When we discovered homemade play dough, our daughter couldn’t believe how soft and doughy it felt between her fingers. Homemade play dough is so easy and fun to make that even my first attempt came out a hit. Then I started experimenting and it became amazing.
I tried a batch with a gel food color (better) and then one with an electric purple gel food color (even better since purple is life in our house) and finally one Halloween themed with a burnt orange gel food color and pumpkin pie spice extract that made the finished product smell completely delicious (the best)!
We now make the play dough in the slow cooker so that our daughter can participate in making it herself. Measuring and mixing is so much fun for her. Take a peek and try this recipe with a warm, fall theme in mind.
Ingredients for your Easy Play Dough Recipe:
- Flour – 1 cup
- Corn Starch – ½ cup
- Salt – ½ cup
- Water – 1 ½ cup
- Cooking Oil – 2 Tbsp
- Cream of Tartar – 4 Tbsp
- Burgundy Gel Food Color – About 6 Drops
- Maple Extract (optional) – ½ Teaspoon
Recipe
Add the dry ingredients slow cooker: flour, corn starch, salt & cream of tartar. In a bowl, mix the water, food color, maple extract (optional) and oil. Add the wet ingredients to the slow cooker and mix really well. Cover and cook on low heat for approximately 45 minutes. If there’s any moisture left, cook a bit longer.
Important Safety Tips
- If you’re letting your little sous chef help, make sure the slow cooker is unplugged when you’re adding and mixing ingredients.
- Play dough will be hot when it’s done, so allow it to cool before handling or playing with it.
Anissa Seymour is the owner of What a Babe Kids Studio in Sherman Oaks, a cozy space designed especially for children ages 0-4 to enjoy the magic of music and books and the wonder of sensory activities.
