Playdough Recipes

Playdough is the ultimate activity to allow children of all ages to be creative, utilise fine motor skills and have fun. Options are limitless when a child has playdough in their hands, from pretend food, interesting animals,  and abstract creations, there are no rules when it comes to playdough (expect maybe don’t use it on the carpet). 

There are many options for making playdough including non-cooking recipes, simple recipes and even edible playdough. Here you will find some of our favourite recipes. 

While playdough is a fun activity, close supervision should be exercised, especially when young children are involved. 

Basic Playdough

• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cups salt
• 3 cups of water
• 6 tablespoons of cream of tartar
• 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• Food colouring

Method

1. Add all ingredients to a saucepan and cook on a medium heat, stirring until it all comes together and becomes difficult to move.
2. Remove from heat and knead. 
3. Store in an air tight container (in the fridge if it’s summer)

Playdough (No cooking required)

• 1 cup plain flour
• ½ cup salt
• 1 tbsp of cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoon of oil
• 1 cup of boiling water
• A few drops of food colouring or essential oils

Method

1. Mix together all ingredients and knead (like you would pastry).
2. Allow to cool slightly before use. 

Super Soft Playdough (non edible)

Create play-dough that smells just like a baby and is luxuriously soft to play with.

• 2 cups of plain flour 
• ½ cup of salt
• 4 teaspoons of Cream of Tartar
• 2 cups of water
• 2 tablespoons of baby oil
• Food Colouring (optional)

Method

1. Sift dry ingredients into a large pot.
2. Add water and oil and cook over a medium/high heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and forms one large ball.
3. Remove from heat and place dough onto a work surface or plate to cool.
4. Give the dough a thorough kneed until it reaches the desired consistency and colour. 

NOTE: If colouring your dough, add the food colouring to the water before cooking. This will give an even and vibrant colour to the dough and keep your hands clean from food colouring stains!

Nutella Playdough

This may be our favourite playdough of all time! This is a no cook, two ingredient, two minute and totally edible playdough recipe guaranteed to keep Brisbane Kids happy. Be warned, this dough smells so incredible and tastes amazing!! Leave creations to air dry for a few hours to create a “crust” and then let your kids eat their creation. Yummy!!!

PLEASE NOTE: This play dough recipe is not suitable for those with nut allergies and should be used under adult supervision.

• 3 tablespoons of Nutella
• 3 tablespoons of icing sugar

Method

1. Measure out your ingredients into a bowl or onto a clean dry surface.
2. Knead the mixture.
3. When all ingredients are combined if the dough is too dry add a drop of olive oil and knead again.
4. Play, create, eat!

Smelly Jelly Play Dough

Mmmm…. the smell of jelly is a childhood memory we all lovingly remember. And what’s better than adding two wonderful childhood essentials together – play dough and jelly! These two are made for each other. Your Brisbane Kids are going to love this Smelly Jelly Dough recipe and it is so easy.

• 1 cup plain flour
• ½ cup salt
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoon of oil
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 packet of jelly crystals
• Food colouring (optional)

Method

1. Mix all dry ingredients together in a saucepan.
2. Add jelly crystals to warm water and stir until dissolved.
3. Add jelly water and oil to dry ingredients.
4. Whisk before heating as this will help remove any lumps from the mixture.
5. If dough colour is not bright enough add food colouring to enhance.
6. Cook over medium heat stirring until it becomes a thick ball.
7. Remove from the heat and knead the dough on a clean surface. The dough will be very hot so be careful!
8. Cool before use and store in air tight container. 

Surprise Colour Playdough

Surprise Colour Play Dough is a fun and engaging colour guessing game that will have your child excited and engaged trying to guess the colour hidden within the dough. As they play with the dough the colour is revealed and the child can work the colour through the dough. This is an excellent game for fine motor and also colour recognition.

• 1 cup plain flour
• ½ cup salt
• 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup of warm water
• Food colouring in various colours

Method

1. Mix all dry ingredients together in a saucepan.
2. Add water and vegetable oil to dry ingredients.
3. Whisk before heating as this will help remove any lumps from the mixture.
4. Cook over medium heat stirring until it becomes a thick ball.
5. Remove from the heat and knead the dough on a clean surface. The dough will be very hot so be careful!
6. Roll out evenly sized balls.
7. Create a small well inside each ball and drop 3-5 drops of food colouring into the middle.
8. Cover over the well so the ball is complete and no colour can be seen.
9. Let your child discover the hidden colour by squashing and kneading the ball of dough.

Peppermint Playdough 

Peppermint has been used for centuries to aid in the relief of nausea and sickness. This refreshing aroma is wonderful for settling little tummies and helping in the healing process. Peppermint is also a great smell for children suffering from a stuffy nose or a headache.

• 1 cup plain flour
• ½ cup salt
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 tablespoon of Peppermint Oil or Peppermint Essence
• Food colouring and Peppermint Leaves (optional)

Method

1. Mix all dry ingredients together in a saucepan.
2. Add Peppermint oil, water (if you are colouring add food colouring to the water) and vegetable oil to dry ingredients.
3. Whisk before heating as this will help remove any lumps from the mixture.
4. Cook over medium heat stirring until it becomes a thick ball.
5. Remove from the heat and knead the dough on a clean surface. The dough will be very hot so be careful!
6. If you would like to add Peppermint leaves to this dough, finely chop the leaves and knead into the cooled dough.
7. Store in an air tight container.

Play Options with Playdough

Involve children from the beginning when it comes to playdough. Get them to help with the making process, allow them to choose the colours or scents and get them to help clean up.

Once the playdough is made and ready for use, here are some fun and creative ways to use it:

• Spell your name or spelling words with playdough
• Use different implements to make patterns eg. forks, rocks, toothpicks
• See who can make the longest playdough worm
• Mix different colour playdough together to see what happens to the colours
• Make a tray of playdough cupcakes complete with decorations
• Play a playdough guessing game by making something and have others guess what it is
• Practice scissor or knife skills by cutting playdough (supervise closely and use blunt instruments if possible)

We’ve got lots of great Craft and Fun Ideas for your Brisbane Kids, including Safe Slime, also known as Alien Snot!