The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (2024)

The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (1)

Jamielyn Nye
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The BEST homemade playdough recipe – make in less than 5 minutes for under a $1 and have it last for months! Itisso soft and squishy and cuts perfectly with cookie cutters.

The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (2)

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Favorite Kids Activity

One of my kids favorite activities is playing with play dough. Itis the perfect indoor activity for when it’s raining, too cold or too hot. When the weather’s nice we’ll even take it outside on the porch. My kids (age 8, 6 and 2) ALL love playing with play dough. My son pretends like he’s outgrowing it, but whenever my girls start playing with it, he always ends up joining in on the fun. I usually give them a few different colors, a mini rolling pin, some cookie cutters and let them go to town. I love seeing their imagination work.

Why is this the best homemade playdough recipe?

  • It is SUPER soft and squishy, but doesn’t stick
  • The play dough lasts for months in a zip top bag
  • It is inexpensive to make
  • It makes enoughfor 4-6 kids
  • You can add different colors and even scents to customize your dough
The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (3)

Welove making ourown play dough, because it is so much softer (and cheaper) than the store bought stuff. I find it also lasts longer as well. Over the years I’ve tried dozens of recipes and this one here is the best playdough recipe out there! I got it several years ago from my son’s preschool teacher and figured I better post it to my blog so I don’t have to keep searching for it. At their preschool, the parents take turns making the play dough a different color each month and once I used this recipe, I haven’t looked back. I have slightly adapted the original recipe over the years. The main thing that I have done is cut down on the salt, as I found it keeps the dough extra soft for months!

The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (4)

How to make playdough

Playdough ingredients:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup salt
  • 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 2 cups lukewarm water
  • 2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil (coconut oil works too)
  • Food coloring, optional (I like Wilton gel food coloring or AmeriColor gel)
  • Quart sized bags

Stir together the flour, salt and cream of tartar in a large pot. Next add the water and oil. If you’re only making one color, add in the the color now as well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the dough has thickened and begins to form into a ball. Remove from heat and then place inside a gallon sized bag or onto wax paper. Allow to cool slightly and then knead until smooth. If you’re adding colors after, divide the dough into balls (for how many colors you want) and then add the dough into the quart sized bags. Start with about 5 drops of color (my favorite brands are listed above) and add more to brighten it. Knead the dough, while inside the bag so it doesn’t stain your hands. Once it’s all mixed together you’re ready to PLAY.

Store the play dough inside the bags once done to keep soft. Keeps for up to 3 months.

The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (5)

Once the dough is finished, I like to put each dough ball into it’s own quart sized zip top bag. Then I let my kids squish the colors together. It gives the kids something to do, makes it so your hands aren’t stained and then gives the dough a home after. We use the same bag to store the dough when the kids are done playing with it. If you only plan on making ONE color, just add the food coloring into the pan when you add the water (makes it easier to mix it in). My kids can never decide on just one color, so we usually need to divide it out.

The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (6)

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The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (7)

How to Make Homemade Playdough

4.98 from 573 votes

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Author: Jamielyn Nye

The BEST homemade playdough recipe – make in less than 5 minutes for under a $1 and have it last for months! Itisso soft and squishy and cuts perfectly with cookie cutters.

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

Servings: 1 batch

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Equipment

  • Spoon for stirring

  • Gallon size bag or wax paper for cooling

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup salt
  • 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 2 cups lukewarm water
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil (coconut oil works too)

Optional: food coloring (I use Wilton for brighter colors)

    Instructions

    • Stirtogether the flour, salt and cream of tartar in a largepot. Next add the water and oil. If you’re only making one color, stir in the the color now.

      The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (8)

    • Cook over medium-heat, stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the dough has thickened and begins to form into a ball. Remove from heat and then place inside a bowl. Allow to cool slightly and then knead until smooth.

      The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (9)

    • If you’re adding multiple colors, divide the dough into balls (for how many colors you want) and then add the dough into seperate quart sized bags. Start with about 5 drops of color and add more to brighten it. Knead the dough, while inside the bag so it doesn’t stain your hands.

      The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (10)

    • Once it’s all mixed together, you’re ready to PLAY. Store the play dough inside the bags to keep soft. If stored properly it will keep soft for up to 3 months.

      The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (11)

    Notes

    Storage: Store in a zip top bag in a cupboard or the refrigerator.

    Variation: For a fun addition, add about 1/4 cup glitter to the bag and knead it in.

    My kids love to use cookie cutters to make all kinds of fun designs with the play dough.

    *Disclaimer: This dough should not be consumed by children or pets.

    Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

    Another fun addition to the play dough is to add glitter. We added about 1/4 cup to the bag and kneaded it in with blue and yellow.

    The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (12)

    My almost 2 year old loves squishing the dough. I love watching those chubby little fingers go to work.

    The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (13)

    My 6 year old daughter loves pulling out the cookie cutters and making all kinds of designs! She is quite the girly girl. ;)

    The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (14)

    Make a batch for your kids once school is out fora summer to remember!

    Categorized as: DIY

    The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (15)

    Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.

    More about Jamielyn Nye

    Add a comment

    1,145 comments

      • Holly N

      After a few days mine was full of mold, is there a reason why this would happen and how to prevent it from happening again?

      • Reply
        • I Heart Naptime Community

        Hi Holly! I’m sorry to hear this! Store it in an airtight container or plastic Ziploc bag, out of heat and it should last longer :)

        • Reply
      • D

      Thank you :). I have a question. Our play dough came a bit sandy, can I fix it?

      • Reply
        • I Heart Naptime Community

        Hi there! Try adding a little bit of water as you knead the dough, adding more if needed if it feels dry and crumbly. You can also add a little bit more oil to make it softer and smoother. :)

        • Reply
      • Jane Ellefsen
      • The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (16)

      It lasts and it changes having nothing to do to↗️ having every day fun for me and my little sister.

      • Reply
        • I Heart Naptime Community

        I’m so glad you and your sister enjoy the playdough Jane!

        • Reply
      • Jessica
      • The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (17)

      I’ve used this same recipe for years! 100% the best!

      • Reply
      • Gramms
      • The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (18)

      Great recipe, my 5 year old grandson poured the ingredients in the pot and had a great time kneading and pounding away at it and watching it turn into his favourite colour. Great way to get him involved in it and then on To an hour playtime with it.

      • Reply
      • Julie
      • The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (19)

      So easy and fast to make AND it is soft for months. Truely the best play dough!

      • Reply
        • Brenda Saxton

        Fabulous!!!

        • Reply
      • Pam
      • The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (20)

      Used it for my grandson when he came to visit. Soft and fun to play with.

      • Reply
      • Karla

      Just wanted to say that I figured out what went wrong. I used cornstarch instead of cream of tarter! Gave me wonderful results the first day and the next day they were super sticky. Totally my mistake as my cornstarch was not labeled and I mistook it for COT. Will definitely try this recipe again with the correct ingredients!

      • Reply
      • Mary
      • The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (21)

      Even better than the commercial stuff and super easy to make! Love it!

      • Reply
      • Karla

      I followed this recipe and was super pleased with the results, however the next day the play dough had become very sticky. I tried adding more flour in but it was too sticky to handle and didn’t seem to help. Does anyone have any suggestions? Not sure if I’m the only one who experienced this.

      • Reply
      • Cheryl Fabello
      • The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (22)

      Absolutely perfect. Used pink Himalayan salt and it had a soft peach color with no added dye.

      • Reply
      • Em
      • The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (23)

      Followed the recipe and came out perfectly soft!

      • Reply
      • Davlyn Holt
      • The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (24)

      Feels so good in your hands

      • Reply
      • Carrie
      • The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (25)

      Great easy recipe

      • Reply

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    The BEST homemade playdough recipe - I Heart Naptime (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the best rated homemade playdough recipe? ›

    You'll need 3 cups of white all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar, 1 cup + 2 tablespoons of table salt, 3-4 tablespoons of any cooking oil (start with 3 and add more if necessary), 3 cups HOT water, and food coloring. and 3 tablespoons cooking oil to a large pot.

    What is the secret ingredient in play dough? ›

    With this recipe the key is to really make sure you knead the dough well to avoid ending up with an end product that is too sticky or wet. The glycerine is a secret ingredient that makes the playdough extra stretchy and fun!

    How to make fluffy playdough? ›

    Light and fluffy play dough! Mix flour, salt and cream of tartar in a large sauce pan. Add oil and water and mix until well combined. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until a large doughy ball forms.

    What is the secret recipe for Play-Doh? ›

    Ingredients for Super Soft Playdough
    1. 3/4 cup flour.
    2. 1/4 cup baby powder (this is the secret ingredient! If you don't like using baby powder, corn starch is a good alternative)
    3. 1/4 cup salt.
    4. 2 tsp cream of tartar.
    5. 1 tablespoon of baby oil.
    6. 3/4 cup of water.
    7. food coloring (I used gel food coloring)
    Feb 20, 2023

    What is the recipe for old school playdough? ›

    2 cups water 2 cups flour 1 cup salt 2 tbs cooking oil 4 tsp cream of tartar Food coloring (optional) Add food coloring to water it you wish to color the dough. Mix and heat until ingredients form a ball. Knead until smooth and store in airtight container.

    How to make homemade playdough with 2 ingredients? ›

    Instructions. Place the cornstarch in a large bowl. Mix in the hair conditioner with your hands--it will just start coming together and it will be pliable and very, very smooth. If desired, add a drop or two or food coloring.

    What does cream of tartar do in homemade playdough? ›

    In fact, baking powder is a mixture of baking soda and cream of tartar. It is slightly acidic, and because of this, it affects the gluten structure of the playdough to make it more elastic. Tartaric acid acts as an emulsifier, so it helps prevent any added oil from separating.

    What is magic play dough? ›

    It's Magic Play-Doh! This amazing activity has become a tradition in my classroom! The magic happens when you provide students a small ball of white play-doh. If the play-doh changes color when the students squish it...and it will, it ensures that the student will have a great year!

    Why do you put salt in a playdough? ›

    When water is added to flour, proteins in the flour clump together and hold the water. This is what gives you the dough consistency- just like when you make bread! The salt helps the proteins stay stuck together, you may notice that playdough you buy in the store also has a salty smell.

    What are the four ingredients in homemade playdough? ›

    For the most part, homemade playdough recipes contain the same essential ingredients: flour, salt, cream of tartar, oil, water, and food coloring.

    How do I make cloud dough? ›

    This easy no-cook dough requires just 2 ingredients: cornstarch and hair conditioner. Easy enough! Mix equal parts together in a bowl. There is no cooking required and students can get their hands messy while helping to make it.

    How do you make fizzy playdough? ›

    Mix flour, baking soda, and vegetable oil to make the cloud dough. Use spray bottles or eye droppers to spray vinegar into the mixture and watch it fizz!

    What is the official recipe for playdough? ›

    2 cups water 2 cups flour 1 cup salt 2 tbs cooking oil 4 tsp cream of tartar Food coloring (optional) Add food coloring to water it you wish to color the dough. Mix and heat until ingredients form a ball. Knead until smooth and store in airtight container.

    Why cream of tartar in playdough? ›

    In fact, baking powder is a mixture of baking soda and cream of tartar. It is slightly acidic, and because of this, it affects the gluten structure of the playdough to make it more elastic. Tartaric acid acts as an emulsifier, so it helps prevent any added oil from separating.

    Is it cheaper to buy or make playdough? ›

    Homemade Playdough Recipe

    This recipe is super quick and easy to make (you can make a batch in about five minutes) and much cheaper than buying ready-made playdough. Homemade playdough is also super easy to store. Just drop it in a ziplock bag and it will last for months!

    Which is better cooked or uncooked playdough? ›

    No cook playdough starts getting a dry and crumbly coating if left out for any length of time. Better texture: The cooked playdough has a lovely, rubbery, squishy texture and it holds together better.

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