Make Safe and Easy Play Dough

Playing with play dough is an activity that children of all ages love. But if you're concerned about the ingredients in store-bought play dough, you may want to try mixing up a batch at home. Not only are homemade versions play dough made from safe, natural ingredients, they're easy and fun to make so you get the kids involved. You can a homemade play dough that only requires two ingredients, use items from your pantry that don't require any cooking, or use food-grade ingredients that are heated on the stove top, so you always have a supply ready to go.

Ingredients

Two Ingredient Play Dough

• 2 heaping tablespoons (18 to 20 g) cornstarch
• Tempera paint

No-Cook Play Dough

• 1 cup (300 g) salt
• 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil
• 1 cup (250 ml) water
• Food coloring

Stovetop Play Dough

• 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (250 ml) water
• 2 teaspoons (7 g) cream of tartar
• ⅓ cup (100 g) salt
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil
• Food coloring

Steps

Preparing Two Ingredient Play Dough

1. Squirt the paint into the cornstarch. Add 2 large, heaping tablespoons (18 to 20 g) of cornstarch to a medium size bowl. Squirt some tempera paint in your chosen color into the cornstarch. There’s no exact measurement for the paint -- add what looks like enough to help form a dough with the cornstarch.
   • Don’t worry about adding too much or too little paint. You can mix in more of the paint or cornstarch as you go to get the right consistency.
2. Mix the ingredients until a paste forms. With a plastic spoon, carefully mix the cornstarch and paint together to combine them. Continue mixing until they form a thick paste that clings to the spoon.
   • If the dough is too dry and crumbly, mix in more paint.
   • If the dough is too wet, mix in a little more cornstarch.
3. Knead the dough with your hands. Once the dough has formed a paste, set the spoon aside. Use your hands to gently knead the dough to remove any lumps. When you’re finished kneading, roll the dough into a ball and start playing.
   • If the play dough is leaving paint on your hands as you knead it, sprinkle some cornstarch on a piece of wax paper and roll the play dough through it. Knead it again to help mix in the cornstarch.
4. Repeat the process with as many paint colors as you’d like. Because the play dough only has two ingredients, you can only make one color at time. Complete the steps for each shade of play dough that you want to make.
   • You can create custom shades of play dough by mixing two or more paint shades into the cornstarch.
   • Be sure to store the play dough in an airtight container, such as a plastic zipper bag, when you’re not playing with it. It should keep for several months.

Creating No-Cook Play Dough

1. Combine the salt and flour. Add 1 cup (300 g) of salt and 3 cups (375 g) of all-purpose flour to a large bowl. Use a wooden spoon to mix the two together until they’re fully combined.
   • If you want to make gluten-free play dough, substitute rice flour for the all-purpose flour.
2. Mix in the oil. After you’ve combined the salt and flour, pour 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of vegetable oil into the bowl. Stir the mixture until the oil is fully incorporated.
   • You can substitute canola oil for the vegetable oil if you prefer.
3. Add water and knead the dough. When the flour, salt, and oil mixture is fully combined, gradually begin to pour 1 cup (250 ml) of water into the bowl. Stir the mixture well until it reaches a dough-like consistency. Set the spoon aside, and use your hands to knead it the rest of the way so it’s as smooth as possible.
   • If the play dough is too wet and sticky, add more flour.
   • If the play dough is too dry and crumbly, add more water.
4. Divide the play dough and mix in the food coloring. Once the play dough is the right consistency, separate it into balls based on how many colors you want. Add several drops of food coloring in your chosen shades to each ball, and knead the dough until the color is uniform.
   • To keep the play dough from drying out, store it in a plastic zipper bag or other airtight container when it isn’t in use.

Mixing Up Stovetop Play Dough

1. Mix the flour, cream of tartar, and salt. Add 1 cup (125 g) of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons (7 g) of cream of tartar, and ⅓ cup (100 g) of salt to a medium saucepan. Use a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients together until they’re fully combined.
   • You can substitute rice flour for the all-purpose flour if you prefer.
2. Stir in the water and oil. Once all of the ingredients are mixed, pour 1 cup (250 ml) of water and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of vegetable oil into the pan. Mix the ingredients well, so the water and oil are fully incorporated.
   • You can substitute any cooking oil, such as canola or olive, for the vegetable oil.
3. Heat the mixture. When all of the ingredients are combined, place the pan on the stove. Set the heat to medium-low, and stir the mixture as it heats. Continue stirring until it starts to become solid, which usually takes between 2 and 3 minutes.
   • It’s okay if the mixture is a little lumpy. You can work out the lumps later.
4. Add the food coloring. Once the mixture is starting to solidify, sprinkle several drops of food coloring in your chosen shade into the pan. Stir the mixture well so the color is fully mixed in.
   • Start by adding a small amount of food coloring. Mix in more if it’s not as bright or dark as you’d like.
5. Cook the dough until it clings to the spoon. After you’ve added the food coloring, continue heating the mixture. Stir it as it cooks, and once it begins to cling to the spoon and come together, the play dough is ready. It usually takes approximately 2 additional minutes of heating.
   • If you’re making multiple batches of the play dough in different colors and your stove is already warm, it may not take that long for it to come together. Pay attention to the texture and consistency to be sure that you don’t overcook it.
6. Cool the play dough. When the dough is finished cooking, transfer it from the pan to a plate or piece of wax paper. Allow the play dough to cool for 5 to 10 minutes, or until you can handle it comfortably.
7. Knead the dough and play. When the play dough is cool, use your hands to knead it for 1 to 2 minutes, taking the time to work out any lumps. Once it’s smooth, the dough is ready to play with.
   • Store the play dough in an airtight container to keep it fresh. If it starts to dry out, sprinkle a few drops of water on it and knead it in.

Tips

• You can easily double or triple these play dough recipes if you want to make larger batches.
• Make even prettier play dough by mixing some craft glitter into any of the recipes.
• While you can easily use your hands to create fun shapes with the homemade play dough, you may want to have some cookie cutters on hand to help the kids make more elaborate shapes.

Warnings

• Even though these recipes contain mainly natural ingredients, you shouldn’t allow your children to eat too much of them. In particular, be careful with the two-ingredient play dough because tempera paint can upset the stomach if eaten in larger quantities.

Things You'll Need

Two Ingredient Play Dough

• Medium bowl
• Plastic spoon

No-Cook Play Dough

• Large bowl
• Wooden spoon

Stovetop Play Dough

• Medium saucepan
• Wooden spoon
• Plate or wax paper

Related Articles

• Make Kool Aid Playdough
• Make Play Dough

Sources and Citations

See also

• Make Play Dough without Cream of Tartar
• Make Kool Aid Playdough
• Make Dough Vegetables
• Make Play Dough
• Make Playdough Without Cooking
• Make Playdough Soft Again
• Revive Dry Play Doh
• Make a Play Doh Ganesh

What links here

• Make Playdough Soft Again