Homemade Play-Dough

Today we made Homemade play-dough!  We have made a few kinds before but by far this is my favorite recipe! I got the recipe from Ian's Preschool Teacher back in Michigan. What's neat about it, is it takes forever to dry out as long as you keep it sealed. I just store ours in a Ziploc bag and it's stays fresh for months. It doesn't have a harsh smell, in fact it doesn't really smell at all. Sometimes I add little peppermint extract to it just to give it a little something but you really don't need it.  

 

Ingredients 

- 2 cups water

- 1/2 cup salt

- 4-5 drops of food coloring. (I tend to use more than that because I like the color to be rich and dark)

- 2 cups flour

- 2 Tbsp oil (I just use vegetable oil) 

- 1 Tbsp alum (you can find this in your spice section. Some use it for canning)

 

What I do is add the Four, Oil & Alum together in one large mixing bowl and set aside.

 Next you are going to bring to a boil the water, salt and food coloring.

 

 

It was Leland's turn to pick the color and he wanted yellow. I have to say I like when Leland picks because he always picks a nice simple color like red, blue, yellow. Ian always goes for the colors I have to mix! Normally he wants brown, yes, brown because "It looks like dirt mom!" I always go with the fun mixes for the holidays though. 

Bring it to a boil until all of the salt has dissolved. It takes less than a minute so watch it close. 

Then pour the water in the bowl with the flour, salt and oil.

  

 The next step is to mix it all together the best you can with a spoon. Then you are going to knead it until it's smooth. ** CAUTION ** This is VERY HOT!! I use a pair of rubber gloves for this part. 1st because it's hot on your hands. 2nd it will tend to dry your hands out until it's fully incorporated together and 3rd I never know if the food coloring will stain my hands or not. Once the playdough is mixed the color does not come off on your hands! 

 

 There you have it. It makes about 3 cups of Playdough when you are finished.

Just remember to keep in an air tight container to store it when it's not being used.

 

Now all you have to do is figure out what color to make and have fun!