Cloud Dough

Want a simple method for preparing no-cook, gluten-free, incredibly soft playdough? This Cloud Doughrecipe offers an enjoyable variation on our playdough recipe. We adore that it requires just 2 primary ingredients and can be fragranced with lotion. If you enjoy creating homemade playdough, this recipe is absolutely worth trying!

RELATED: Playdough Recipe

If you have never prepared playdough before, this is an excellent recipe to begin with. Since it uses only 2 main ingredients and requires no cooking, it is especially simple to prepare! Children also enjoy the feel of this dough. It is the softest dough you will ever make!

For our classic playdough recipe, find it here.

Prepare several batches in various colors, or simply select the shade you like best. To preserve the dough and extend its freshness, cover it with plastic wrap before placing it inside an airtight container.

How To Make Cloud Dough

This playdough formula requires no cooking. It is ideal when you want to prepare playdough but do not have a stovetop or kettle available. The ingredients blend together in just 5 minutes, making it wonderfully quick.

It is gluten-free as well!

The texture differs from that of standard playdough. This dough is considerably softer, though it feels drier to the touch, and it may crumble slightly during play.

These are the ingredients you’ll need:

How Do I Store Cloud Dough?

For the longest possible shelf life, keep your dough tightly sealed so it will not dry out. Enclose each color of cloud dough in plastic wrap, then store it in an airtight container to maintain its softness. If the dough becomes somewhat dry, mix in a small amount of additional lotion and knead it thoroughly.

How Do I Keep the Dough Soft?

Begin by wrapping the dough in saran wrap, then place it inside an airtight container or Ziploc bag. Dough becomes firm when left exposed, so limiting the amount of air that reaches the playdough during storage will help it remain usable longer!

How Do You Make the Dough Soft Again?

When the dough has dried out or feels slightly dry after preparation, knead in a little additional lotion. Should the finished dough be excessively sticky, incorporate a small amount of extra cornstarch.

What Do I Do if It’s Crumbly or Sticky?

If your cloud dough remains crumbly, mix in more lotion. However, if it becomes overly sticky after adding lotion, too much has been used. Add it gradually and knead between additions. It may take a while to knead the dough until it reaches the proper texture. When it is still too crumbly, add just a tiny bit more lotion. If it remains too sticky, blend in a very small amount of additional cornstarch.

How Long Does It Last?

This dough does not keep as long as our playdough recipe. Within about a week, the lotion will begin drying out. Fortunately, it can be refreshed easily by adding a few more squirts of lotion and kneading them through. Afterward, it will feel nearly as good as new.

Cloud Dough Recipe

Prep Time5 minutes

5 minutes

Place 1/2 cup of lotion intoa bowl. Add 1-2 drops of food coloring (when using concentrated gel; regular food coloring will require additional drops for coloring) and stir.
Stir the lotion and food coloring together until thoroughly blended.
Pour in 1 cup of cornstarch, then stir.
Continue stirring until everything is well incorporated.
Next, remove the dough and set it on wax paper. Knead it by hand (gloves may be helpful to prevent staining your hands). Continue kneading until it reaches a dough-like texture (this can take 5-10 minutes). It may be very sticky initially, so simply keep kneading. If it remains overly sticky after kneading for the entire time, mix in another tablespoon of cornstarch.If the dough is too crumbly, gradually add a small amount of lotion and knead until the proper consistency is achieved.

If your dough is too crumbly or sticky: When the dough feels too crumbly, add additional lotion. However, if it becomes excessively sticky after adding lotion, too much was used. Work in a small amount at a time and knead it thoroughly. Reaching the desired texture may require kneading for quite a while. Should it remain crumbly, incorporate just a little more lotion. If it continues to be sticky, add a small amount of cornstarch.
Make another batch of the recipe for every color you want to create.

After preparing the cloud dough, have fun using cookie cutters and rolling pins with it!

To store: wrap the playdough in plastic wrap, then place it in an airtight container so it stays fresh longer. Should the dough become dry, squeeze in a little extra lotion and knead it through.

Additional Playdough Recipes

Check out our Kool-Aid Playdough recipe.