Play Dough

• May 22, 2012  |
• by Kirstin Uhrenholdt

Play dough is good dough. Good to make together. Good to play with. And good to have on hand when you are trying to get dinner on the table and you have a very little baker’s man that needs a job. Toss him some play dough, and order up a patty cake, 2 pies, 3 carrots and a banana split, as fast as he can.

Here’s the recipe for homemade play dough. Just in case anyone is tempted: play dough is not food, so don’t let children or pets eat it.

You need:

For the dough:
1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1 cup boiling (yes, very boiling!) water

1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons cream of tartar 


For the enhancement:
Natural food colors* (see below)
A few drops of natural essence like vanilla, almond, lavender, peppermint, or cinnamon

To Make:

Mix all ingredients in bowl. Add the boiling water and stir vigorously until the dough is completely smooth, then let it cool completely.

Split the dough up and add a few drops of essence and coloring to each ball, then knead knead knead until it is all distributed.

Play dough will last for months if you keep it in an airtight container. Store un-refrigerated in those old jelly jars you were saving for this.

You can also bake any masterpieces in the oven at 325º until dry, then paint and display until the kids go to college.

*Natural food colors can be found online and in health food stores… but you might already have some in your cabinet. Just beware that these ingredients are also happy to color clothing, floors and tables:

Turmeric is a fantastic yellow.
Cocoa powder makes a sweet smelling brown.
Macha tea (Japanese green tea powder) is a beautiful green, so is spinach powder and spirulina.
Dried beet powder is magenta.