How to Make Playdough – 10+ Unique Recipes

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How to make playdough might be one of the most valuable bits of information for sensory play. At Stay at Home Educator, we are huge advocates of playdough play! Every preschool teacher needs dependable collection of fun playdough recipes.

From playdough recipes without cream of tartar to scented playdough and edible playdough, this is your one-stop place for all the best playdough recipes. All the homemade playdough recipes hosted on this page are simple playdough recipes, making them perfect for the preschool classroom. Making playdough is easy with all the amazing recipes here.

how to make homemade playdough recipe | playdough recipe without cream of tartar
Making playdough has never been so easy!

The best thing about making homemade playdough is all the different kinds of playdough you can make while keeping it inexpensive. All of thee playdough recipes are cost effective, which makes it even easier to add it to your sensory play or fine motor activities.

On this page, you will find all our best playdough recipes. Recipes that are cooked, microwaved, scented, edible…you name it.

Ingredients to Make Playdough

Any homemade playdough recipe requires only the most basic household kitchen ingredients. If you’re looking to always have the right ingredients on hand, here’s the most common that should be kept in the pantry.

  • flour
  • salt
  • cream of tartar
  • water
  • vegetable oil
  • gel food coloring

Playdough is that simple. Here are a few other ingredients that are common, but will give you a completely different playdough result.

  • corn starch
  • baking soda
  • kool-aid
  • fragrance (food extracts or essential oils)

How Long Does Homemade Playdough Last?

Properly stored in an airtight container, homemade playdough can last up to 3 months. For storage tips, and other tricks to making playdough at home, check out this post about how to make homemade playdough, including how to fix your playdough fails.

How to Make Playdough Without Cream of Tartar

While playdough recipes with cream of tartar are very popular, there are plenty of playdough recipes without cream of tartar. In fact, my all-time best playdough recipe is one without cream of tartar. It uses lemon juice, instead.

Playdough Recipes Without Cream of Tartar

Substitute for Cream of Tartar in Playdough

Most recipes without cream of tartar will have one of the following substitutes, like in the recipes above.

What Does Cream of Tartar Do in Playdough?

Cream of tartar acts as a key player in playdough-making, adding several essential benefits to the mix. Long lasting playdough recipes without cream of tartar, like those above, use lemon juice or white vinegar as a substitute.

Cooked Playdough Recipe

If you’re looking for a creative and engaging activity that guarantees hours of fun, making cooked playdough at home is the perfect choice! Crafting your playdough from scratch allows you to customize colors and scents while ensuring a safe and non-toxic play experience for kids.

Easy Cooked Playdough Recipes

Uncooked Playdough Recipes

Every preschool teacher needs an easy uncooked playdough recipe. Here are some of our favorite no-cook playdough recipes.

Scented Playdough

Spice up your fine motor and sensory play with scented playdough recipes!

Imagine the giggles and wonder as your little ones explore a world of delightful aromas. From orange creamsicle to peppermint and everything in between, scented playdough adds that extra dash of magic making unforgettable sensory experiences.

Scented Playdough Recipes

20+ Cool Ways to Change Up Your Play Dough

Edible Playdough Recipes

If you’re looking for a fun and safe activity to keep your little ones entertained, we’ve got something exciting for you – edible playdough recipes! Yes, you read that right. Playdough that’s not just for molding but can also be nibbled on (no worries!). Here are some simple and creative edible playdough ideas that preschoolers love.

Is Playdough Edible?

Playdough, typically made from a mixture of flour, water, salt, oil, and other ingredients, is not intended to be consumed as food. While it is non-toxic and generally safe if accidentally ingested in small quantities, it is not designed or recommended for eating.

However, there are specialized edible playdough recipes, like those listed below, that use food-safe ingredients and are explicitly meant to be enjoyed as a sensory and creative play experience that can also be safely consumed in moderation. As a general rule, it’s essential to supervise children while playing with traditional playdough and to use edible playdough recipes when the intent is to allow children to explore and taste the dough.

Recipes for Edible Playdough

How to Make Brown Playdough

How do you make brown playdough? – A simple yet essential addition to your playdough repertoire. In this post, we’ll explore the various ways of creating brown playdough, and the good news is, it’s just as easy as any other homemade playdough recipe!

But that’s not all! We’ll guide you multiple ways of making shades of brown, ensuring you have the perfect color to suit any preschool theme. So get ready to add a touch of earthy charm to your playdough collection with these brown playdough recipes!

How to Make Brown Playdough

How to Make Brown Playdough

Make White Playdough

Have you ever wondered how to create that perfectly pure white playdough? Look no further! This gluten-free playdough recipe is here to guide you through the entire process. From start to finish, we’ll cover all the nuts and bolts of how to make playdough, ensuring you have the best results.

Not only is this playdough recipe a treat for the eyes, but it also has a cool touch that resembles real snow. Imagine the wonder and joy on your little one’s face as they play with this bright white playdough, feeling just like the real deal. This is our all time favorite white playdough recipe.

How to Make White Playdough

How to Make White Playdough