The Best Homemade Playdough Recipe – No Cook!
Are you looking for a simple homemade playdough recipe to make that is inexpensive, quick and will keep your kids entertained for hours and hours? This homemade playdough recipe can be made in batches, stored for months and coloured to any colour of the rainbow using food coloring gels or pastes. So here you go our BEST no-cook playdough recipe ready in just 5 minutes that lasts and lasts and lasts.
Play dough Recipe
This is by far the best homemade playdough recipe that uses kitchen ingredients and is ideal for keeping young children busy and entertained. Because of the cream of tartar in the mixture, it will store for months in an air-tight container and is ideal for making on a rainy day and using time and time again.
If you are looking for a salt-free playdough recipe then check out our 2-ingredient apple scented playdough (you can make it with whatever you have available!)
How Do you Make Simple Playdough
You can make this recipe even quicker by swapping stirring to a stand mixer.
Using it that way will make an extra smooth, soft and fluffy play doh very similar in texture to the store-bought stuff.
Just pour all of the ingredients in together and then it’s ready to mix unlike by hand where it is best to mix the dry ingredients first in the bowl and then add in the hot water gradually
How to Colour and Scent Homemade Play Dough
Colouring your own play dough is easy. Using food coloring you can get different colour effects.
We use either a gel food coloring or a paste, but watch out if you mix it by hand it can stain them so wearing gloves as you knead the dough is best. However, once made the colour does not come off.
If you use food dye liquid then you will need to switch some of the water for the food coloring to get the same effect.
You can even add glitter to the mixture for some fun sparkly dough. We love our night sky playdough as well as our sugar plum playdough for Christmas.
You can also add different scents our autumn playdough recipe uses cinnamon, cloves and other spices to add a scent to it. Lavender makes a great relaxing playdough just a couple of drops of essential oil will help to create a relaxing dough that kids will love.
How Do you Store Homemade Playdough
Once made if the kids don’t take it straight away then you can store it easily. Use an airtight container and seal it shut it will last for a long time that way.
What You’ll Need To Keep the Kids Busy with the Playdough
If you are looking to set up a simple play then use some wax paper on the surface, then add in some cookie cutters and rolling pin and your ready to go.
It makes the perfect addition to sensory play you can add it into sensory bins or even with playdough mats.
Support your child learning their alphabet as they use this homemade play doh with a set of Animal and Monster ABC Playdough Mats available in our store now.
Ingredients for homemade Playdough
- 250 g plain flour
- 50 g salt
- 140 ml water boiling water
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar or lemon juice
- 1 – 2 tablespoons of cooking oil
How to Make Your Own Playdough at home
- Stir together the flour and salt in a large bowl and add in the water and oil to this flour mixture.
- Knead the mixture well until a dough consistency starts to form. You will need to let it cool a little before you attempt this.
- Separate out the dough into parts and add some food colouring gel for vibrant colours.
- Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator until chilled enough to use.
Printable Easy Playdough Recipe
So, how do you make this diy playdough at home? It’s really easy you can use the recipe below to find out how. Don’t forget to save the best playdough recipe so that you can use it time and time again although once stored in your air-tight container you’ll be able to use for months and months.
Homemade Playdough – No Cook Recipe
Equipment Needed
- Bowl
- spoon
- Kettle
Materials Needed
- 250 g plain flour
- 50 g salt
- 140 ml water boiling water
- 2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 – 2 tbsp of cooking oil
- Few drops of food colouring optional
Instructions
- Mix together the flour and salt in a bowl and add in the water and oil.
- Knead the mixture well until the dough starts to form. You will need to let it cool a little before you attempt this.
- Separate out the dough into parts and add some food colouring gel for vibrant colours.
- Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator until chilled enough to use.
Notes
More DIY Playdough Recipe Ideas for Kids
Make some No-Salt Playdough and you can scent it however you want. Ours was scented with apples perfect for some early learning fun.
If your little ones put everything in their mouth then why not make some edible playdough it is taste safe and great to play with too it uses cornstarch/corn flour too so is gluten free!
We love how vibrant and fun this recipe for homemade Jell-o Playdough is. Plus they smell amazing.
If you have packets of Kool-Aid laying around then you can make amazing scented playdough with them
You may also want to try salt dough – it’s great for creating ornaments, models and more that will last and last.
Cerys Parker
Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.