5-Minute Non-Toxic Easy Homemade Playdough Recipe
This Easy Homemade Playdough Recipe is the perfect solution to saving time and money on a hands-on activity that all kids LOVE. Plus, it’s non-toxic, stays soft for MONTHS, uses ingredients you probably already have, and is ready in just 5 minutes!
Here’s the thing: I love to shop and buy things just like anyone else. But when it comes to my kids and their hands-on play activities, I want to avoid their interaction with chemicals as much as possible. I prefer to make things like playdough to provide them with a safer alternative.
Store-bought playdough is filled with all sorts of ingredients that I would love for my children NOT to come in contact with. With that being said, I’ll be the first to admit that my willingness to do DIY activities only goes so far.
I’m not willing to stand at the stove and stir for hours. But the good news is that it is super easy to make your own playdough!
It’s the same thing with DIY fluffy slime!
Love crafts and easy DIY projects? Grab this mini activity book for more by clicking the image below – free! 👇
The BEST Playdough Recipe
I started making my own playdough more than 10 years ago, and I still prefer it over commercial options. In fact, I love so many things about this easy playdough recipe. I like how it feels, but I also love that we can make ANY colors we want.
And I really love how soft it is and how long it stays that way. As long as you store it in a plastic bag (or another air-tight container), this DIY playdough recipe is just about as perfect as it gets.
My last favorite thing…..it will NOT hurt your kids if they decide to take a little bite. They may not like the salty taste, but unless they eat the whole batch it definitely will not involve a trip to the doctor or a call to poison control. LOL
And that, friends, is why this is my FAVORITE homemade playdough recipe!
Note: Although this playdough isn’t poisonous, it’s not a truly edible playdough. If you want a truly edible soft playdough recipe, check out my Easy DIY Nutella Edible Playdough.
And don’t forget to check out more DIY, family fun recipes, like my DIY Outdoor Puffy Paint, Glow in the Dark DIY Bath Bomb, or Sidewalk Chalk Paint.
Benefits Of Playing With Playdough For Young Children
Letting your kids play with this homemade play dough recipe provides so many benefits! Here are just a few:
- It’s a perfect rainy day activity to eliminate boredom.
- Provides great sensory play opportunity.
- Helps develop fine motor skills for little hands.
And don’t forget to check out more DIY, family fun recipes, like my DIY Outdoor Puffy Paint, Glow in the Dark DIY Bath Bomb, or Sidewalk Chalk Paint.
Ingredients Needed For This Easy Homemade Playdough Recipe
Making homemade playdough couldn’t be easier! Here’s what you’ll need for this simple recipe (good news: it uses common ingredients you probably have!).
- All-Purpose Flour – provides the base and the binding agent
- Salt – adds texture and body and serves as a preservative
- Cream of Tartar – serves as a preservative in the playdough
- Vegetable or Coconut Oil – the only difference between these two oils is their fat profile. Both will work equally well in this playdough recipe.
- Hot Water – boiling water
- Food Coloring – gel food coloring comes in more than the primary colors and creates gorgeous brilliant colors
How to Make Our Easy Homemade Playdough Recipe
Simply follow these steps to make a terrific hands-on craft your kids will love!
Step 1
In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
Step 2
Add the oil and water to the flour mixture.
Step 3
Add food coloring (a few drops of color of your choice is enough) and stir until well combined.
Step 4
Knead with your hands until the color is well-mixed and you reach the right consistency of playdough.
Step 5
Repeat the same process for each color you want to make.
Step 6
Keep this easy cook playdough recipe in a plastic storage bag or airtight container when you aren’t using it.
Have fun!!! 😁
Easy Homemade Playdough Recipe Notes And Tips
- Playdough will need to be stored in plastic wrap, a resealable plastic bag, or an air-tight container, so it does not turn into unusable dry playdough.
- If making more than one color of playdough, take this batch of playdough (this easy recipe makes a lot of playdough) and separate it into small balls before adding the food coloring.
- You can add the food coloring after the dough has been kneaded and separated.
Variations of Our Easy Homemade Playdough Recipe To Try
- Change up the colors of food coloring. Did you know you could find a 24 pack of all different colors food coloring online??? Make several batches of playdough and use every color. The kids will go WILD!
- Make scented playdough using essential oils. Add 6 – 8 drops of oil to each color or batch. Use peppermint, lemon, bergamot, citrus fresh, lime, lavender or any other scents that inspire you or that the kids will love.
Fun Playdough Activities
After you make up a quick batch of playdough, then what can your kids do with it? SO much! Here are a few ideas:
- Practice color recognition
- Work on those fine motor skills
- Create different dough forms such as shapes (or animals, etc.) with it
- Playdough mats are the perfect activity to extend playdough play
Homemade Playdough FAQs
If stored in an air-tight container or sealed plastic storage bag, your homemade playdough will keep up to 3 months.
The cream of tartar serves as a preservative for the homemade playdough and will also make the playdough more pliable instead of dry and crumbly.
I would not recommend unbleached flour for this recipe even though there is unbleached all-purpose flour. Unbleached flour is naturally aged and dulls as it ages.
The playdough is sticky because it has too much moisture in it. The flour will serve as the binding agent so you may need to add just a bit more flour until you obtain playdough consistency.
If your playdough starts to dry out, just add a couple of drops of water or another drop or two of essential oil to get moisture back in it.
No, not necessarily. If you store it in an air-tight container or plastic storage bag, you should be fine. If you think putting it in the fridge helps to extend the life of the playdough, then by all means, put it in the fridge.
Love crafts and easy DIY projects? Grab this mini activity book for more by clicking the image below – free! 👇
Try More of our Kid-Inspired Recipes
If you love this easy homemade playdough recipe, check out these other fun recipes that kids will LOVE (including some rainbow-themed options)!
- Rainbow Unicorn Cake
- Easy DIY Speckled Mermaid Cupcakes
- Ice Cream Cakesicles
- Rainbow Jello Squares
- Easy Rainbow Colorful Donuts
Pin For Later!
Easy Homemade Playdough Recipe
Make this non-toxic, completely customizable playdough for hours of safe play for your kids and toddlers!
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 4 tsp cream of tartar
- 2 tbsp vegetable or coconut oil
- 1 cup hot water
- Food coloring, assorted colors
Instructions
- Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Add oil, water and approximately 8 drops of food coloring.
- If making separate colors, divide the mixture into smaller bowls before adding food coloring. I can make up to 6 different colors with one batch. (You can add color after dough has been kneaded and separated.)
- Stir in food coloring until well combined.
- Knead the dough with your hands until your dough reaches playdough consistency.
Hey! I can’t wait to try your recipe! How long does the dough last? Do you have to keep it in the fridge?
Thanks, Jenny
Hi Jenny! Yay! I think you’ll love it! It’s so easy to make and cheaper than buying Play-Doh! If you store this playdough in plastic bags (my preferred method), I’ve had it last for weeks or months. You don’t need to refrigerate it, but you can if it makes you feel more comfortable. I recommend pulling it out and letting it come to room temp before letting little hands play in it, though!