19 Best Homemade Playdough Recipes
It’s ridiculously easy to make homemade play-dough with this play dough recipe collection. It’s less expensive than buying commercial versions, and you can also add creative touches.
You’ll find DIY playdough is soft, more so than store-bought, too. It’s quick and easy to make a batch of any of these.
You can even have the kids help with most of these, and they are fun to make. They’ll love to play with playdough they helped make from one of these easy recipes.
A few of these recipes need to be cooked, but most are no-cook. They use simple ingredients, and it’s so easy to make you might even prefer to make it rather than run to the store to get some.
These recipes also let you make playdough with all non-toxic ingredients. And you’ll know exactly what’s in it if you’re making it for a child who has allergies or sensitivities.
There are a lot of recipes out there that involve cooking, but these recipes involve no cooking and produce a nice clay with a good consistency. The playdough will last for months when stored properly in an airtight container.
Remember, no matter which recipe you decide to use, there are all kinds of ways to make your homemade playdough extra fun:
Get Creative When You Make Homemade Playdough
- Add glitter, colored sugar or other cake decorations as you’re kneading the dough.
- Add essential oils and other liquid flavorings to give it scent. Make sure kids understand it’s not to be eaten.
Additional tips
- Cream of Tartar substitution: in any recipe you can always make the playdough without cream of tartar. Just substitute lemon juice or vinegar – use twice as much of them as the recipe calls for with cream of tartar.
- WARNING: don’t let kids or pets eat this stuff. Some of the recipes specify that they are edible. Others contain ingredients like hair conditioner or lotion. Unless they specify that you can eat them, it’s best to supervise kids and make sure neither they nor pets eat it.
- All these recipes should be stored in air-tight containers to keep them from drying out – just like commercial playdough.
- You don’t need to buy lots of different shades of food coloring. With just the three primary colors plus a black, you can mix absolutely any shade that exists.
- If your playdough comes out too sticky or wet, add more flour or corn starch – whatever dry ingredient the recipe calls for. If it’s too dry, add more wet ingredients.
19 Best Playdough Recipes
Easy Homemade Playdough Recipe to Make With Kids
This easy playdough recipe takes about 10 minutes to make per color. No cooking is necessary. Only 5 ingredients are needed, and you probably already have them on hand at home.Â
Color Changing Play Dough {easy & fun kids activity!}
Color changing play dough is made with a special pigment that changes color when in contact with heat which in this case will be your hands. Ours turned yellow from red when touched.
Edible Peanut Butter Playdough
This homemade edible play dough recipe has just 3 ingredients, is
simple to make and has a super smooth texture just like the store-bought
variety. The best part?! This version is delicious to eat! Gluten-free.
Easy Playdough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar (In A Slow Cooker )
This one does require cooking, but not cream of tartar. And you use a CrockPot or slow cooker. The result is just as soft as recipes that include cream or tartar.
Two Ingredient Play Dough
This is one of the easiest recipes because it's just two ingredients. One of them is a cheap hair conditioner you can get at the dollar store, so it will also smell great. If you want color, just add the food coloring of your choice.
Space Inspired Play Dough Recipe
This space playdough recipe is easy to make. It's dark with sparkles, so it actually looks like space. And that can lead to other space-related activities and learning for kids.
2-Ingredient Cloud Dough (No-Cook + Gluten-Free)
This recipe is quick and easy to make and doesn't use any flour. It's made with lotion so it won't dry out kids' hands.
Long Lasting Play Dough Recipe with Crayons
This brightly colored play dough is made with chopped crayons for color. It will last for several months in the refrigerator. It’s very easy to make and the result is bright jewel-toned playdough that the kids will have loads of fun playing with.
DIY Project: How to Make Glitter Playdough
This recipe calls for cooking, and the result is a soft, beautiful playdough as full of glitter as you want it to be. Use chunky or superfine glitter - works either way.
How to Make Glitter Play Dough {easy no cook recipe!}
This glitter play dough is easy, sparkly, and best of all it’s a no cook recipe. You probably already have everything you need in your kitchen cupboards to make this recipe.
Peeps Playdough {Edible Easter Playdough Recipe}
You can make this fun and edible playdough with Peeps and a few other ingredients you probably already have on hand. Great for Easter time (when Peeps are sold) even if you don't celebrate the holiday.
Make This Pumpkin Spice Playdough Recipe for the Littlest Trick or Treaters!
While this delicious smelling playdough is great as a non-candy alternative for trick or treaters, there's no reason to wait for Halloween.
Edible Chocolate Peanut Butter Playdough
Tasty and perfectly edible chocolate peanut butter playdough is a
great way to play with the kiddos without worrying about them putting it
in their mouths! It’s perfect for shaping, rolling, cutting and more!
DIY Green Tea Sensory Playdough-Little Sprouts Learning
This playdough is made with green tea, which gives it an intoxicating scent for an extra sensory component.
The BEST & Softest Homemade PlayDough (Only Cornstarch and Lotion)
Another two ingredient recipe. This simple playdough recipe made by mixing cornstarch and lotion. Easy, soft and making it even feels good on your hands.
No Cook Kool Aid Play Dough Recipe
Not only does this no cook Kool Aid play dough smell amazing, it's easy enough for kids to help make!
Gluten Free Kool-Aid Playdough
This is a 5 minute recipe that kids can help with, and it's gluten free. That's important for kids who have an allergy to gluten that makes their skin break out.
Easy Homemade Play Dough Recipe For Kids
This recipe makes soft, silky playdough that's nicer feeling than the store-bought version. Great for kids who enjoy sensory play.
How to Make a Stress Ball with Clay for Aromatherapy
This one could be mainly for adults, but that's not to say kids won't love it too. This clay dough is for smashing, and is a great way to relieve frustration.
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