Edible Play Dough Recipe for Preschoolers
“But Mom, Corinne will eat the play dough!”
That was William’s response to my suggestion that we do something with our hands. And his concern is quite valid, Corinne might eat play dough, which makes it a challenge to enjoy this kind of sensory play.
I know there are hundreds of creative play dough recipes that are edible and can easily be found on the Internet, (especially Pinterest). And I know that if Corinne eats a bit of home made play dough, which is made primary of salt and flour, it will not hurt her, but I wanted something that was truly edible, that if she stuck a golf ball sized amount in her mouth and swallowed the entire thing she wouldn’t upend it in the most unpleasant ways twenty minutes later.
So, I created this recipe for her.
Edible Play Dough Recipe 1 cup creamy peanut butter 2 tablespoons shortening 3/4 cup powdered milk 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar Mix well and knead in extra powdered sugar until dough is of play dough consistency. Refrigerate for a few hours for a better set, or use immediately. Refrigerate any uneaten dough at the end of play session.Ok, so this is actually more of a no-bake cookie recipe. In fact, it is very similar to any recipe one might find by Googling “peanut butter ball recipe.” But, it is edible, and there is no cooking required, either…and I whipped it up in about two minutes.
As the picture shows below Corinne did stick not a golf ball sized lump, but more like a Bing cherry sized lump of dough right into her mouth.
She smiled and enjoyed it, helped herself to another few pieces, but then just played.
I was surprised at how little Corinne actually ate, overall, and even more surprised at how little William ate. (He has a terrible sweet tooth, just like his Mama).
While the recipe is a little nontraditional, it certainly suited our needs. The kids got some sensory play in, which gratefully kept them busy for the better part of an hour, and it was completely safe for both the kids. Best of all, it was something my kids, despite their ages, could enjoy together!
Have fun!
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
My little guys love playdough, but of course a good amount ends up in their mouths. Thanks for linking up to The Sunday Showcase. 🙂
That looks like a great recipe. Using legos to make impressions in the dough is a great idea. I also love the mini rolling pin. Thank you for linking to Artsy Play Wednesday on Capri + 3.
: 0 ) Theresa
Your play dough is also wheat and corn free, making it safe for this household. 🙂 Nice!!
I made this today but mine turned out very crumbly. Not sure what I did differently. My little guy still had fun with it. 🙂 Will have to try making this again.
I have found off brand pb doesn’t do well in playdough or pb cookies. It doesn’t have enough oil in it.
Ooh! How yummy… uh..er… I mean FUN! 😉
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That is so funny you posted this! I was putting this recipe in an activity book that I am working on. It is a lot of fun for the kids to make the letter of their name and then eat it up! Thanks for sharing at Mom’s Library!
I love this recipe and think it is great…as long as there are no peanut allergies. I have been teaching preschool for over 20+ years, and now unfortunately many children have peanut or tree nut allergies. This is fine if you know your child is not allergic, however, if using in a classroom, you must be sure no one has a peanut allergy. (Sorry, we always have to think of safety.)
You’re right! I sometimes forget about allergies because there are none in my family or either side’s family history. We should always be aware of allergies and food sensitivities. Many kids don’t tolerate dairy or gluten, either. Thank you for mentioning this.
Love this – I have featured it in my 50 Wonderful Ways with Play Dough post, Alice @ Mums Make Lists