Natural Homemade Play Dough Recipe ⛹️
Homemade Fall Play Dough
Today felt like the perfect day to make a batch of homemade play dough. It is simple, inexpensive, made with basic food-grade ingredients, and gives the kids something creative to do without creating a huge project for Mom.
A Simple Activity with So Many Benefits
Playing with play dough during early childhood can support fine motor skills, creativity, sensory exploration, imagination, problem-solving, and independent play.
It is one of my favorite activities for those quieter days when I do not want to plan anything complicated, but the kids still need something hands-on to keep them busy.
I first found a version of this recipe nearly fifteen years ago when Ella was little. Since then, I have adjusted it to work better for us and experimented with different seasonal scents and colors.
What You Will Need
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup salt
- 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 cups warm water
- 2 teaspoons ground allspice for a fall-inspired scent, optional
- Natural food coloring, optional
Make It Your Own
For our fall batch, I like adding ground allspice. You could also try a small amount of cinnamon or nutmeg.
A note about essential oils: I sometimes used a few drops in older batches, but essential oils are highly concentrated and are not all appropriate for children, pets, or accidental ingestion. Using ordinary ground spices or leaving the dough unscented is the simplest choice.
How to Make the Play Dough
- Combine the ingredients. Add the flour, salt, cream of tartar, coconut oil, warm water, and any optional spice or food coloring to a medium saucepan.
- Cook slowly. Place the saucepan over low to medium heat. Stir continuously, scraping the bottom and sides of the pan so the mixture does not burn.
- Keep stirring as it thickens. The mixture will begin looking shaggy and lumpy before gradually pulling together. Continue cooking slowly for approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove it from the heat. Once the dough forms one solid mass and begins pulling away from the pan, remove it from the heat and set it aside to cool slightly.
- Knead until smooth. When the dough is cool enough to handle but still warm and flexible, remove it from the pan. Knead it with clean hands until it becomes smooth, soft, and evenly combined.
How to Store It
Allow the play dough to cool completely before placing it in an airtight container or sealed bag. Store it in the refrigerator between uses.
With clean hands and proper storage, it can remain usable for quite a while. Discard it if you notice mold, an unpleasant odor, unusual discoloration, or any other sign that it has spoiled.
Adult supervision is still important. Although this recipe uses familiar food-grade ingredients, it contains a large amount of salt and is intended for play—not for eating. It also contains wheat and should be kept away from children with a wheat allergy or sensitivity.
I hope your family enjoys making and playing with this as much as ours has over the years. There is something so satisfying about turning a few pantry ingredients into hours of creative play.
Let me know if you make a batch and which colors or seasonal spices you decide to use!
Happy Homesteading,
The Hippie Farmer
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