Irresistible Chocolate Playdough Recipe
Do your kids love the smell of fresh brownies baking in the oven? What if you could capture that delicious scent in a playdough recipe? You can! This amazing chocolate playdough recipe is the perfect solution for little ones who crave sensory play with a yummy twist.
This isn’t your average playdough – we’re replacing some of the flour with cocoa powder, creating a rich, dark brown dough that smells absolutely divine. It’s not edible, but it will have your kids begging to get their hands on it. This post will detail exactly how to make playdough at home!
Preschool is a time of exploration, discovery, and endless curiosity. And what better way to nurture those young minds than with a fun, engaging activity that stimulates multiple senses? Enter the wonderful world of playdough made with cocoa!
Squeezing, rolling, shaping – playdough offers a delightful sensory experience for little hands. They can feel the coolness of the dough, explore its texture, and even strengthen their developing fine motor skills.
But wait, there’s more! This time, we’re turning up the fun factor with a chocolate playdough recipe. Imagine the excitement as your preschoolers create with a sweet-smelling dough that sparks their imaginations.
There are so many ways to use this versatile homemade playdough. Playdough activities make learning hands-on and fun, so make sure you have loads of playdough recipes. Try my Playdough Cookbook!
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Why Try this Chocolate Playdough Recipe?
Playdough is a classic in the preschool classroom for a reason! It’s a versatile tool for fostering creativity, developing fine motor skills, and engaging little minds and developing their cognitive skills. But why not take it a step further and introduce the fragrant world of chocolate playdough?
Here’s where the magic happens. Traditional playdough offers a textural experience, but chocolate playdough adds a whole new dimension – the sense of smell! (By the way, adding this playdough is a must for your five senses preschool lesson plans along with our lemon scented playdough recipe). By incorporating cocoa powder, we create a playdough that not only feels wonderful in little hands, but also boasts a rich, enticing chocolate aroma.
I believe this seemingly simple addition unlocks a deeper level of play.
Imagine a preschooler sculpting a pretend cupcake – the texture of the dough combined with the delicious scent of chocolate can spark their imagination. The chocolate aroma becomes more than just a background note; it becomes part of the story they’re creating which is such an important piece in developing oral language skills and critical thinking skills.
Be sure to read all the ways I use this chocolate playdough recipe in different preschool themes at the end of this post.
Easy Chocolate Playdough Recipe
Regular playdough is fun, but it’s kind of like a black and white movie for your senses. Sure, it’s squishy and cool, but that’s about it.
Chocolate playdough, though? That’s like adding surround sound and smell-o-vision! By mixing in cocoa powder, we turn playdough into a more complete sensory experience.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that at no cost to you, I may earn a small sum if you click through and make a purchase.
Playdough Ingredients
- flour
- cocoa powder
- table salt
- cream of tartar
- cooking oil
- water
Kitchen Supplies Needed to Make Playdough
- medium sauce pan
- measuring cups and spoons
- aluminum foil, parchment paper or wax paper
- wooden paddle for stirring
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How to Make Chocolate Playdough with Cocoa Powder
This homemade play dough follows a classic cooked playdough method, making it super easy to whip up.
- Combine the cocoa powder, all-purpose flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a pot.
- Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent sticking or burning.
- As you stir, you’ll see the mixture come together and pull away from the sides of the pan. When the edges start to solidify, it’s a sign that the playdough is ready—it will be smooth and easy to work with.
- Allow to cool to the touch on parchment paper, then knead thoroughly. Fold and press the dough repeatedly until it becomes smooth and elastic, ensuring an even texture throughout.
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Use Chocolate Playdough with Fun Preschool Themes!
Get imaginations running wild with the versatility of chocolate playdough, perfect for preschoolers exploring a loads of different themes. These theme ideas are a sweet blend of sensory exploration and imaginative play.
- Cooking and Baking Theme:
- Roll out chocolate playdough to make pretend cookies, cakes, and utensils.
- Set up a play kitchen area where children can use the chocolate playdough as ingredients.
- Create mini cupcakes and pies with chocolate playdough and colorful toppings.
- Cupcake Theme:
- Mold chocolate playdough into cupcake shapes and decorate with frosting made from other materials.
- Use cupcake liners to create a sensory bin filled with chocolate playdough “cupcakes.”
- Let children role-play as bakers, designing and decorating their own chocolate playdough cupcakes.
- Valentine’s Theme:
- Shape chocolate playdough into hearts and create Valentine’s Day cards or gifts.
- Craft playdough roses and “candy” chocolates for a sensory exploration of love and friendship.
- Nature or Earth Day Theme:
- Sculpt animals, plants, and landscapes from chocolate playdough to explore nature.
- Create a sensory bin filled with chocolate playdough and natural materials like stones and sticks.
- Discuss concepts like habitats and ecosystems while playing with chocolate playdough in a nature-themed setting.
- Construction Theme:
- Build structures and vehicles using chocolate playdough as a versatile building material.
- Use toy tools like plastic hammers and screwdrivers to enhance construction play.
- Explore engineering concepts like balance and stability through hands-on building with chocolate playdough.
- Garden Theme:
- Mold chocolate playdough into flowers, insects, and gardening tools for a garden-themed sensory experience.
- Create a mini garden play area with chocolate playdough “plants” and “soil.”
- Discuss the growth cycle of plants and the importance of gardening while playing with chocolate playdough.
- Forest Theme:
- Shape animals, trees, and woodland creatures from chocolate playdough to recreate a forest environment.
- Build a forest scene with chocolate playdough and natural materials like leaves and pinecones.
- Explore concepts like biodiversity and ecosystems while playing with chocolate playdough in a forest-themed setting.
- Hot Cocoa Theme:
- Craft mugs of hot cocoa using chocolate playdough and marshmallow shapes.
- Create a cozy sensory bin filled with chocolate playdough and pretend marshmallows.
- Discuss winter and holiday traditions while playing with chocolate playdough in a hot cocoa-themed setting.
Experience the creative fun of chocolate playdough.
From enhancing sensory exploration to fostering imaginative play, this versatile medium offers a rich blend of fun and education for young learners. Teachers and parents, seize the chance to engage your little ones with this sweet recipe, and share your insights and activities to inspire others.
Remember, while cooking and playing, prioritize safety by providing supervision and ensuring safe handling of homemade playdough at all times.
Leave a comment below to share how you used this playdough recipe using cocoa in your classroom. I’d love to hear all about your creative ideas.
Chocolate Playdough Recipe
What if you could capture that delicious scent in a playdough recipe? You can! This amazing chocolate playdough recipe is the perfect solution for little ones who crave sensory play with a yummy twist.
Materials
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup flour
- 2/3 cups cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup table salt
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
Tools
- medium saucepan
- measuring cups and spoons
- mixing spoon
- parchment paper
Instructions
- Measure the flour, cocoa powder, salt, oil, and cream of tartar into a medium saucepan and whisk together.
- Add the water, then turn on the heat. Mix together.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture forms into a thick dough. You’ll know when it’s ready because it will look like a hot ball of playdough!
- Allow the playdough to cool for about ten minutes on parchment paper.
- Knead thoroughly.
Notes
- DO NOT ATTEMPT THE FOLLOWING until the playdough is completely cooled.
- If the playdough is too sticky, knead in more flour, one tablespoon at a time, until desired texture is achieved.
- If the playdough is too crumbly, knead in more water, one teaspoon at a time.
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Product on saleSpecial Offer! – 45 Playdough RecipesOriginal price was: $10.00.$7.00Current price is: $7.00.
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.
