Making playdough should be simple and easy. This recipe yields super soft and squishy playdough. It does not require any stovetop cooking.
The first playdough recipe I tried required a few household ingredients, a pot, and minutes of stovetop cooking. It was messy and clean up was a hassle.
This method puts the fun back into making playdough with no cooking involved. The trick is very HOT water. Microwave the water in a Pyrex measuring cup (or another microwave-safe container) for 3-4 minutes. I do not recommend allowing small children to handle the water or help with mixing until the playdough is warm.
Seven simple household ingredients to make super soft no-cook playdough.
Flour, cornstarch, cream of tartar, salt, water, oil, food coloring.
Oil – Oil is a moisturizer. It keeps the dough soft, moist, and pliable.
Salt – Salt is a preservative. No one wants moldy playdough.
Cornstarch – Cornstarch gives the playdough its soft texture.
Cream of Tartar – Cream of tartar is an additional preservative. It also gives the playdough its smooth texture and elasticity.
Get Creative: Coloring playdough
This is the fun part! Coloring playdough can be a little tricky. We’ve had a few color creation mishaps, but that’s all part of the fun.
Use gel, liquid, or plant-based food coloring. Standard food coloring sets come in four colors: blue, yellow, red, and green. Dyeing playdough using these colors is simple. Just decide if you want pastels or richer hues, but it is pretty straight forward. We like to experiment with blending primary colors. However, you may also opt to use multi-color food coloring sets. Whichever you prefer, I recommend wearing gloves to mix the coloring into the playdough. In my experience, after completely cooling dough in an airtight container, colors will not bleed onto hands.
We used gel food coloring to yield the colors below.
Blue, yellow, red, and green: 5 drops
Darker blue: 8 drops of blue
Dark grey: 6 drops of red + 4 drops of blue
Orange: 6 drops of yellow + 2 drops of red
Teal: 3 drops of blue + 2 drops of green
Kick playdough time up a notch!
Of course, playdough is a blast on its own. Add an extra layer of fun with a rolling pin, cookie cutters, or a playdough tool kit.
Ingredients
3/4 cup of flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/3 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (canola oil)
3/4 cup of hot water (microwave to heat)
food coloring (gel or liquid)
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients until well combined: flour, cornstarch, salt, and cream of tartar
2. Place water in a Pyrex measuring cup (or a microwave-safe container). Microwave for 3-4 minutes. It will be HOT!
3. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
4. Add the hot water to the well and then add the oil.
5. Use a wooden spoon or silicone spatula and quickly mix until a moist dough is formed. The dough will be warm.
6. Separate the dough into 4 equal parts and prepare to move quickly in the next steps.
7. Quickly roll each piece into a ball and use your thumb to make a small indention in the center and place it on a piece of wax paper.
8. Add the desired coloring to the center of each piece. Mix quickly making sure the food coloring is fully incorporated.
9. Add playdough to an airtight container or storage bag. Store in a cool and dry place.
Notes
Remember to return playdough to the airtight container or storage bag after each use. This will keep the playdough soft and pliable. If you notice the playdough drying out, squish it around and place it in an airtight storage bag and it should go back to the original texture.
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