Teaching Mama

playing, creating, and learning at home

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

facebook twitter pinterest instagram googleplus email bloglovin
  • Home
  • About
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact
  • Toddlers
    • Sensory Play
    • Fine Motor Skills
    • Gross Motor Skills
    • Toys
  • Preschoolers
    • Homeschooling
    • Alphabet
      • Printable Alphabet Packets
    • Fine Motor Skills
    • Gross Motor Skills
    • Math
    • Music
    • Reading
      • Book Activities
    • Science
    • Technology
  • Shop
    • Your Account
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Printables Club
  • Member Login

How to Make Jello Playdough

by Angela Thayer 91 Comments

jello playdough

Looking for a fun sensory activity? Try making jello playdough! It smells amazing and it is so smooth. This may be my favorite playdough we have ever made!

jello playdough

Here’s what you need:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup salt
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
  • 1 package of Jello (sugar-free or regular)

Jello Playdough

Mix all the ingredients together and cook over low on the stove. Stir frequently. I used a whisk to get rid of the clumps and then cooked for 5-7 minutes, stirring with a spatula. Once the dough starts to gather together into a ball and doesn’t stick to your fingers (see the picture below), then you can take it off the stove.

jelloplaydough

After it cools for a minute, knead it on a cutting board. That’s all you do! We made 3 colors and stored them in these small Ziploc containers. I liked these little containers because I divided the colors evenly for both boys.

Check out how to make it with the video below.

Jello Playdough

This is a fun sensory activity and great to make on a day when you need to keep the little ones busy! Play dough is awesome for building strength in hands, which helps with prewriting skills and fine motor skills. Let them squish, roll, cut, and explore the playdough with their little fingers.

playdough

My preschooler loves practicing scissor skills with playdough. He uses  preschool scissors, which are easy to use with playdough and are very safe.

scissors with playdough

I have been teaching them how to roll playdough into a ball and how to make a snake. It’s a work in progress! 🙂

snake

Lastly, we got out our cookie cutters. Troy learned how to use a rolling pin and REALLY enjoyed cutting out his creations.

jello playdough

Have you tried making jello playdough? I highly recommend it!

how to make jello play dough

Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Jello Playdough

Servings: 1 play dough

Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/4 cup salt
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
  • 1 package Jello This can be sugar-free or regular. You will want the small package of Jello.

Instructions

  • Mix all of the ingredients together into a pot.
  • Place the pot on the stove on low-medium heat.
  • Stir frequently. Once the dough starts to gather together and form a ball, remove it from the heat.
  • After it cools for a minute, add some flour to it and knead it.

Related Posts

  • Bubble Gum Play DoughBubble Gum Play Dough
  • Honey PlaydoughHoney Playdough
  • Root Beer PlaydoughRoot Beer Playdough
  • Super Soft Playdough RecipeSuper Soft Playdough Recipe
  • Kool Aid PlaydoughKool Aid Playdough
  • Christmas Play Dough: The Easiest Recipe!Christmas Play Dough: The Easiest Recipe!

Sharing is caring!

234296 shares
  • Facebook7173
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Sensory Play Tagged With: invitation to play, jello, letter j, playdough, recipe

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

  1. Amber says

    September 3, 2022 at 1:56 pm

    Turned out great, I used coconut oil, smells amazing!

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      September 6, 2022 at 8:30 am

      Wonderful idea to use coconut oil! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  2. Nachwa says

    June 14, 2022 at 12:35 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing thanks a lot for this recipe

    Reply
  3. Laura says

    April 22, 2022 at 1:45 pm

    Just made this with my toddler. I followed the recipe exactly and it is perfect. It’s better than any store bought dough. My son is loving playing with it. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      May 4, 2022 at 9:30 am

      Wonderful! I’m so happy to hear that you love the recipe!

      Reply
  4. Amanda says

    April 12, 2022 at 2:29 pm

    How long does this store for?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      April 13, 2022 at 3:50 pm

      It will last for months! We keep ours in a sealed Ziploc bag in a cupboard. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  5. Terri Acosta says

    April 1, 2022 at 7:32 am

    I would like to try this at my preschool.
    Do you have an idea on how long I can cook it in a microwave or does it have to be on the stove.

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      April 4, 2022 at 12:36 pm

      I’m not sure…let me do some testing and get back to you!

      Reply
  6. Dana says

    February 10, 2022 at 11:57 am

    Is this recipe taste safe? My 15 month old loves to put everything against his mouth or tongue.

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      February 15, 2022 at 8:09 pm

      Technically, yes it is safe and should not be harmful in small quantities. But I would just watch your little one closely to make sure he doesn’t eat too much!

      Reply
  7. Charlotte says

    October 3, 2020 at 5:27 pm

    I tried this today. I replaced the cream of tartar with baking soda since I didn’t have any. It was a lot of fun and turned out great! Thank you so much for this post! I shared my experience on my Instagram @carlotasweb.

    Reply
  8. Melissa says

    April 17, 2020 at 11:19 pm

    What kind of oil is best to use?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      April 18, 2020 at 7:14 am

      I like using vegetable oil.

      Reply
  9. Bren says

    December 16, 2019 at 1:55 pm

    Thanks for the awesome idea! Quick question can I make this with out cream of tartar? Thanks!

    Reply
  10. Afifa says

    November 27, 2019 at 1:37 am

    Thank you Angela! The playdough turned out great! I made it with my two and a half year old son , he enjoyed the dumping of dry ingredients into the bowl and was impatient while it was cooking;) He is now enjoying his play!!

    Reply
  11. Lia Mercedes says

    October 10, 2019 at 5:31 am

    Hello! I try to make this recipe, but it is very sticky. I followed every step but I dont know what happened. What can I do to fix it?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      October 10, 2019 at 10:53 am

      I’m so sorry it turned out that way for you! My guess is that it needed to cook longer on the stove. If it’s sticky, I would try kneading more flour into the dough. Once again, I’m sorry it turned out sticky for you!

      Reply
  12. Keeshia says

    October 9, 2019 at 12:41 pm

    I work at a Reggio Emilia inspired school and have a class of 13. I would love to make this with my class but I definitely want us to make enough for everyone. How much does 1 recipe make? Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      October 16, 2019 at 9:56 am

      One recipe makes enough for 2 people. I hope that helps!

      Reply
  13. Audrey T says

    August 2, 2019 at 9:18 am

    I would like to try this soon but I was wondering how long it lasts. Since it’s made from food, how long can I let my daughter play with it before throwing it out?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      August 14, 2019 at 9:16 am

      It lasts us several months without putting it in the fridge.

      Reply
  14. Cindi says

    July 30, 2019 at 9:53 am

    What size jello box, big, or small?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      July 30, 2019 at 9:54 am

      Sorry I didn’t clarify. It’s a small box.

      Reply
  15. Rhi says

    May 9, 2019 at 5:50 pm

    How long does it keep for.

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      May 9, 2019 at 9:01 pm

      It keeps for 1-2 months.

      Reply
  16. Abby says

    May 16, 2017 at 3:43 pm

    Hi. I have a question. What kind of oil do you use?

    Reply
  17. Linda says

    October 15, 2015 at 1:46 pm

    Hi!

    I love your play dough recipe. It’s perfect! We have used it for birthday parties and I just shared it with my son’s school. Such a great and lasting product and pretty safe, I love it. So wonderful to have moms like you out there helping the rest of us make these wonderful things for our kids. Thanks so much…

    LH

    Reply
  18. valerie says

    September 11, 2015 at 9:38 pm

    So made this, awesome until it went mouldy after only a week?? How come has anyone else had this problem?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      September 11, 2015 at 9:44 pm

      I’m so sorry to hear this! I’m trying to think of why that would have happened. Ours last for several months. The cream of tartar and salt should preserve it. Was there extra moisture on the playdough, like water? Once again, I’m sorry it didn’t work well for you!

      Reply
  19. thea says

    February 28, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    We made some this morning! Was easy, and a great success, plus it smells yummy with the jello! Thank you for putting this post together!

    thea.
    x

    Reply
  20. Michelle Finley says

    July 18, 2014 at 9:50 pm

    I have made this recipe several times and simply love it! I have made it both with sugar free and regular jello and found that while both worked great the regular got moldy after a couple of weeks while the other did not. I have also made this with an all purpose gluten free flour and it worked just fine.

    Reply
  21. Brittany says

    June 29, 2014 at 10:56 pm

    Just made this with Mango flavored Jell-O (not sugar free), olive oil, and self rising flour. It came out beautifully, however the olive oil turned it a very unappealing color so I added a little gel food coloring while mixing. The result is absolutely wonderful! It is very smooth and would have smelled wonderful if I had used vegetable oil (I was out), so it smells like olive oil with a hint of mango. My spirited 2-year-old is in love! I’ll never buy play dough again. ****A tip to those of you who can’t get it to thicken, just let it sit without stirring for a moment. Not too long, just a minute, then try stirring again. I also kneaded it with a little more flour and it turned out wonderfully. Thank you for this recipe!!!

    Reply
  22. Rina says

    June 7, 2014 at 4:25 pm

    Hi,

    I tried this recipe twice and both times it turned out clumpy and not as smooth as your photo. There are more dry ingredients than wet. I followed your instructions to a T. I used a whisk, but it all got clumped in the whisk and I had to use a spatula to scrap everything out. Then I used a spatula to stir, but still it was just too dry. Should I add more liquid? What am I doing wrong?? 🙁

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      June 9, 2014 at 3:45 am

      Oh no! I am SO sorry to hear that! I have made it many times and never had that problem. I wonder if the heat is too high on your stove? Or what size package is your jello? It should be the small sugar-free package. I am sorry that you have wasted ingredients trying this recipe out. I hope it turns out for you next time!

      Reply
  23. Kids in Action Homeschool says

    May 22, 2014 at 1:07 am

    THANK YOU SO MUCH! I DIDN’T USE THE SUGAR FREE JELLO BUT IT WORKED WONDERFUL. I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THE RIGHT RECIPE FOR YEARS AND I FOUND IT THANKS TO YOU. I SHARED YOUR LINK ON THE HOMESCHOOL’S BLOG FOR THIS RECIPE. MY HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES WILL LOVE THIS TOO. THE SMELL FROM THE JELLO LASTS FOR EVER. I DIDN’T USE THE NAME BRAND JELLO EITHER AND IT WORKED GREAT. MY KIDS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR 3 DAYS NOW AND IT HASN’T DRIED OUT. WE USE COOKIE CUTTERS, BUTTONS, SEQUENCES, WITH OUR PLAYDOUGH. THANKS SO MUCU. I LOVE YOUR IDEAS. ALSO I MIGHT ADD A LITTLE GRAPESEED OIL OR SOME OTHER OIL TO KEEP BACTERIA DOWN.
    Kids in Action Homeschool recently posted…PLAYDOUGH RECIPEMy Profile

    Reply
  24. Brittany says

    May 15, 2014 at 5:56 pm

    What happens if you leave the oil out?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      May 15, 2014 at 7:11 pm

      Hmm I am not sure since I have never tried. It may be dry?

      Reply
  25. Swati says

    April 26, 2014 at 7:34 am

    Hi,
    I tried this but it is sticking. Tried cooking for 10-12 minutes but still sticks. I don’t have cream of tartar so use gelatine. Can u tell me what’s causing the issue?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      April 27, 2014 at 11:42 pm

      I am so sorry this is not working for you! I have not made it without Cream of Tartar. My guess is that’s why it is not working. Have you tried adding extra flour?

      Reply
  26. elizabeth says

    March 30, 2014 at 3:45 am

    Make sure it’s the 3oz package. I bought a box of jello that’s only 0.6oz and it becomes super soft 🙁

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      March 30, 2014 at 1:02 pm

      I’m so sorry! I didn’t know it came in that small of a package.
      Angela Thayer recently posted…P is for Penguins — Letter P PrintablesMy Profile

      Reply
  27. Becka says

    March 24, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    Just made this yesterday because the kids were going stir crazy still not being able to go outside because of the cold weather. It is fabulous! So easy! Smells great and is so nice and soft and smooth. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe.

    Reply
  28. Tabby says

    February 22, 2014 at 12:00 am

    Thank you so much for sharing this. We made this today and we are never going to buy play dough again. It is so soft and my son loved it. We have been trying a lot of your projects, I bought your eBook and I absolutely love it. My son goes to Montessori and it is really good to use some of the activities in your book while at home. Thank you.

    Tabby

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      February 24, 2014 at 1:51 am

      I am so thrilled to hear this! Thank you for making my day 🙂

      Reply
  29. Crystal says

    February 11, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    Only had whole wheat flour and it was too dry so added water then too sticky.

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      February 12, 2014 at 2:28 am

      Oh no! I am sorry. I have not tried whole wheat flour for this recipe! Hope you will try it again sometime!

      Reply
  30. Raquel says

    January 28, 2014 at 6:50 pm

    I kneaded some extra flour after cooking it to keep it from sticking. What a great activity, especially during this COLD winter weather!

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      January 28, 2014 at 11:09 pm

      Good!! I had to do that the last time I made a batch, too. Glad to hear it worked out for you!

      Reply
  31. Cristyl @ CHill Thoughts says

    January 17, 2014 at 8:26 pm

    This stuff is amazing! I just made a few batches for my little guy to try and I’m probably a little more excited about it than I should be! I love that I don’t have to worry about him eating some of it!

    Reply
  32. Christina says

    January 13, 2014 at 2:27 pm

    Hi there!

    Love this idea! I’m in the middle of trying it out right now and I can’t seem to bring it to a place where it doesn’t stick to my fingers! I’ve been cooking for some time now.. any advice?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      January 13, 2014 at 4:17 pm

      Sorry, this is probably too late to help! I let mine cook until it did not stick to my fingers. If that doesn’t work, then try kneading in some flour. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  33. Lori says

    January 10, 2014 at 5:52 pm

    What size Jello did you use? I am assuming the small box.

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      January 11, 2014 at 12:42 am

      I used the small box. 🙂

      Reply
  34. Deanne says

    January 10, 2014 at 4:52 am

    How long does this play dough last?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      January 11, 2014 at 12:43 am

      I have had mine for 5+ months and it is still great. It smells wonderful and has not dried out at all. I keep them in an air-tight container.

      Reply
  35. LH says

    December 19, 2013 at 12:43 am

    The play dough recipe is AWESOME! I didn’t have cream of tartar so I subbed with baking powder and it worked beautifully!

    Reply
  36. Shirl L says

    December 6, 2013 at 6:50 pm

    I just tried making the jello play dough today. I can’t believe how easy it was…and it smells great! I used the regular jello though, not the sugar free type…I wonder if it would attract ants… we’ll see! Thank you so much for sharing this!
    Shirl L recently posted…Puppet MakingMy Profile

    Reply
    • Shirl L says

      December 7, 2013 at 1:56 pm

      Ooh, I just had my boys played with them and they loved it! I love it too, that the fact it doesn’t leave “flour” residue on the hands unlike some of the play dough recipe… only a hint of oil… can’t emphasise how much I love the sweet scent!
      Shirl L recently posted…Puppet MakingMy Profile

      Reply
  37. Gaby says

    November 24, 2013 at 4:41 am

    Hello, I just have a question about the recipe for play dough, what is tartar cream??

    Reply
  38. Isa says

    November 21, 2013 at 3:00 am

    I just made this for the twins I nanny and they love it. What is the life expectancy for it?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      November 21, 2013 at 3:04 am

      So happy to hear this! I tested this out and mine is STILL good from the time I made it for this post! So I guess 3+ months. I kept some in the fridge and it did not hold up well…it was clumpy and was not very moldable. So I suggest keeping it in an air-tight container and it should last! Enjoy! 🙂

      Reply
  39. Kate's Mama says

    November 16, 2013 at 4:17 am

    I’ve made this for my 2-year-old. It comes out so smooth and the scent was fantastic. (I made orange!) We became busy with family vacation and other things while it was stored in our fridge. After the older kids (9-14) started school, I got it out again. I was amazed that it was still very usable. It remained smooth, didn’t harden and still had scent, though not as strong. (I stored it in an air-tight bag.)

    Now to make some other colors. I’m trying blue, green, purple, and red. She’s excited!

    Reply
  40. Annette says

    September 11, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    I’ve made this playdough and it came out really well mixing the recipe with boiling warer with a spoon, kneading, cooling slightly and then playing with instantly. Saved all the hassle with a saucepan!

    Reply
  41. Jeb says

    August 25, 2013 at 12:19 am

    do the kids’ hands get colored? I couldn’t tell from the photos.

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      August 25, 2013 at 2:36 am

      Nope, not at all. I love that part!

      Reply
  42. Beth says

    August 23, 2013 at 10:14 am

    I love this! What a fun recipe and I bet it smells fantastic!!

    Thanks for sharing your creativity & linking up to TGIF!

    I featured your post today on TGIF here (http://www.123homeschool4me.com/2013/08/tgif-linky-party-91.html) I hope you’ll pop over and link up again later today.

    Have a great weekend,
    Beth

    Reply
  43. Candice says

    August 23, 2013 at 4:05 am

    Beautiful colors!
    Did you use the recipe to make all 3 colors?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      August 24, 2013 at 2:44 am

      Good question. I used this recipe for just 1 color. So I made 3 batches 🙂
      Angela Thayer recently posted…Week in ReviewMy Profile

      Reply
  44. Jo Edwards says

    August 22, 2013 at 9:52 pm

    Is that plain flour or self raising flour?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      August 22, 2013 at 10:37 pm

      Just plain flour.

      Reply
  45. Trisha says

    August 22, 2013 at 8:12 pm

    Does the jell-o give this play dough a different texture than regular homemade play dough? I usually use kool-aid and am wondering if this would be different?

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      August 22, 2013 at 10:37 pm

      I think it is smoother than kool-aid playdough. I do not think it is significantly different.

      Reply
  46. Danielle, The Frugal Navy Wife says

    August 17, 2013 at 1:40 am

    Looks like we had the same idea this week i did a DIY Kool-Aid play Dough recipe post 🙂 love this idea too!
    Danielle, The Frugal Navy Wife recently posted…DIY Kool Aid Play DoughMy Profile

    Reply
  47. Deb @ Living Montessori Now says

    August 16, 2013 at 1:07 pm

    This looks so inviting! I pinned your post to my Playdough and Craft Recipes Board at http://pinterest.com/debchitwood/playdough-craft-recipes/
    Deb @ Living Montessori Now recently posted…Free Police Printables and Montessori-Inspired Police ActivitiesMy Profile

    Reply
  48. Debbie @ http://kidsbibledebjackson.blogspot.com/ says

    August 15, 2013 at 9:03 pm

    This play dough has great color! I will pin it and be back! Thanks for sharing at TMTP!

    Reply
  49. Amy says

    August 15, 2013 at 11:14 am

    I love this — I’ll have to see if I can create a version for my gluten-free boy 🙂
    Amy recently posted…a cardboard box is funMy Profile

    Reply
    • Beth says

      January 10, 2014 at 5:20 am

      Try the recipe I found on another web site. It only uses corn flour (starch) and some hair conditioner… add coloring or not. And no cooking is involved. Other fun recipes are also found here.

      http://pagingfunmums.com/2014/01/07/summer-lemon-playdough/

      Reply
  50. Sarah says

    August 14, 2013 at 1:44 pm

    What a fun idea! Quick question for you . . . do I need to use sugar free jello or can I use the regular kind? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Angela Thayer says

      August 24, 2013 at 2:52 am

      Hi Sarah! I am not sure if the regular kind works. I only use the sugar free kind. Let me know if you try it out!
      Angela Thayer recently posted…Week in ReviewMy Profile

      Reply
      • Kati says

        January 9, 2014 at 7:48 pm

        I just made it with Regular Jello and it turned out great! 🙂

        Reply
        • Heidi says

          February 18, 2014 at 11:48 pm

          Awesome to know! I was going to ask the same question. I can’t wait to make this!

          Reply
          • Isabelle says

            March 27, 2014 at 6:03 pm

            Good to know ! I’m living in a very small town ( I don’t even think this is a town) and there was only like 3 sort of sugar-free jello so I’m super happy if the regular work too, I’ll be able to do more color. Kids are super happy and so am I because regular play dough is kindda giving me eczema on the hands because of the colouring. This won’t do and it smells sooooooo good ! Thank you ! 🙂

        • Bella says

          December 26, 2019 at 7:07 am

          How long can you use it before it goes off

          Reply
          • Angela Thayer says

            January 5, 2020 at 5:05 pm

            This play dough lasts for several months.

    • Maureen says

      December 6, 2018 at 10:45 am

      I’ve heard of making it with koolaid too:)

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Jello Sensory Play - The Measured Mom says:
    July 27, 2020 at 6:20 am

    […] jello play dough with Teaching […]

    Reply
  2. 103+ Kids Activities Indoor Ideas. Fun and Low Cost! says:
    March 16, 2020 at 3:02 pm

    […] Make homemade play dough. […]

    Reply
  3. J is for Jello Sensory Play says:
    March 5, 2015 at 10:00 am

    […] Jello Playdough (my favorite way to make playdough!) […]

    Reply
  4. Must Haves for Homeschooling Kids with Sensory Needs says:
    September 23, 2013 at 6:04 am

    […] all that stirring!). There are many wonderful recipes available for homemade playdough online like Jello Playdough and I have included some recipes in my Sensory Bins […]

    Reply
  5. 5 Days of Piano Teaching Fun Using Play Dough! | Teach Piano Today says:
    September 16, 2013 at 5:51 pm

    […] for great piano teaching ideas.  But today was rainy and my kids were bored.  A recipe for “The Best Play Dough” scrolled by and caught my eye… so we made raspberry and lime scented play […]

    Reply
about teaching mama
sensory play crafts printables fall winter spring summer

Search Teaching Mama

Archives


Copyright © 2023 Teaching Mama · Privacy Policy · Disclosure

Copyright © 2023 · Teaching Mama on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

234296 shares
  • 7173

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Teaching Mama
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Cookie Policy

More information about our Cookie Policy