This easy homemade playdough recipe is the best! It costs less than $5 to make and lasts a long time. Perfect for cutting into shapes with cookie cutters and can be played with again and again. You will love it!
Hey party people!! I am so excited to share this homemade play dough recipe with you! There may be a million playdough recipes on the internet but this one is tried and tested. It’s one of our favorite boredom busters, along with playing Bingo (we have a set for every holiday) making fun treats like these Minnie Mouse cupcakes, or creating our own Lava Lamps!
I typically double this recipe, split it into four parts and dye them each a different color. Then, I put each one in an air-tight container and they will last for months!
Every mom needs this playdough recipe in their life, so let’s get down to the details.
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HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH
Ingredients:
- Iodized Salt
- Alum
- Food Coloring
- Corn Starch
- Vegetable Oil
Other Handy Things to Have Around:
- Ziplock Bags
- Baby Food Jars (for storing playdough)
- Cookie cutters
- Dough Sculpting Toys
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HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH
- Add all of the ingredients except food coloring to a large saucepan and stir with a whisk over medium heat.
- When it’s thickened, switch to a wooden spoon.
- Separate into 4 sections and put each section into a ziplock bag. Add a different color of food coloring to each bag.
- Zip the bag and knead the food coloring into the playdough.
Alternative: If you don’t want to use plastic bags, you can put each section of dough onto a cookie sheet or some parchment paper and knead the food coloring into the dough that way.
My little ones love to help make this… especially the kneading part! I was totally shocked at how good my 3 year old was at it the first time I let him try!
HOW TO MAKE PLAY DOUGH LAST LONGER
The key to keeping play dough longer, is to keep it in air-tight containers. I like to use these baby food jars because they’re cute and they really do keep it from drying out. I honestly use baby food jars for everything.
Speaking of little ones, this recipe is totally safe to ingest. I don’t know if I’d call it edible because it’s not tasty, but it is totally safe for your little ones if they do decide to eat it so no need to worry!
So what do you think? Will you give it a try?!
If you try this we’d love if you would leave a comment and positive review! They mean so much to us!
Homemade Playdough
Video
Equipment
- saucepan
- Wooden Spoon
Materials
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup salt
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 TBS vegetable oil
- 1 TBS powdered Alum
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large saucepan and begin stirring with a whisk over medium heat.
- As mixture begins to thicken, you will need to switch to a wooden spoon, and continue stirring.
- When the mixture becomes too think to stir, remove it from your pan.
- Separate into 4 sections and put each section into a ziplock bag. Add a different color of food coloring to each bag.
- Zip the bag and knead the food coloring into the playdough.
- Store in an air tight container & have fun!
Notes
This recipe was originally published in June 2015, and has been updated with new pictures, a video and more detailed information.
Hi, I made this exactly as directed and it is waay too sticky and not like dough at all. Any suggestions?
Hey Loda! That is so weird! What I would do is try adding about a spoonful of flour at a time until you get to the right consistency, that should work! I’m so sorry!
This looks fun, definitely on the list of fun things to do at Grammy’s house this summer! I too like the simple ingredient list and the non-toxic aspect – one of the boys is two. The science teacher part of me is curious about experimenting with cream of tartar (which I have on hand) and alum (which I’ll need to purchase). Sounds like a double batch! Thanks for posting.
Oh yay! I’m so glad you are excited!! Let us know them verdict if you try them both! ????
I’ve never used it so I couldn’t say for sure, but I bet it would!
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Thank you for sharing this. Made it today for the first time with my two year old and he loved it.
Yay!! Im so glad to hear that!!! Thanks so much for letting us know! ????
Thank The
Thank The
Hi, Im form México and I search everywhere and I couldn’t find alum, is there a possibility of make it without the alum and work?
This question deserves an answer. She is asking about substitutions. Similarly: What is the purpose of the alum? How does it differ from cream of tartar in playdough recipes.
Please reply. Thanks.
Alum is a binding agent and so is cream of tartar! I assume a substitution would work fine, but having never tried it myself don’t want to make promises! Hope this helps.
Thank you so much! That is the plan–fingers crossed!
I am the opposite of crafty, so forgive this if it is a terribly silly question! I want to make playdough at my daughter’s upcoming birthday party, but I basically want to provide the made dough, and just have each kid add their own color/glitter to customize. Would this recipe work for that? Me make it the day before, store it, and then pull it out at the party and have each kid knead in the color of their choice?
Thank you!
-Emily
Not a silly question at all! And this recipe would absolutely work for that! It’s stores REALLY well. Like in an airtight container it will last for months. You are so smart to do an activity and a favor in one! Best of luck ????
Hi ya. Love your homemade play dough and I will certainly be making some soon. Just wondering – can I make good dough without the alum?
Wow so fun! My little one isn’t quite old enough for playdough yet but we’ll pin this for the future! I love that it contains ingredients I already have on hand besides the alum.
I know right?! That is the best part!
I’ve never tried this recipe but that dough looks awesome! Definitely trying this weekend!
It is so great! Your kids will love it!