Ice Cream Playdough Recipe

Get ready to elevate sensory play with this twist on on old classic: ice cream playdough! Our special ice cream playdough recipe delivers an impactful learning experience – a sweet pretend play activity where preschoolers can serve up what looks just like the favorite frozen dessert.

Follow this guide on how to make playdough that transforms into adorable, scoopable Neapolitan treats that are simply irresistible to the eyes!

It’s important to note an exceptional feature of this ice cream playdough recipe that sets it apart from many others: it’s edible. That’s right! It’s not just taste safe, it’s completely edible.

Crafted from simple ingredients like store-bought frosting and powdered sugar, this playdough really captures the essence of ice cream in its appearance.

The realism of this playdough is truly remarkable, which makes it all the more fun for preschoolers to use. It bears such a striking resemblance to real ice cream that it might just tempt you to take a bite!

Remember, while this playdough is designed to look like real ice cream, its purpose is to inspire imagination, develop fine motor skills, and enhance sensory experiences in a fun and interactive way. Plus, it’s a must-add to your ice cream theme preschool lesson plans.

So, gather your ingredients and let’s get ready to create something that’s not only visually appealing but also safe and enjoyable for everyone involved.

These playdough shape mats include ice cream themed playdough mats! Imagine using this edible playdough recipe with that particular set of shape mats! Too fun!

Why Try This Homemade Ice Cream Playdough

There’s loads of reasons to consider adding this ice cream playdough recipe to your sensory play lesson plans.

• Sensory Development:
  • different textures, colors, and tastes, promotes sensory exploration.
• Boosts Creativity
  • This playdough recipe does a solid for imaginative play and creativity!
• Edible:
  • With a recipe so delicious looking, good thing it’s edible, right?
• Fine Motor Skills:
  • Kneading, rolling, and scooping the playdough promotes hand strength and control.
• Versatile Use:
  • Can be used in multiple classroom activities, including sensory bins, play kitchens, and thematic learning units.
• Oral Language Development:
  • Facilitates cooperative play and communication among peers, enhancing social skills.

Why else might you add this playdough recipe? How about because ice cream week in your summer preschool lesson plans just wouldn’t be complete without it!

Edible Ice Cream Playdough Recipe

This playdough recipe only calls for two ingredients and a few basic kitchen supplies.

Ingredients

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• canned store bought frosting
• powdered sugar
• flavored extract (optional)
• food coloring (optional)

Kitchen Supplies Needed

• large mixing bowl
• measuring cups and spoons
• aluminum foil, parchment paper or wax paper
• wooden paddle for stirring

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• Hand wash recommended
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How to Make Ice Cream Playdough

Begin by mixing frosting with one cup of powdered sugar in a large bowl. Add in a little flavored extract, if desired – just one teaspoon or so. Stir the mixture gently and gradually add more powdered sugar, up to three cups in total, until the dough starts to form.

When the dough becomes too thick to stir with a spoon, it’s time to knead it by hand.

If the dough sticks to your hands, add more powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time, until it no longer sticks. Knead well between each addition of powdered sugar.

Once you achieve a non-sticky consistency, the dough is ready to be used.

How to Make Vanilla

The easiest way to make vanilla, or edible white playdough is to select any vanilla flavored store bought frosting. Then, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to it.

How to Make Pink Strawberry Playdough

Rather than using a strawberry flavored extract, use strawberry flavored frosting instead. The result will be a peal pink, so you may want to add a drop of red food coloring to give it that classic pink color.

The strawberry flavoring of the frosting will be dilated by the addition of the powdered sugar, so if the flavor is important, add some extract or even candy flavoring.

How to Make Edible Chocolate Playdough

When you’re doing an ice cream preschool theme and waning chocolate playdough, this is the way to make it. Start with chocolate frosting and add in the powdered sugar to make the playdough as instructed above.

If you find you are looking for a darker color of chocolate, then add in a tablespoon of cocoa powder.

How to Use Edible Ice Cream Playdough

An ice cream playdough recipe like this one – that’s looks so much like the real thing, and it also edible – is best used for pretend play, of course!

Preschoolers will quickly transform playtime into a story of sweet creations with just the most simple props which you probably already have in your preschool classroom.

Try offering this playdough with ice cream related manipulatives. (We used Learning Resources Ice Cream set). We also used the following:

• Ice Cream Props
• Felt Pom Poms (red for cherries)
• Birthday sprinkles

The preschoolers scooped the playdough and rolled balls to make stacks of ice cream on top of the cone – using all three “flavors of ice cream”.

Since this is an edible playdough, make sure to keep the sprinkles edible, too, because your little ones will definitely sneaks some bites. You can even use real ice cream cones, too.

I brought out some child safe sundae dishes and the preschoolers also make pretend ice cream sundaes. You could also make parfaits, too.

They used bowls and scooped on the different colored dough on top of each other. Pink for the base, then maybe some white vanilla, and then a scoop of chocolate to finish it off – just like a real sundae chef!

You can even use a play cookie set and make ice cream sandwiches, too!

As children scoop and mold the dough, their hands get stronger, and they practice what becomes daily tasks and basic life skills. And, just like at a real shop, the chatter with taking orders is non-stop! My preschoolers had so much fun talking to each other and taking orders from their classmates.

Ice Cream Activities for Preschoolers

Playing ice cream shop isn’t just about the delicious pretend treats. We have activities and printables so you can create an entire ice cream week for your preschoolers. That’s a fun way to kick off summer learning, isn’t it?!

• Ice Cream Preschool Lesson Plans
• Letter I is for Ice Cream Missing Letter Mats
• Ice Cream Theme Counting Cards
• Measuring Scoops Ice Cream Cards
• Name Building Ice Cream Cone Printable

Sarah Punkoney, MAT

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.

stayathomeeducator.com/