Playdough is a fun material to use in early childhood education.
Although, it can be expensive if you have to keep buying tub after tub of the stuff.
Just how hard can it be to make your own?
You can whip up a fresh batch with one of these homemade playdough recipes. Just grab the mixing bowl and you’ll have fresh playdough in no time!
No matter which recipe you make, it’s sure to bring hours of creative play for little hands!
These 3 dough recipes are our favorites and include no cooking and minimal preparation time.
How do you make playdough without cooking?
You don’t need to cook your dough with these 3 recipes. You should have most of the ingredients at home so you can make it from scratch whenever you need some.
Recipe 1 – Fluffy No-cook Playdough
You just mix everything together right before using it. This mixture will give you a soft, pliable dough.
Step 1 – Gather Your Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 cups plain flour
- 1 cup salt
- 1 tbs oil
- 1 cup warm to hot water
- 2-4 drops of food coloring
Step 2 – Get mixing
Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, mix the oil, warm water, and food coloring of choice.
Step 3 – Mix wet and dry ingredients
Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the flour whilst mixing with a wooden spoon. Continue kneading the mixture until completely combined. Let the dough rest for a minute or until the consistency is fluffy dough-like. If it’s too wet, sprinkle some more flour into the mix.
Step 4 – Play with dough!
Transfer dough onto a clean, flat surface and let your toddler get stuck in!
Top Tip: This dough will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge if covered tightly with plastic wrap.
Recipe 2 – The Perfect No-cook Playdough
This recipe is great for long-lasting playdough that feels so perfect! I dare you to put it down!
Step 1 – Gather your ingredients
Hers what you’ll need:
- 2 cups all-purpose plain flour
- 1 US fl oz oil (this can be vegetable, baby or coconut oil)
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1 US oz baking powder/cream of tartar
- 1 to 2 cups boiling water
- Food coloring
- 1-3 drops of Glycerin
Step 2 – Mix together the dry ingredients
Combine the flour, salt, and baking powder into a bowl and mix until integrated.
Step 3 – Mix the wet ingredients
In a separate bowl or jug, mix in the oil, water, glycerin, and food coloring. Then, slowly add this to the dry ingredients making sure that are scraping down the sides of the bowl and mixing all the flour in. Keep adding the wet ingredients until all the flour is mixed in.
Please note that you might not need all of the wet ingredients and it is down to your discretion how the dough will end up.
Step 4 – Knead
Finally, knead the dough in the bowl until the right consistency is met.
If it’s a really hot day, you might want to let the dough cool in the fridge for 10-20 minutes after kneading but otherwise, it is good to go!
Can I make playdough without cream of tartar?
While you technically can make playdough without cream of tartar, it won’t have that perfect playdough texture. If you want to make playdough that doesn’t shrink up when cut, and cookie-cutter shapes that stay soft but firm, you have to use the cream of tartar.
Recipe 3 – Super Easy No-cook Playdough
This recipe is a great option for parents who want their child to have the sensory experience of playdough without too much fuss. No cooking required!
Step One – Gather your ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 cup flour, white or whole wheat (wheat is more pliable in this recipe)
- 1 cup salt, kosher or table (kosher will make it dryer and less sticky than with table salt)
- 1-2 cups of water, as needed to moisten
Food coloring mixed into the water of your choice. Optional but adds flair!
Step Two – Combine
Get all the ingredients together in a large bowl and mix until you have a dough-like consistency.
Step Three – Enjoy!
No cooking required! Enjoy this dough as long as you would like and store it in an airtight container or plastic bag to keep fresh for a few days!
What is the best way to store Play Dough?
Play dough should always be stored in an airtight container away from heat and moisture. This helps keep its elasticity so it doesn’t break down as quickly.
How does a no cook playdough recipe stack up?
The three playdough recipes we’ve outlined above are really easy to make and just as good as the shop-bought stuff. All you need is a cup of salt, a cup of water, and a few cups of flour and you’re halfway there. Making your own is half the fun and if you swap out the hot water with cold water your toddler can get involved as well.
How long will homemade playdough last?
Homemade playdough can last anywhere between 1 week and 6 months. It all depends on how it is made and how it is stored. Some batches last longer because you added that extra few drops of water and some because you didn’t. It also depends on how many times its dropped on the carpet and rolls in the dog hair!
Things to note:
- Sometimes you’ll need to add additional flour to the mix
- To make scented playdough, just add some vanilla extract, cinnamon or nutmeg
- To make really vibrant colors, add a few more drops of food coloring
- Store the playdough in an air tight container to make it last longer
Conclusion
There are three easy and simple no-cooking required homemade playdough recipes that you can whip up in your own kitchen.
The best part?
They don’t require any cooking!
These playdoughs will keep the kids entertained for hours while they explore their creativity.
Each recipe is fairly simple and informative for parents who want to give their children an enjoyable activity that doesn’t require much effort on their part!
We hope you enjoy making some excellent playdough snakes and shapes!
