How to Make 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!
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)
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.
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.
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.
My preschooler loves practicing scissor skills with playdough. He uses preschool scissors, which are easy to use with playdough and are very safe.
I have been teaching them how to roll playdough into a ball and how to make a snake. It’s a work in progress! 🙂
Lastly, we got out our cookie cutters. Troy learned how to use a rolling pin and REALLY enjoyed cutting out his creations.
Have you tried making jello playdough? I highly recommend it!
Jello Playdough
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.
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!!!
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?? 🙁
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!
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 RECIPE
What happens if you leave the oil out?
Hmm I am not sure since I have never tried. It may be dry?
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?
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?
Make sure it’s the 3oz package. I bought a box of jello that’s only 0.6oz and it becomes super soft 🙁
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 Printables
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.
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
I am so thrilled to hear this! Thank you for making my day 🙂
Only had whole wheat flour and it was too dry so added water then too sticky.
Oh no! I am sorry. I have not tried whole wheat flour for this recipe! Hope you will try it again sometime!
I kneaded some extra flour after cooking it to keep it from sticking. What a great activity, especially during this COLD winter weather!
Good!! I had to do that the last time I made a batch, too. Glad to hear it worked out for you!