Want to make your own playdough at home? Watch our quick video below and follow this super easy playdough recipe to whip up a batch in minutes. Made from simple pantry staples, it’s a brilliant rainy-day activity that keeps kids busy for hours — and it’s easy on the budget too.
Once made, your playdough will keep for weeks if stored in resealable plastic bags with a little bit of oil, so there’s no need to make a fresh batch every time.
Ingredients
- 2 cups plain flour
- 1 cup salt
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- Food colouring (green, blue, red and yellow)
Method
- Add all ingredients to a saucepan and heat gently until it forms a dough.
- Once it has cooled slightly, let each child knead it.
- Split it into several smaller balls and add food colouring.
- Using gloves, knead the food colouring into each ball until the dough changes colour evenly.
- Give your child a rolling pin and some cookie cutters to create fun shapes.
Tips for Playdough Fun
Set out a few simple tools alongside the playdough to keep little hands busy for longer — rolling pins, cookie cutters, plastic knives, or even old birthday candles for “cake” decorating. Making a batch in seasonal colours (orange for Halloween, red and green for Christmas) is an easy way to tie the activity into whatever’s coming up on the calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will homemade playdough keep?
Stored in a resealable plastic bag with a little bit of oil, this playdough will keep for weeks, so you can make a batch in advance and bring it out whenever you need a quick activity.
Do I need cream of tartar for this recipe?
Cream of tartar is included in this recipe as it helps give the playdough its stretchy, long-lasting texture. It’s a small quantity and easy to find in the baking aisle.
Is this playdough safe for young children?
This recipe is made entirely from everyday food ingredients — flour, salt, water, oil and cream of tartar — so there’s nothing in it that isn’t found in your kitchen cupboard. As with any homemade dough, it’s not meant to be eaten, so it’s best supervised with younger children who tend to put things in their mouths.
Can I skip the stovetop step?
This particular recipe is a cooked playdough, so the saucepan step is needed to get the right texture. Once it’s cooled and kneaded, though, all the fun colouring and shaping happens with no more cooking required.
You Might Also Like
Looking for more simple science and sensory fun at home? Try our step-by-step guide to making your own bubble mix for hours of bubble fun, or get creative with our easy recipe for homemade slime.
Save This for Your Next Rainy Day
Bookmark this page or save it to your favourite parenting board so you’ve got this playdough recipe ready to go whenever you need an easy, budget-friendly activity.
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