How to Make Playdough with Lemon Juice
Are you searching for a new playdough recipe? This is a playdough recipe with lemon juice! Learn how to make playdough, a necessary learning tool in any preschool classroom. We have tons of creative and unique playdough recipes!
In this post, we’re sharing a simple playdough recipe with lemon juice instead of the traditional cream of tartar. Not only does this recipe smell amazing, but it also provides a safe alternative ingredient that you might already have in your kitchen.
There’s something undeniably magical about the way children’s imaginations come to life when they’re immersed in sensory play. Homemade playdough is a fantastic tool for developing fine motor skills and imagination in children, while encouraging sensory exploration.
And we know there are loads of benefits to sensory play!
Traditionally, cream of tartar has been a staple ingredient in playdough recipes, acting as a preservative and helping to achieve the desired texture. However, not everyone has cream of tartar readily available in their pantry. No worries!
Today, we’re sharing a solid alternative that’s both effective and accessible: adding lemon juice to your playdough.
Ready to get started?
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In our playdough cookbook, we offer over 45 creative and unique playdough recipes, and not all of them using cream of tartar! We sometimes use lemon juice, vinegar, or even alum powder to stabilize our playdough recipes!
Why Use Lemon Juice in Playdough?
Lemon juice acts as an acidifier, similar to cream of tartar. It helps to stabilize the dough, providing the right texture and elasticity. Additionally, lemon juice adds just a hint of lemon scent that enhances the sensory experience for children.
Here are some other recipes I have that call for lemon juice instead of cream of tartar.
- No-Cook Playdough Recipe without Cream of Tartar
- Softest Playdough Recipe Ever
- Gold Playdough Recipe
Benefits of Using Lemon Juice:
- Natural Scent: The refreshing smell of lemon juice makes the playdough more enjoyable.
- Readily Available: Most households have lemon juice on hand, making this a convenient option.
- Safe and Natural: Lemon juice is a food-grade ingredient, ensuring the playdough is non-toxic and safe for children.
Playdough Recipe with Lemon Juice
Learn how to make a simple and effective playdough recipe that incorporates lemon juice as a key ingredient. This easy-to-follow recipe can be whipped up in no time.
Ingredients:
- cup of flour
- cup of salt
- vegetable oil
- lemon juice
- water
- Food coloring (optional)
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Kitchen Supplies:
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Wooden spoon or spatula for mixing
- Pot or saucepan for cooking the dough
- Stove or hot plate
- Wax paper or baking sheet for cooling
- Airtight container for storage
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How to Make Playdough with Lemon Juice
Making playdough at home or in the classroom is a staple, so have a recipe that calls for lemon juice instead of cream of tartar makes it all the more easy. Let’s dive into the simple steps for making your own lemon-scented playdough!
Mix Dry Ingredients:
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Mix well to ensure even distribution.
Add Wet Ingredients:
Add vegetable oil and lemon juice to the dry mixture. Stir to combine.
Heat and Stir:
Pour 1 cup of water into a pot and heat it over medium heat. Gradually add the flour mixture to the pot, stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
Add Color:
If you want to add color, incorporate a few drops of food coloring at this stage. Knead the color into the dough until it is evenly distributed.
Cook Until Dough Forms:
Continue stirring until the mixture thickens and starts to pull away from the sides of the pot. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes.
Cool and Play:
Remove the playdough from the pot and allow it to cool slightly. Once it’s cool enough to handle, knead it until smooth.
Common Problems and How to Fix Playdough
While making playdough is a fun and straightforward process, there can occasionally be some challenges along the way. Whether your playdough turns out too sticky, too dry, or simply not the right texture, this section will help you troubleshoot.
To get all your playdough questions answered, check out this post about how to make playdough.
How to Make Playdough Less Sticky
If your playdough is too sticky, add a small amount of flour, one tablespoon at a time, until the desired consistency is achieved.
How to Fix Dry Playdough
If the playdough is too dry or crumbly, add a few drops of water and knead thoroughly until it becomes soft and pliable.
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What to Do When Playdough Loses Elasticity
Over time, playdough can lose its elasticity. To revive it, knead in a small amount of vegetable oil to restore flexibility.
How to Color Playdough
Sometimes the color may not distribute evenly. Knead the dough longer, or add a bit more food coloring if needed.
By following this playdough recipe with lemon juice, you’ll create a delightful and aromatic crafting material that’s perfect for little hands. Whether you’re a preschool teacher or a parent, this recipe is sure to be a hit!
Fun Twists on Playdough Recipes Using Lemon Juice
Here’s a list of creative playdough recipes from around the web that incorporate lemon juice or offer unique sensory experiences:
- Lemonade Playdough: Incorporates lemonade drink mix for both color and scent, along with flour, salt, cream of tartar, water, and oil. This recipe is a fun and summery twist on traditional playdough.
- Lemon Sorbet Playdough: This variation sets up the playdough as a sensory activity, resembling lemon sorbet with added sprinkles. It’s not edible but makes for a super fun play experience.
- Lavender Lemon Playdough: Combine the calming scent of lavender with the freshness of lemon for a relaxing sensory experience. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil and lemon zest to your basic lemon playdough recipe.
- Lemon Poppy Seed Playdough: Incorporate poppy seeds into your lemon playdough for a fun textural element. This recipe could also include a hint of vanilla extract for added sweetness. this would be fun for a bakery preschool theme.
- Lemon and Herb Playdough: Experiment with different herbs like rosemary or thyme for a unique and aromatic playdough experience. Combine your favorite lemon playdough recipe with our herb playdough recipe for the perfect combination.
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[insert how-to create card for recipe]
Playdough Recipe with Lemon Juice
In this post, we’re sharing a simple playdough recipe with lemon juice instead of the traditional cream of tartar. Not only does this recipe smell amazing, but it also provides a safe alternative ingredient that you might already have in your kitchen.
Materials
- 1 cup of flour
- 1/4 cup of salt
- 3/4 cup of water
- 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
- Food coloring
Tools
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Wooden spoon or spatula for mixing
- Pot or saucepan for cooking the dough
- Stove or hot plate
- Wax paper or baking sheet for cooling
- Airtight container for storage
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a medium-sized saucepan.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until a dough forms.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool on a piece of parchment paper.
Recommended Products
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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.
