When you have kids, having a go-to play dough recipe is essential. My play school teacher, who is also still one of my Mom’s best friends, loves telling this story: When I was in her class, she handed out play dough to all the kids. She then went to fetch all the play dough accessories, and when she got back, I had eaten most of my play dough…
Unfortunately my children have also inherited my love for (eating) play dough, so I want to make sure I make or buy non-toxic options. I’ve tried lots of different recipes over the years, and these two are, in my opinion, the best play dough recipes.
The first recipe, by Emma Owl, is not called The Best Play Dough Ever! for nothing. It produces the softest dough imaginable, and lasts for weeks. The best part: It’s quite forgiving if you forget to place it in the fridge for a day or two…
Long lasting play dough
This makes a big tennis ball size…
2 cups flour
1 cup of salt
2 cups of water
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
Food coloring*
Method:
Mix all the ingredients together in a big pot and then put it onto the stove – medium heat!
At first, the mixture is quite runny, but after a few minutes on the stove, it forms a dough.
Keep string continuously, make sure to stir the bottom of the pot so it does not burn.
In about 2 minutes your mixture will be like dough.
Take it out, allow it to cool and knead like bread a few times.
Divide the dough into as many colours as you want and add food colouring!
Food colouring goes a long way – so start off with a tiny amount (a toothpick tip)
Done!
*Note: We prefer using the Barco gel colours available from Yuppiechef since you need a very small amount, and they come in a variety of gorgeous colours.
The other recipe, from The Pinning Mama we make often requires no cooking:
Essential Oil Play Dough Recipe
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
10-12 drops essential oil (more or less may be needed depending on the oil you choose)
1.5 cups boiling water
Food coloring – optional
Method:
Mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar together in a large bowl.
Combine your essential oil with the vegetable oil and mix into the dry ingredients.
Boil the water and add food coloring directly to the water.
Pour 1 cup of your boiling water into the mixture and stir, adding the additional 1/2 cup slowly until desired consistency is reached.
Knead for 3-5 minutes or until the dough is smooth and perfectly squishy for play.
Enjoy!
In case you prefer buying playdough, I can highly recommend Dough Ray Me and Aromadough:
Photo: Dough Ray Me
Photo: Aromadough
