from the sides of the pan, and is no longer sticky. (If it is still sticky, just keep cooking and stirring longer…it WILL dry out, I promise!)
- Remove from heat, and dump playdough onto a heat-safe surface.
- When it's cool enough to handle a bit, divide evenly into 4 dough balls.
- Make a thumbprint in the middle of the dough balls, then add 5 drops of food coloring (and 2 drops of essential oil, if using). Fold and knead the playdough ball until the food coloring is evenly distributed. Feel free to add more food coloring and/or essential oils if you want a stronger color/scent!(My kids LOVE doing this part, but be aware that they will probably get their hands a little stained by the food coloring.)
- Have fun playing with it!
- When you're finished, store each playdough ball in an airtight container (zip top bags are perfect). The high salt content acts as a preservative, so as long as it doesn't dry out then this playdough will be useable for months!