Make your own smooth, squishy, non-toxic play dough at home! Whether you are using up flour and salt from the pantry, or making something FUN for children (and grown-ups) to play with - this play dough makes great gifts for birthdays, school events and so much more! Check out our tips at the end.
Play dough is a choking hazard for children under three years.
Always supervise children when playing with play dough.
YIELD: 8 cups
INGREDIENTS:
4 cups plain (all-purpose) flour
2 cups superfine salt (cooking salt or other salt okay)
1/3 cup cream of tartar
1 teaspoon (5ml) dish-washing detergent
1/3 cup baby oil (or oil from the kitchen cupboard)
4 cups boiling water
food colouring (optional)
glitter (optional)
essential oil or extract (optional)
EQUIPMENT:
Heat-proof bowl
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Gloves
METHOD:
1. Measure dry ingredients: place the flour, salt and cream of tartar into a large, heat-proof bowl. Mix well. Make a well in the centre of the mixture.
2. Measure wet ingredients: add the detergent, baby oil and boiling water into the bowl. Wearing heatproof gloves (and/or using a spoon), mix well, take care as the mixture will be hot! Mix in colouring, glitter and/or essential oil as required. Mix well until play dough consistency is achieved.
3. Leave the play dough to cool down before giving to children.
4. Place play dough into a glass or plastic container with an airtight lid. Store in the refrigerator - will keep for a few weeks.
TIPS:
- Wear gloves when mixing food colouring into the play dough;
- Using a gel colouring creates a richer coloured play dough;
- You can use homemade dyes i.e. beetroot juice to colour the dough;
- Gluten free dough: use gluten free flours i.e. a mixture of rice and corn flour;
- Present with some cookie cutters for instant creativity!
- Decorate finished play dough creations using felt tip pens to create more details.
BATCH IDEAS:
Colours (light or dark): green, blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow, brown, white, grey, black;- Glitter;
- Scented play dough using natural extracts/flavourings i,e, lemon, rose, chocolate, peppermint, strawberry, orange, coconut or licorice (colour dough to match scent);
- Add essential oil to the play dough i.e. lavender, tea tree or eucalyptus (add natural dye to colour dough to match the essential oil);
- Fairy Play dough - pink or purple with glitter;
- My girls love their Frozen-coloured dough - a trio of play dough coloured in white, ice blue and raspberry;
- Space: black and dark grey play dough, with glitter, astronaut & spaceship figurines!
- Easter - pastel colours packed with eggs, stamps & cookie cutters!
- Other themes: farm, zoo, garden, Christmas, dinosaurs, ladybirds, clowns, lego, giraffes, owls, teddy bears, rainbow, food, monsters, under the sea, very hungry caterpillar, angry birds, cookie monster, peppa pig, etc.
HAVE FUN!
Author: Megan Radaich
Image Credit: Megan Radaich
Publication: www.foodpreserving.org
