Are you tired of running out of store-bought playdough or hesitant to use products with unknown chemicals?
Fear not, because we have 10 detailed recipes for homemade playdough without cream of tartar that are fun, easy, and customizable. Get ready to create and mold endless possibilities with these fantastic recipes!
The importance of these recipes
Making homemade playdough without cream of tartar is a fun activity and has several benefits. Some of the reasons why you should try making playdough at home include:
- It’s cost-effective and budget-friendly, as you can use common household ingredients instead of buying expensive store-bought playdough.
- You can customize the playdough’s colors, scents, and textures to suit your child’s preferences and interests.
- It’s a great sensory activity that can help young children develop their motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity.
- Homemade playdough without cream of tartar is safe and non-toxic, making it ideal for young children who may be more prone to putting things in their mouths.
- Making playdough from scratch is an opportunity to involve your children in creating something from start to finish, which can be an enriching learning experience.
- Homemade playdough without cream of tartar allows you to control the ingredients your children are exposed to, giving you peace of mind about the safety of the products they use.
Recipe 1: Basic Playdough
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup salt
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
Here’s how you do it:
- Grab a big ol’ mixing bowl and mix the flour and salt like a boss.
- Pour in the water and vegetable oil, and mix it until it forms a legit dough.
- Start kneading the dough on a floured surface like you’re training for the world dough-kneading championships. Keep at it for 5-10 minutes until it’s super smooth and elastic.
- Feeling creative? Add food coloring or scented oils to the dough and take it to the next level.
- When you’re all done, stash it in an airtight container or plastic bag and let the fun begin!
Recipe 2: Edible Playdough
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Now, let’s get cookin’:
- Grab a mixing bowl and toss the peanut butter, honey, and powdered sugar.
- Mix it up until it forms a dope dough.
- Get your workout in and start kneading that dough on a powdered sugar-covered surface until it’s smooth and elastic.
- Feeling fancy? Add in some food coloring or sprinkles to make your edible playdough even more deliciously unique.
- Once you’ve created your masterpiece, store it in a container or bag that’s airtight like precious gold.
Recipe 3: Kool-Aid Playdough
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 envelopes of unsweetened Kool-Aid
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 cups boiling water
Now, let’s make some magic:
- Throw the flour, salt, and Kool-Aid in a mixing bowl and prepare to party.
- Pour in the vegetable oil and boiling water, and mix it until it forms a legit dough.
- Show off those muscles and start kneading that dough like a pro baker until it’s smooth and elastic.
- Once you’ve mastered the art of Kool-Aid playdough, stash it in a container or bag that’s airtight and keep it safe like it’s a precious treasure.
Recipe 4: Glitter Playdough
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 envelopes of unsweetened Kool-Aid
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 cups boiling water
Now, let’s make some magic:
- Throw the flour, salt, and Kool-Aid in a mixing bowl and prepare to party.
- Pour in the vegetable oil and boiling water, and mix it until it forms a legit dough.
- Show off those muscles and start kneading that dough like a pro baker until it’s smooth and elastic.
- Once you’ve mastered the art of Kool-Aid playdough, stash it in a container or bag that’s airtight and keep it safe like it’s a precious treasure.
Recipe 5: Jell-O Playdough
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of flour
- 1/2 cup of salt
- 2 tbsp of cream of tartar
- 1 cup of boiling water
- 1 package of Jell-O (whatever flavor suits your fancy)
- 2 tbsp of vegetable oil
Now let’s get started on this wiggly, jiggly recipe:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and cream of tartar.
- Boil some water and add the Jell-O and vegetable oil, then stir until everything is combined and the Jell-O is dissolved.
- Add the Jell-O mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring until it forms a dough.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface until it’s smooth and stretchy.
- Store your masterpiece in an airtight container or plastic bag, and let the fun begin!
Recipe 6: Silky-Smooth Playdough
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup hair conditioner
- Food coloring (optional)
Let’s get started:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cornstarch and hair conditioner. You can use any hair conditioner, but we recommend using your favorite scent for a delightful sensory experience.
- Stir the mixture until it forms a dough. This should be a breeze, and the cornstarch will create a silky-smooth texture that’s irresistible to touch.
- Knead the dough on a surface dusted with cornstarch until smooth and elastic. This is where the magic happens; you’ll feel like you’re playing with a cloud.
- For an extra pop of color, add a few drops of food coloring to the dough and knead until evenly distributed. You can also leave it plain for a classic look.
- Store the playdough in an airtight container or plastic bag, and enjoy the softness and smoothness whenever you need a break from reality.
Recipe 7: Cloud Dough
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
Let’s assemble it all up:
- Grab a mixing bowl and combine the flour and vegetable oil.
- Stir the mixture until it forms a crumbly dough. It’s like making sandcastles but without the beach!
- If you want to jazz it up, you can add some food coloring or scented oils. Who doesn’t want their cloud to smell like bubblegum?
- Once you’re satisfied with your creation, store it in an airtight container or plastic bag. You can even make different colored clouds and combine them to create your own rainbow.
Recipe 8: Bubblegum Playdough
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp bubblegum extract
Let’s get cooking:
- Mix the cornstarch, powdered sugar, peanut butter, vegetable oil, and bubblegum extract in a big bowl.
- Stir until the mixture becomes a doughy delight.
- Knead the dough on a surface sprinkled with powdered sugar until it’s silky-smooth.
- Store in a container fit for a mad scientist – like a spooky skull or a crazy clown head. Or use a boring airtight container or plastic bag, your choice!
Recipe 9: No-Cook Playdough
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of flour
- 1/4 cup of salt
- 1/2 cup of water
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
Instructions:
- Grab a large mixing bowl and put in the flour and salt.
- Next, add in the water and vegetable oil, and mix everything until it forms a dough.
- Get ready to get those muscles moving – knead the dough on a floured surface for 5-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- If you want to add some pizzazz to your playdough, throw in some food coloring or scented oils to give it that extra oomph.
- Keep your new creation fresh by storing it in an airtight container or plastic bag. That’s it – you’re ready to play!
Recipe 10: Yogurt Playdough
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt
- 1 1/2 cups of cornstarch
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions:
- Combine the Greek yogurt and cornstarch in a mixing bowl, and get ready to mix like a maniac!
- Stir the mixture until it resembles a dough, and keep stirring like there’s no tomorrow!
- If you’re feeling fancy, add some food coloring to your dough, and mix it like a pro.
- Knead the dough on a surface dusted with cornstarch until it’s smooth and elastic, just like a circus acrobat.
- Store your masterpiece in an airtight container or plastic bag, and voila! You’re now the proud owner of some fantastic yogurt playdough!
Recipe 11: Gluten-Free Playdough
Ingredients:
- 1 cup white rice flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions:
- Grab a mixing bowl and add the rice flour, cornstarch, salt, and cream of tartar. Mix them up!
- Pour in the water and vegetable oil. Time to stir up some goofiness!
- Knead the dough on a floured surface until it’s smooth and stretchy, like a silly putty.
- Feeling extra zany? Add food coloring or scented oils to the dough and knead until evenly distributed.
- Once you’re done being silly, store your goofy goo in an airtight container or plastic bag and keep the fun going!
Recipe 12: Salt Dough
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1/2 cup water
And here be the instructions:
- Combine the flour and salt in a mixing bowl.
- Add the water, and give it a good stir till it forms a dough.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface till it’s as smooth as a pirate’s booty.
- Add food coloring or scented oils to the dough and knead it until it’s all mixed up.
- Set your oven to 200°F and bake your dough creations for 2-3 hours, or until they are as hard as a ship’s hull!
- After you’ve baked them, keep your salty treasures in an airtight container so they stay fresh for your next adventure!
Recipe 13: Two-Ingredient Playdough
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup conditioner (any scent or color)
Instructions:
- Grab a mixing bowl and add the cornstarch and conditioner.
- Mix it like you mean it until it turns into a smooth dough.
- Please knead it on a clean surface until it’s all mixed up and ready to go.
- Feeling too dry? No worries, add some more conditioner until you get a perfect consistency.
- Store it in a funky airtight container or plastic bag, and let the playtime begin!
Recipe 14: Marshmallow Playdough
Ingredients:
- 10 oz marshmallows
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
Instructions:
- Combine the marshmallows and vegetable oil in a microwave-safe bowl, and pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Keep doing this till it all melts and gets goopy.
- Now, stir in the cornstarch till you get a doughy mixture.
- Time to knead it like crazy! Sprinkle some cornstarch on a surface, and knead the dough till it’s smooth and stretchy.
- Store it in an airtight container or plastic bag, and it’s ready to play with!
Recipe 15: Snow Playdough
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cornstarch
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup vegetable oil
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cornstarch and vegetable oil. Get your hands in the mix and start mixing until a dough forms. Imagine you are building a snowman, but instead of snow, you use cornstarch and oil.
- Add more oil if needed to achieve the desired consistency. You want your snow to be as fluffy and soft as possible.
- If you want to take it to the next level, add glitter or other decorations to the dough. After all, snow can be pretty sparkly and fun!
- Store in an airtight container or plastic bag, and let the snow playdough fun begin!
Making homemade playdough benefits
Unleash the inner artist in your child:
Homemade playdough is the perfect medium for your child to explore their artistic side. The possibilities are endless, from making pizzas and burgers to creating monsters and aliens.
With homemade play dough, your child can let their imagination run wild and create anything they can dream up!
Play it safe:
You never know what’s in store-bought playdough, but with homemade playdough, you can rest assured that your child is playing with a product free from harmful chemicals and additives. It’s a safe and non-toxic way to let your child play without worries.
Save money, play more:
Homemade playdough is a cost-effective alternative to store-bought playdough. You only need a few simple ingredients to make a big batch, so you can save money and make more playdough for your child to enjoy.
Develop motor skills and dexterity:
Playing with playdough can help children develop their fine motor skills, which are essential for writing, drawing, and scissors. And not to mention, squeezing, rolling, and molding playdough is an excellent workout for those little fingers!
Indulge in a squishy, sensory paradise:
If you want to give your child the ultimate tactile and sensory experience, homemade playdough is the way to go!
The different colors and textures can ignite their senses and provide a calming effect. You can even spice things up by adding some glitters or essential oils for a unique touch. It’s like a squishy paradise right at home!
Making homemade playdough is fun and beneficial for your child’s creativity, development, and overall well-being. So why settle for store-bought playdough when you can have endless possibilities with homemade playdough without cream of tartar? Get ready to mold, shape, and create with your child!
I’m a former teacher (and mother of Two Childs) with a background in child development. Here to help you with play-based learning activities for kids. ( Check my Next startup Cledemy.Com)