This simple playdough recipe requires just 5 minutes of preparation and another 5 minutes to cook. Best of all, the playdough stays fresh for months! It’s incredibly soft, flexible, and safe for children.
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We’ve tested several recipes that call for adding the coloring after preparing the playdough. It was incredibly messy! Using that approach left food coloring on our hands and work surfaces. You’ll appreciate this technique because you don’t need bags for combining the coloring, and it keeps everything tidy!
How to Make Playdough
Playdough can be prepared in several different ways – on the stovetop or with a kettle of boiling water. We personally favor the stovetop technique because combining the ingredients in the pot is simpler. No-cook versions are available as well, though we prefer this cooked formula. In our experience, this recipe remains soft and usable for the longest time. It takes only a few minutes to prepare and will keep for months!
These are the ingredients you’ll need:
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil (avoid using olive oil)
Note on Food Coloring
We prefer using this liquid food coloring. It gives the playdough a brighter color than standard food coloring. When using regular food coloring, you’ll have to add many more drops.
Steps to Make Homemade Playdough
1. Place all the dry ingredients (flour, salt, and cream of tartar) in a large bowl and stir thoroughly.
2. Start by blending the food coloring into the water. Next, pour the colored water and vegetable oil into a large pot. Stir to combine.
3. Pour the dry mixture into the pot and blend everything well.
4. Heat over low to medium temperature until the dough begins coming together and dries out.
5. When the mixture forms a cohesive ball and appears completely cooked, remove it from the heat. Allow the dough to cool before handling it.
6. After it has cooled, knead the dough for 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and soft. If it remains very sticky, return it to the pan and cook for a few additional minutes.
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Place all the dry components, including the flour, salt, and cream of tartar, in a large bowl and stir thoroughly.
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Begin by blending the food coloring into the water. Pour the colored water and vegetable oil into a large pot, then stir everything together.
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Pour the dry mixture into the pot and combine thoroughly.
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Heat the mixture over low to medium heat until a dough begins to develop and becomes dry.
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When the mixture forms a ball and appears thoroughly cooked, remove it from the heat. Allow the dough to cool completely before handling it.
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After cooling, knead the dough for 5 minutes until it becomes smooth and soft.
Should the dough feel too firm, knead it for 5 additional minutes. If it remains overly dry, incorporate a small amount of extra oil while kneading.
Keeping Playdough Soft
Begin by covering your playdough with saran wrap, and then place it in an airtight container. Playdough becomes hard when exposed to the open air, so limiting the amount of air that reaches it during storage will help it stay usable for a longer period!
How Can I Soften Playdough Again?
When your play dough has dried and feels somewhat hard, first try working in a small amount of additional oil. Use your hands to knead it through the dough. A little water can also be kneaded in if needed.
After preparing your play dough, bring out some cookie cutters and enjoy creating different shapes! Rolling pins and stamps are also fun tools to use with our play dough.
Is Cream of Tartar Necessary?
Yes, adding a small amount of cream of tartar is recommended if you want soft playdough that stays fresh longer. After trying several quantities, we discovered that 2 teaspoons creates the ideal, extra-soft texture. Leaving out the cream of tartar may result in dough that is somewhat dry and crumbly. It also extends the playdough’s shelf life. For a dough recipe that does not use cream of tartar, check out our cloud dough recipe.
Creating Bright Playdough Colors
Our preferred option is this liquid food coloring. It produces playdough with a much brighter color than standard food coloring. When using ordinary food coloring, you may have to add many drops. Also, rather than stirring it in after preparing the playdough, blend it into the water beforehand—it is considerably simpler and creates less mess!