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This is a no cook homemade playdough recipe that your kids will have fun making!

There are many versions of homemade playdough, some of them require cooking. I am a chemist and mom of two younger kids, so I prefer making this version because it is a little quicker.

Quick and easy is my motto for many projects 🙂

Here is how to make it.

No Cook Homemade Playdough Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour (up to 2 cups might be needed)
1/2 cup table salt
1/2 cup water
2 tsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp food coloring
Two mixing bowls
One mixing spoon
Jars with lids for storage

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Directions:

In the first bowl mix up the flour and salt. Start with 1 cup of flour, more might be needed later though.
Mix the water and food coloring in the second bowl.
Add the water to the flour mixture, add the vegetable oil, then mix up gently with a spoon.
Once the mixture is combined, knead the dough together with your hands. You really need to work through the mixture like you are making bread.
After kneading the dough for several minutes, if you find it to still be sticky, add in 1/4 cup of flour and mix again. You can add in a little more flour at a time until you get the desired texture.

Here are some key chemist tips for creating fantastic no-cook homemade playdough:

Most importantly, understand the texture of this playdough will differ slightly from store-bought versions. Recipes that involve cooking are better suited for replicating that exact commercial texture. However, rest assured, children absolutely adore this homemade alternative!

When it comes to coloring, natural food colorings are an option, but for the most vibrant hues, gel food coloring yields the best results.

If you find your dough is sticky, it indicates there’s not enough flour. Gradually add a few tablespoons of flour at a time, kneading thoroughly until the stickiness lessens.And remember, kneading is key! You must work the dough well to achieve the right consistency. Don’t be afraid to experiment with it as you make this recipe so you can find the texture you like best.

For efficiency, I recommend making two batches at a time, coloring each batch separately. It’s important to note that attempting to halve the recipe and then color won’t produce the same results. The dough doesn’t absorb color in the same way the water does. Therefore, if you desire four distinct colors, you’ll need to prepare this recipe four separate times.

No matter how you do it, your kids will have fun!

Here is the texture of the yellow no cook playdough after I added an additional 1/4 cup of flour. I liked how this was less sticky than just adding in the 1 cup.

What ages of kids is homemade playdough good for?

Tucker is 2.5 and he was really into this! He did keep trying to lick it, but he said he was “pretending” lol. Amelia is 7, and it was perfect for her age.

I would say you can do this with almost all ages toddler and up. Even though it is homemade, you want to make sure they don’t eat it 😂

Storing Homemade Playdough:

Using a plastic jar with a lid is the best way to store homemade playdough. This makes it safe for kids, but also keeps the air out. Homemade playdough will dry out quicker than store-bought, so keep this in mind.

This will last months stored in a proper jar.