Sparkling Snow Playdough Recipe
Want to learn how to make playdough that is pure white and also sparkles like real snow? Try this snow playdough recipe!
This homemade playdough recipe has a special ingredient – baking soda – that gives the playdough a cooling effect, making it feel like real snow. And with the addition of chunky glitter, well…your preschoolers will think they are playing with the real thing!
This sparkling snow playdough is magical. The recipe not only brings the wonders of winter right into your home, but it also offers a fantastic way for children to explore their creativity while engaging their sense of touch.
How is that, you ask?
The playdough’s soft, fluffy texture is complemented by the coolness of baking soda, mimicking the sensation of snow. Plus, the sparkling glitter makes the playdough even look like the real thing, making a winter playdough invitation to play all the more fun for your preschoolers.
Our peppermint playdough recipe is another good one to try.
Whether it’s for a snowy day indoors or a winter-themed activity, this playdough recipe is easy to make and safe for kids, ensuring worry-free play. Its just one of many recipes in our Playdough Cookbook!
-
Product on saleSpecial Offer! – 45 Playdough RecipesOriginal price was: $10.00.$7.00Current price is: $7.00.
What is Snow Playdough?
Snow playdough is a white, glittery playdough that mimics the look and feel of real snow. Made from baking soda, it offers a unique texture that’s both soft and cool to the touch. Like seriously, it is cold to the touch which makes it feel like real snow!
Add some chunky, iridescent glitter to enhance its sparkle, making it even more enticing for preschoolers because it looks and feels just like real snow.
In fact, snow playdough is a excellent alternative for classroom that might not experience snow.
Recipe for Snow Playdough
This snow playdough recipe is easy and involves just a few ingredients. Here’s how to make it.
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.
Ingredients
- baking soda
- cornstarch
- water
- oil
- Chunky glitter (silver, white, or light blue)
- Optional: A few drops of peppermint extract for a wintry scent
- STUNNING HOLOGRAPHIC EFFECT. Mixed different size hexagonal sequins and fine glitter, our…
- PERFECTLY SEALED & SHAKER CAP. Holographic chunky glitter for resin features this thoughtful cap…
- SAFE & DURABLE CHUNKY GLITTERS. This silver chunky glitter is made of high-quality polyester. Our…
- STUNNING HOLOGRAPHIC EFFECT. White Chunky Glitter mixed different size hexagonal sequins and fine…
- PERFECTLY SEALED & SHAKER CAP. Holographic chunky glitter for resin features this thoughtful cap…
- SAFE & DURABLE CHUNKY GLITTERS. This white glitter is made of high-quality polyester. Our…
Kitchen Supplies
To create your magical snow playdough, you’ll need a few essential kitchen supplies to make the process smooth and enjoyable:
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Spoon or spatula
- Airtight container
- Wax paper or a clean surface
- Measures approximately 7″D, 8.25″D, 9.75″D
- Hand wash recommended
- Holds 32 , 64 and 96 oz respectively
- ULTIMATE MEASURING CUP & SPOON SET: Our 19-piece Ultimate Measuring Set is the all-inclusive…
- EASY TO READ: These cups & spoons feature long handles for more secure grip & easy to read standard…
- DISHWASHER SAFE: This set of 9 spoons & 10 cups are BPA free & dishwasher safe. Each set includes an…
- Elegant and ergonomic design: Waltz-inspired style with a comfortable grip for seamless control…
- Reliable heat resistance: Made with German LFGB certified silicone and stainless steel, withstands…
- Flexible and efficient: Wide silicone head ensures effortless scraping, mixing, and folding, leaving…
- High-Quality Food Grade Material: Our Reusable 8oz Plastic Containers with Lids are made of premium…
- Convenient Portion Control: With the capacity of 8oz/1 cup, these round food containers are perfect…
- Space-Saving Design: Our freezer meal prep food storage jars are designed to be stackable and…
- WAX PAPER ROLL—Contains one roll of Reynolds Kitchens Cut-Rite Wax Paper, measuring 75 feet x 12…
- YOUR TRUSTED BRAND—With a history of proven performance, Reynolds Cut-Rite Wax Paper is your…
- NONSTICK SURFACE—Food lifts right off this nonstick wax paper to keep your cookies, chocolates &…
How to Make Snow Playdough
Making snow playdough is a fun activity that provides a great way to engage your little ones in sensory play. This hands-on experience promotes thematic exploration, letting children enjoy the feel of snow, even in warmer climates.
Step 1: Combine Dry Ingredients:
Begin by taking a large saucepan and adding the baking soda and cornstarch. Use a whisk or spoon to thoroughly mix the two ingredients together, ensuring there are no clumps and that they are evenly distributed.
Step 2: Add Wet Ingredients
Gradually pour in the water and vegetable oil to the dry mixture. Stir continuously as you add the liquids to prevent any lumps from forming. It’s important to mix well at this stage so that the dry ingredients are fully incorporated into the wet ingredients, creating a smooth blend.
Step 3: Cook the Mixture
Place the saucepan on the stove over medium heat. As the mixture begins to warm up, continue to stir constantly to ensure even cooking. Keep an eye on it as it starts to thicken; you want it to pull away from the sides of the pan, which indicates that it’s reaching the right consistency. This process usually takes a few minutes, so stay attentive to avoid burning.
Step 4: Cool Down
Once the mixture has thickened appropriately, carefully remove the saucepan from the heat. Transfer the dough onto a plate or into a large bowl to allow it to cool down. Remember that the dough will still be quite warm, so handle it with care to avoid burn.
Step 5: Knead the Dough
After the dough has cooled enough to handle, begin kneading it with your hands. Press and fold the dough repeatedly until it becomes smooth and pliable. This step is crucial for developing a good texture, so take your time to ensure it reaches the desired consistency.
Step 6: Add the Sparkle
Fold in the chunky glitter. You can add as much or as little as you like, depending on how sparkly you want your snow playdough to be. I personally add a lot of sparkly in my snow playdough recipe! The more sparkle the better!
Step 7: Optional Scent
If you’re adding peppermint extract for a wintry scent, now’s the time to mix in a few drops while kneading.
-
Product on saleSpecial Offer! – 45 Playdough RecipesOriginal price was: $10.00.$7.00Current price is: $7.00.
Play Ideas for Snow Playdough Recipe
Now that you have your snow playdough, here are some engaging activities to try with your preschoolers:
Snowman Creations
Encourage children to roll the playdough into balls and stack them to create their very own snowmen. Use small twigs, buttons, and fabric scraps to add details like arms, eyes, and scarves.
Winter Small Worlds
Set up a small world play area where children can use the snow playdough to create snowy landscapes. Add toy trees, animals, and mini houses to spark their imagination.
Playdough Alphabet and Number Formation
Roll out the playdough flat and use alphabet and number cookie cutters to create letters and numbers. This makes for a fun, hands-on way to practice literacy and numeracy skills.
Playdough Invitations to Play
Some ideas for playdough invitations to play include adding pine cones, toy animals, and snowflake cutters. Or, add the snow playdough to a sensory bin with other winter-themed items like fake snow, ice cubes, and penguin figures.
Playdough invitations to play are my all-time favorite way to use playdough in the classroom or at home. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Frozen Fairy Tales: Use playdough to create characters from classic winter tales like “The Snow Queen” or “Frozen.”
- Winter Wildlife Scene: Craft a snowy habitat with playdough, toy animals, and natural elements like twigs and leaves.
- Holiday Cookies Shop: Create festive cookies with playdough using cookie cutters in various shapes. Decorate with buttons and beads to resemble icing.
- Arctic Exploration: Set up an adventure area where children can use playdough to construct icebergs and polar landscapes.
- Snowflake Art: Roll out the playdough and use snowflake-shaped cutters to create unique ornaments or decorations.
Creating snow playdough is a wonderful way to bring the charm of winter into your preschool classroom. Not only does it provide endless opportunities for imaginative play, but it also engages children in sensory exploration and fine motor practice.
Ready to try this magical recipe? Gather your ingredients and make a batch of snow playdough today! And if you’re looking for more creative ideas and resources, be sure to book a call with one of our early childhood education experts. They’re here to help you inspire and engage your young learners every step of the way.
-
Product on saleSpecial Offer! – 45 Playdough RecipesOriginal price was: $10.00.$7.00Current price is: $7.00.
Snow Playdough Recipe
Materials
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 Tbsp. cream of tartar
- 1 Tbsp. oil
- 1 tsp. (or more) white liquid watercolor
- 1 cup water
- Chunky silver glitter
Tools
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Spoon or spatula
- Airtight container
- Wax paper or a clean surface
Instructions
1. Mix the dry ingredients together in a pot.
2. Stir in the oil, water, and liquid color.
3. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly and making sure to scrape the sides and bottom.
4. Cook until the dough forms a ball.
5. Remove from heat.
6. Place the playdough on a piece of wax paper.
7. Knead the dough.
8. Add the glitter and knead again.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
HTVRONT Holographic Silver Chunky Glitter - 100g Silver Glitter for Crafts, 3.53oz Iridescent Glitter for Resin, Chunky Mixed with Fine Glitter, Glitter for Tumbler, Nail, Makeup Craft Glitter
-
HTVRONT Holographic Chunky White Glitter - 100g Chunky Glitter for Crafts, 3.53oz Iridescent Glitter Chunky Mixed with Fine Glitter, Snow Glitter for Nails, Body, Makeup, Tumbler, Resin Glitter
-
Thumb Embossed Print Mixing Bowl (Set of 3)
-
Prepworks by Progressive Ultimate 19-Piece Measuring Cups & Spoon Set
-
Kitchen Mama Silicone Scraping Spatula: Heat-Resistant, Dishwasher Safe, Ergonomic Grip, Sturdy - Perfect for Mixing, Baking, and Spreading, Nonstick Cookware, Platinum WaltzGrip (Metal Gray)
-
EONJOE 8 oz Small Freezer Containers with Lids Stackable Plastic Food Storage Container 1 Cup Meal Prep Bowls Airtight Dishwasher Safe,12-pack
-
Reynolds Kitchens Cut-Rite Wax Paper, 75 Square Foot Roll
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.