I’ve made LOTS and LOTS of homemade play dough over the years and this is by far, my favorite recipe. The dough comes out so light and fluffy, it’s almost like playing with marshmallows (but without the sticky!).
The coconut oil is essential in this recipe. I’ve tried vegetable oil instead, and while it works, the dough comes out more dense and lacking that light-as-air characteristic. Plus the smell! Mmmm!
Straight out of the pan, the dough seems dry at first, but work it A LOT and you’ll watch it transform into a fluffy, even consistency. Sometimes, depending on the batch, I add a 1/2 tsp more coconut oil after the dough comes out of the pan, so I encourage you to really watch your dough and do what feels right.
- 1 cup white flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tablespoon cream of tartar
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 cup water
- food coloring
- Mix flour, salt and cream of tartar in a large sauce pan.
- Add oil and water and mix until well combined.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until a large doughy ball forms.
- Remove from stove and knead for 5 minutes–add food coloring during the kneading process.
- Play dough will keep for a long time stored in an air-tight plastic container or bag.
Here are my girls, in all their princess glamor, making this morning’s batch of light and fluffy play dough!
More often than not, when my kids help me in the kitchen I end up with a mess like this…
At least with a recipe like play dough, they have something fun to do while mommy cleans up!
Easy, fast & fun
Love. love. love this idea. My daughter is always wanting to make something in the kitchen and wanting to play with play dough. I love that we can combine the two and I know exactly what goes in the recipe that goes all over my daughter’s hands and possibly on the ground into little one’s mouths. Nothing bad! Thank you for sharing
Thank you Amy! It really is a wonderfully textured play dough. I hope your little one loves making it AND playing with it!