Play Dough Recipes

Here’s a collection of a variety of play dough recipes. There are lots of options from “regular” play dough to scented play dough to unique ones, like toothpaste putty and cloud dough.

Find more play dough and fine motor ideas on the Fine Motor Skills Resource Page

Play Dough

2 cups flour
3 tbsp cream of tartar
1/2 cup salt
4 tbsp oil
1/2 cup boiling water
food coloring
Mix dry ingredients together. Mix oil, food coloring and boiling water in a separate container. Stir liquid mixture until cool enough to knead. Knead until smooth. If play-dough is too dry, add more water, a little at a time. If play-dough is too crumbly, knead in a small amount of oil. Store in an airtight container.

No-Cook Play Dough

4 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tbsp oil
1 and 1/2 cup water
Mix oil and food color together before adding to dry mixture. Mix until pliable. Keep in container or plastic bag.

Kool-Aid Play Dough

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 package of Kool-Aid
1 cup hot water
Combine ingredients and mix.

Gingerbread Play Dough

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 tbsp. ground ginger
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 cup water
Mix together and knead until smooth.

Chocolate-Scented Play Dough (Non-Edible)

1 and 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup salt
1/2 tablespoon cream of tartar
1 and 1/2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 cup boiling water
Mix the dry ingredients. Add the oil and boiling water. Stir quickly, mixing well. When cool, mix with your hands.

Peanut Butter Play Dough (Edible)

Combine all equal parts of peanut butter and powdered milk. Add a little honey, until it is the consistency of clay.

Nutty Putty (Edible)

3 1/2 cups peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar
3 1/2 cups corn syrup or honey
4 cups powdered milk
chocolate chips (optional)
Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips. Divide mixture into 15-20 portions, place into plastic bags and refrigerate. Children mold dough, add chocolate chips for decorations, and eat.

Coffee Play Dough

2 cups used coffee grounds
1 and 1/2 cups cornmeal
1/2 cup salt
water
flour
Mix all ingredients until pliable. Add water, flour as needed to achieve a working consistency.

Toothpaste Putty

1/2 tsp toothpaste (cream not gel)
1 tsp white glue
2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp water
Mix toothpaste, glue and cornstarch. Add water until you have a lump of putty. Putty should clean dish. Wash and dry hands. Squeeze and roll putty into a ball, the more it is rolled and pulled the better it gets. Will begin to dry in 20 minutes. Just add a drop of water to soften. Will dry rock hard in 24 hours.

Oatmeal Play Dough

1 part flour
1 part water
2 parts oatmeal
Mix well and knead.

Cloud Play Dough

1 cup cornstarch
2 cups baking soda
1 and 1/2 cups water
Combine all ingredients in pan. Bring to a boil, then pour onto plate and cover with a damp cloth. Place in refrigerator for 1/2 hour then knead for 3-4 minutes.

Sand Play Dough

1/2 cup sand
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup boiling water
Mix ingredients together and knead.

Sawdust Play Dough

1 cup sawdust
1/2 cup wall paper paste
water
Mix sawdust and paste together adding enough water to form a soft putty like mixture.

Don’t miss the fine motor resource page!