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Easy Homemade Play Dough

February 25, 2016 by Lisa Park + Leave a Comment

My 4-year-old daughter is doing a Joy School preschool where she rotates going to friends homes to learn. I am part of the rotation and teach the kids every 8 weeks. For one of the days I taught preschool, I decided to make blue homemade play dough because we were learning about ice. I thought it would be fun to have them make igloos with the play dough, as well as practice their letters. A friend sent me this play dough recipe and it’s so easy to make! Plus, it’s much less expensive than purchasing play dough at the store. Here are the step-by-step instructions of how to make homemade play dough:

Play Dough - Food Coloring in Water

Fill 3 cups of water in a measuring cup. Add food coloring of your choice. Set aside.

Note: This recipe makes a large batch of one color of play dough. If you want multiple colors, then don’t put any food coloring in the water. After the play dough is made, split it in half or thirds and add a different color to each portion of dough. Use rubber gloves when you add the food coloring to the dough and during the kneading process so your hands won’t get stained.

Play Dough Photo 2 - Dry Ingredients in Pot

In a large cooking pot, add 3 cups flour, 1 and 1/2 cups salt, 6 teaspoons cream of tarter and 3 Tablespoons cooking oil. Mix together.

Play Dough Photo 3 - Wet and Dry Ingredients

Add the colored water to the dry ingredients.

Play Dough Photo 4 - Mixed in Pot

Stirring constantly, cook on stove over medium high heat for about 8 minutes until the sides pull away from the pot and it looks like dough.

Play Dough Photo 5 - Rolled in Ball

Pour play dough onto a floured surface and knead for a minute. Store in a plastic bag or airtight container for up to 6 months.

Play Dough Homemade Version 2

Easy Homemade Play Dough
Print
Ingredients
  • 3 cups water
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1½ cups salt
  • 6 teaspoons cream of tarter
  • 3 Tablespoons cooking oil
  • Food coloring
Instructions
  1. Fill 3 cups of water in a measuring cup. Add food coloring of your choice. Set aside.
  2. In a large cooking pot, add flour, salt, cream of tarter and cooking oil. Mix together. Add the colored water to the dry ingredients.
  3. Stirring constantly, cook on stove over medium high heat for about 8 minutes until the sides pull away from the pot and it looks like dough.
  4. Pour play dough onto a floured surface and knead for a minute.
  5. Store in a plastic bag or airtight container for up to 6 months.
  6. Note: This recipe makes a large batch of one color of play dough. If you want multiple colors, then don't put any food coloring in the water. After the play dough is made, split it in half or thirds and add a different color to each portion of dough. Use rubber gloves during the kneading process so your hands won't get stained.
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Filed Under: DIY, Family & Home, Frugal

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Hello, I'm Lisa

I enjoy teaching people how to live frugally so they can live within their means while still enjoying and doing the things in life that matter most to them. I'm here sharing tips about budgeting, saving money, meal planning, simple recipes, and more.

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Track the cost of items at multiple stores and online retailers to find the best price, then "stock up" on the items you need.  4. Find out what works for you and stick to it
Narrow down what staple foods you need and like so you don't spend a lot of money experimenting on food that doesn't work for your family.  5. Focus on the inexpensive items you can eat
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Narrow down what staple foods you need and like so you don't spend a lot of money experimenting on food that doesn't work for your family.  5. Focus on the inexpensive items you can eat
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