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!

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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!

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
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Snow Playdough Recipe Ingredients | baking soda, cornstarch, water, oil and Chunky glitter

Kitchen Supplies

To create your magical snow playdough, you’ll need a few essential kitchen supplies to make the process smooth and enjoyable:

Thumb Embossed Print Mixing Bowl (Set of 3)
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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.

Snow Playdough for Kids | Combining ingredients in a saucepan

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.

Snow Playdough for Kids A Fun and Sensory Winter Craft | A pot with playdough being heated.

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.

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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.

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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.
Snow Playdough Recipe with Chunky Glitter | Super sparkly snow playdough | A pure white recipe perfect for a winter theme | This homemade playdough recipe includes a special ingredient—baking soda—that gives the playdough a cooling effect, making it feel like real snow | A child places a black hat on a small snowman made from white playdough. The snowman has googly eyes, an orange nose, blue buttons, and a red scarf. In the background, "Frozen" toys and craft supplies create a winter-themed scene.

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.

Snow Playdough Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Want to learn how to make playdough that is pure white and also sparkles like real snow? Try this 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.

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