
Preschool is all about hands-on play that helps kids build motor skills, learn about the world, and of course, have fun! Skip the store-bought playdough and take 10 minutes to whip up your own batch of kid-friendly playdough! If you’re looking for a homemade playdough recipe, edible playdough recipe, or a playdough recipe without cream of tartar, this is a great recipe to make!

Looking for ways to use your new homemade playdough? Try making bug fossils or a pretend play ice cream shop!
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What You’ll Need To Make Homemade Playdough
How To Make This Homemade Playdough Recipe
1. Mix together the salt and flour in a mixing bowl.

2. Add the food coloring to the water and mix them well. Then add the colored mixture to the flour mixture, along with the oil.

3. Stir together the ingredients (hands work very well for this). Keep mixing, folding, and kneading the dough until it reaches playdough consistency!

3. Make a few more colors and enjoy!
Important Notes

- If the dough feels a little tacky, just sprinkle on a teaspoon more flour until the desired consistency is reached.
- Mixing the food coloring in the water helps to really even the color out in the dough. It really speeds the process up. If not, kneading time will go up about four times. It makes a more even color tone as well.
- A great place to store this dough is in ziplock baggies or containers with airtight lids.
- If stored correctly, this playdough lasts a long time.
- I noticed after storing it for the first night, it needed a touch more flour as it seemed to get tackier, but was perfect after that.
- Any oil is fine to use.
- I would use gel food colors for a brighter dye look.
Homemade Playdough Recipe
Learn how to make soft, squishy homemade playdough with simple pantry ingredients! This easy no-cook recipe is perfect for hours of sensory play.
- Prep Time: 10
- Total Time: 10
- Category: DIY, Playdough
- Method: Step-by-Step
Materials
- 1 Cup Flour
- ½ Cup Salt
- ½ Cup Water
- 2 tsp Vegetable Oil
- ½ tsp Food Coloring
Instructions
- Mix together the salt and flour in a mixing bowl.
- Add the food coloring to the water and mix them well. Then add the colored mixture to the flour mixture, along with the oil.
- Stir together the ingredients (hands work very well for this). Keep mixing, folding, and kneading the dough until it reaches playdough consistency!
- Make a few more colors and enjoy!
Tips:
- If the dough feels a little tacky, just sprinkle on a tsp more flour until the desired consistency is reached.
- Mixing the food coloring in the water helps to really even the color out in the dough. It really speeds the process up. If not, kneading time will go up about x4. Makes a more even color tone as well.
- A great place to store this dough is in ziplock baggies or containers with airtight lids.
- If stored correctly, this playdough lasts a long time.
- I noticed after storing it for the first night, it needed a touch more flour as it seemed to get tackier, but was perfect after that.
- Any oil is fine to use.
- I would use gel colors for a brighter dye look.

