DIY No Cook Homemade Playdough is the perfect solution for a fun, creative activity to do at home with your kids. Not only is it a great way to spend some quality time with your little ones, but it’s also an educational activity that can help them learn about colors, shapes, and textures. This easy playdough recipe can be made in any color you want to!
No Cook Homemade Playdough
This easy-to-follow tutorial will show you how to make your very own playdough without having to turn on the stove. All you need are a few simple ingredients that you likely already have in your kitchen to make this no-cook play dough recipe. Once the easy homemade playdough is made you and the kids be ready to create some colorful works of art! Your kids will love kneading, rolling, and molding the best playdough recipe into their favorite shapes and while playing they will be working on their fine motor skills so it is a win win!
Store-bought Playdough can be expensive and it often contains chemicals that you might not want your kids to be exposed to. No Cook Homemade Playdough made at home is a fraction of the price and without any scary ingredients. If you are looking for the best homemade playdough recipe that involves no cooking then you are going to love this one!
The no-cook playdough recipe is simple, quick, and easy to follow. You only need a few basic ingredients that you might already have in your kitchen. Plus, this dough is so soft and pliable that it’s perfect for young children and older children to have hours of imaginative playdough fun and lots of fun sensory play.
This soft playdough recipe uses cream of tartar, if you do not have any you can still make your own playdough, just use the recipe for homemade playdough without cream of tarter. I am sure when make this the first time that you are going to be like me and wish you had made this easy play dough recipe sooner. Making our own playdough at home means I can whip up a quick batch of playdough when the kids want some and I save a lot of money making it myself.
What is No Cook Playdough?
There are different types of play dough recipes that require different types of ingredients and different techniques for making them. In this case, we are going to be making a no cook playdough recipe.
This means that we won’t be using any heat to cook the dough, so it’s a great option if you’re looking for a quick and easy recipe. Plus, this dough doesn’t require any special ingredients that you might not have on hand.
DIY Playdough Recipes
- The best homemade playdough
- Glitter playdough
- Gingerbread scented playdough
- Playdough without cream of tartar
- Scented playdough
- Frosting playdough
What Does Cream of Tartar Do For Homemade Play Dough
Cream of tartar is a common ingredient in many homemade playdough recipes. It’s an acidic powder that’s derived from grapes and it acts as a stabilizer in the dough.
In this recipe, cream of tartar helps to keep the playdough soft and pliable. It also prevents the dough from drying out too quickly and helps to extend its shelf life.
If you don’t have cream of tartar on hand, you can try substituting it with lemon juice or vinegar. However, keep in mind that these substitutes might change the color or flavor of the dough slightly.
What is the Best Way to Color Homemade Playdough?
You can use any type of food coloring to color your play dough and make it all different colors. I prefer using gel food coloring because a little bit goes a long way and you get vivid colors of playdough. You can find this type of food coloring at most craft stores or online. Another great option is natural food coloring. This is made from fruits and vegetables and it’s a great way to color your dough without using synthetic dyes.
If you want to avoid food coloring all together, you can use spices to color your dough. For example, turmeric will give you a yellow color, while cocoa powder will give you a brown color. There are many options for natural coloring, so have fun experimenting!
If you want to have a very vibrant color playdough add a few more drops of food coloring.
How to Scent Homemade Playdough
When it comes to scents, you can use any type of essential oils or extract. My personal favorite is vanilla extract because it gives the dough a nice, sweet smell. You can also use peppermint oil, lemon oil, or any other type of oil that you like. Just add a few drops and knead it into the dough until it’s evenly distributed. I will tell you that my personal preference is not to make our play doh scented. While it smells great, the kids tend to want me to make each color a different smell and then the scents combined together have made for some very interesting scents. I suggest if you are going to make it scented that you stick with the same scent for all of the playdough you are making.
How Long Does No Cook Playdough Last?
No Cook Playdough will last for several months if stored properly. Be sure to keep it in an airtight container and store it in a cool, dry place. I recommend the refrigerator for the longest last play dough.
If you notice that the dough is starting to dry out or harden, you can add a few drops of water to re-hydrate it.
My Playdough is Too Sticky
If your play dough is a bit sticky, it likely means that you’ve added too much water to the recipe. It can also be because where you live is very humid and the no cook playdough has absorbed some of it. The best way to fix this is to add a bit more flour to the dough until it reaches the desired consistency. Start with 2 tablespoons at a time and mix it in well , then let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
Play dough activity ideas
Aside from just playing with it, and using cookie cutters playdough is great for fun activities too. Here are a few of our fun playdough activities that the kids love.
- Snowman Playdough Activity
- Pumpkin People Play-Doh Halloween Activity
- Playdough flossing. This one is great for teaching the kids how to floss!
No Cook Playdough Ingredients and Supplies
- 2 cups Flour
- 1 cup Salt
- 2 tbsp Cream of Tartar
- 1 tbsp Oil (Vegetable Oil or similar)
- 1 cup Hot Water
- 3-4 drops Gel Food Coloring
- Bowl
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
How to Make no cook playdough
In a large mixing bowl add the flour and the salt. Stir together the flour and salt until well combined.
Next, add in cream of tartar and stir until well combined.
Add one cup of water to a microwave safe small bowl or pyrex measuring cup and heat in the microwave for 1 minute until hot.
Then, add in water in 1/4-cup increments, stirring until the entire mixture is moist but not soupy.
Now, add oil and food coloring, then mix with your hands until the wet ingredients and dry ingredients are mixed well and the soft playdough is consistently colored throughout and you have a perfect consistency.
Sensory Activities for Kids
No Cook Homemade Playdough
DIY No Cook Homemade Playdough is the perfect solution for a fun, creative activity to do at home with your kids. Not only is it a great way to spend some quality time with your little ones, but it's also an educational activity that can help them learn about colors, shapes, and textures.
Materials
- 2 cups Flour
- 1 cup Salt
- 2 tbsp Cream of Tartar
- 1 tbsp Oil (Vegetable Oil or similar)
- 1 cup Hot Water
- 3-4 drops Gel Food Coloring
Tools
- Bowl
- Measuring spoons and cups
Instructions
- Stir together the flour and salt until well combined.
- Add in cream of tartar and stir until well combined.
- Add in water in 1/4-cup increments, stirring until the entire mixture is moist but not soupy.
- Add oil and food coloring, then mix with your hands until the mixture is consistently colored throughout.
