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DIY Homemade Playdough Recipe!

October 13, 2010 By Heidi 18 Comments

I may get paid for ads or purchases made through links in this post.

Help the kiddos get creative when you make this fun DIY Homemade Playdough Recipe!

Homemade Playdough Recipe from TheFrugalGirls.com

Have you ever tried making Homemade Playdough?

It’s so simple, fun, and thrifty!  This DIY Homemade Playdough Recipe comes from my friend Kristee, and is an absolute cinch to make!

Just use these playdough ingredients and my super-easy instructions to make your own homemade easy playdough recipe for the kids…

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Homemade Playdough Recipe

What You’ll Need:

  • 1 cup Flour
  • 1 cup Water
  • 2 tsp. Cream of Tartar
  • 1/2 cup Salt
  • 1 tbsp. Vegetable Oil
  • Food Coloring
  • Optional: Vanilla or Peppermint Extract, or Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • This makes a good-sized batch, so you could also cut the recipe in half… or make the full recipe using two different sauce pans {to make 2 different colors}

DIY Playdough Recipe from TheFrugalGirls.com

What You’ll Do:

  • Mix Together all ingredients {except food coloring} in saucepan
  • Optional: Add in a splash of Vanilla extract to make it smell yummy. Or… for more fun scents: add in some Peppermint extract to the ‘Green’ playdough you’re making, or Pumpkin Pie Spice to the ‘Orange’ playdough you’re making! {thanks to Heather & Susan for sharing these tips on Facebook!}

  • Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.

  • As soon as the mixture begins to thicken, add in food coloring.  Continue to stir.
  • Mixture will begin forming into a solid, and gathering on spoon.
  • Remove from heat to cool, then remove from saucepan to cool on wax paper, plate, etc.
  • Store in freezer ziploc bag.  Then, you can even place the bag in a dark container, or in the fridge… to make it last even longer!

If it starts to get dry after several weeks, try adding a few drops of water into play dough to extend it’s shelf life.

Give it a try, and see what you think!

As far as playdough toys go… my boys always loved using mini rolling pins, plastic cookie cutters, and even the garlic press! 😉

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Don’t miss out!  Get all the latest fun new Frugal Girls Crafts, Tips, Recipes + more right here…

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So have you tried making this Homemade Playdough Recipe yet?

Leave a comment and share…

Filed Under: Baby, Crafts, Homeschool, Kids Crafts, Recipes

Comments

  1. Taylor says

    August 18, 2014 at 8:08 pm

    This recipe worked perfectly, thanks a ton!

    Reply
    • Heidi says

      August 18, 2014 at 8:18 pm

      You’re very welcome, Taylor… so glad you like it! 😉

      Reply
  2. Sophie says

    June 11, 2014 at 6:35 am

    I babysat today and she loved this!! so much fun and takes up lots of time.

    Reply
  3. Laura says

    July 12, 2011 at 11:33 am

    I used to make play dough for the kids’ preschool classes (the recipe I used was the same as yours, except 3-4 times as much!) If the kids are big enough not to eat the play dough, you can also mix in glitter — pink glitter dough was especially popular with the girls.

    Reply
  4. Deb says

    July 11, 2011 at 1:10 pm

    I used to make this when my kids were small. I pulled the well-worn recipe card out of my box just a few weeks ago and made some for my grandkids. Boy, did I go up a notch in their esteem! “Wow, Grammie knows how to make playdough! She even let us pick our own colors and mix them together.”

    Reply
  5. Marcia says

    July 11, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    I’ve made playdough for years and my students just love it. I’ve had my students (pre-k age) help measure, mix, etc. I like to make it in a non-stick electric skillet. I’ve used the kool-aid to color/scent the dough…even using two packets for extra punch! I will say, if you use the kool-aid, make sure it is the actual kool-aid not store-brand or off-brand…they just don’t have the same color saturation as the real thing does!

    Reply
  6. Kami says

    March 23, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    I love making homemade playdough! I make mine in the microwave. I use a lot of color and spices or kool-aid packets. Fun party idea to make with the kids. I let each pick a color & flavor, chocolate, mint, etc. Then I let them play!

    Reply
  7. Heidi Woodruff says

    November 16, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    Hey, I just made this for the grandkids! I made it PINK for Ellie’s birthday color (she’ll be 3 tomorrow). I added vanilla and they love playing with it, smelling it as they roll it out. It’s still a little warm, which adds to the senses of playing with it! Thanks, I had this recipe years ago and now have pulled it back in front of my recipe cards for the grandchildren! ~Heidi

    Reply
  8. Harmony says

    November 14, 2010 at 6:47 pm

    thanks for all the tips,,great we are on our way!!!!!!
    play dough time!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  9. Heidi says

    October 14, 2010 at 12:47 pm

    I’m so glad you liked it, Nicole! It’s definitely a fun project to make with the kids! 😉

    ~ Heidi

    Reply
  10. Nicole says

    October 14, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    My 3 year old thought this was so cool.

    Reply
  11. Robin Jackson says

    October 13, 2010 at 6:12 pm

    It’s not play dough, but when I used to babysit, I would buy instant vanilla pudding (or white chocolate) and some food coloring and let the kids finger paint on the kitchen table on placemats or on a plastic tablecloth. They could pain, and make pictures, lick their fingers (dessert) and then, I could throw it all in the sink and rinse it off and be done.

    Reply
  12. Emily says

    October 13, 2010 at 5:14 pm

    I think I would be afraid to make mine smell good, my kids already have an issue with eating it!

    Reply
    • Carole C says

      July 11, 2011 at 10:24 am

      Nothing in it that will hurt a child. Probably will only eat it once or twice!

      Reply
      • amber says

        February 2, 2015 at 1:09 pm

        My son took a bite I just made it n he actually threw up they will only eat it once!!!

        Reply
  13. Lisa says

    October 13, 2010 at 5:13 pm

    AWESOME!!! I’m sooo going to make this tomorrow for my little boy!! He will love it!

    Reply
  14. bella says

    October 13, 2010 at 4:27 pm

    We only use homemade playdough at our pre-school. For
    Valentine’s week we make a chocolate scented playdough.
    The kids love and the room smells great!!!!!
    Love the idea to add pumpkin spice etc……
    I have made the kool aid version a few times, that
    also smells great and looks great.
    Thanks for the new hints

    Reply
  15. Tamara Lee says

    October 13, 2010 at 4:10 pm

    My Grandma uses this all the time, my copy of it also says you could add oil of peppermint or other scents if you want we don’t add color do to possible fights over who gets what color, Store in a ziplock in a dark container lasts forever. 🙂

    Reply

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Hey there... it's so nice to meet you! I'm Heidi: a Frugal Girl living in sunny Arizona! I love sharing Easy Recipes, DIY Decor, Style & Beauty Hacks, Gardening Tips, Travel Hacks, and Creative Ways to Live the Sweet Life on a Budget. I'm so glad you're here!
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