Every family needs a go-to playdough recipe. This is the one we rely on. It feels and smells great and lasts for months in Tupperware. We can make any color playdough we want!
We find random things to press into the playdough or to press it into, like this container that used to have dumplings and makes a lovely leaf pattern.
Joy calls them cookies, "cooks" them on a pan, and says "Eat! Eat!" as she offers them around. "Yum num num" we say as we pretend to eat them. Luckily they smell like cinnamon and nutmeg.Â
Rocko loves experiments and potions, so he loves making this. We talk about how the stretchiness comes from the structure of the proteins in the flour.
Here's our recipe for one large handful of playdough:
- 1/4 cup salt
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 tablespoon cream of tartar
- Optional sprinkle of spice of your choice (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, or ginger are all fun)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon oil
- Food coloring (a little squirt goes a long way)
Directions:
- Have your child measure and mix the dry ingredients.
- Have your child measure and mix the wet ingredients.
- Have your child dump the wet into the dry and mix well.
- You may want to do the next bit, which is putting a pan on the stove on medium-low heat and begin cooking the dough. Continually mix it as it cooks until it resembles playdough, which takes a couple of minutes.
- Take it out of the pan to cool, you can place it on a silicone baking mat.
- Once it's cool enough, you can knead it and play with it.
- When done playing, seal it in an airtight container.
I have a theory that the playdough we buy dries out because it is in containers that are purposely not airtight; this forces us to buy more! Don't buy anymore when you can make it and you know exactly what went into your recipe.
If you're looking for good ingredients, you can check these out and I may get a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you buy from these links:
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