Super Soft Playdough Recipe
It’s no secret that we love playdough at our house. We play with it almost every day! Since I like making different kinds of play dough, like jello playdough, marshmallow playdough, and kool-aid playdough, I wanted experiment in the kitchen and try some of my other ideas out. And it worked because I came up with a recipe for SUPER soft playdough. It is really the softest playdough we’ve ever made!
Ingredients for Super Soft Playdough
Now that I’ve talked it up, are you ready for the recipe? Here’s what you need:
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup baby powder (this is the secret ingredient! If you don’t like using baby powder, corn starch is a good alternative)
- 1/4 cup salt
- 2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tablespoon of baby oil
- 3/4 cup of water
- food coloring (I used gel food coloring)
Steps for Making Super Soft Playdough
- Start by mixing 3/4 cups flour, 1/4 cup baby powder, 1/4 cup salt and 2 teaspoons of cream of tarter in a bowl.
- Next, mix in the 1 tablespoon of baby oil, 3/4 cup of water, and a few drops of food coloring.
- Cook the mixture on the stove on low heat for a few minutes.
- Keep stirring and watch for it to start sticking together. If the mixture seems too dry, add in a little water.
- Cook the dough until it does not stick to your fingers when you touch it. If it is too sticky, try adding a Tablespoon or two of flour.
- Once it looks like a dough, remove it from the heat and then knead in some flour until you get a good consistency.
This playdough feels SO soft and squishy! And it smells really great, too! We had fun being creative with the new playdough.
Ways to Play with Playdough
We love playdough for so many reasons! When children play with playdough, they are building strength in their hands, which will help with fine motor skills and handwriting. Try the following activities with playdough:
- Use a roller to roll the dough flat. Then use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
- Roll the dough and cut it with scissors.
- Give them toy animals to play with the playdough.
- Form letters and numbers with the dough.
- Roll the dough into balls and smash them with your palm.
- Decorate the dough with small items, such as gems, pony beads, and googly eyes!
You can also add a few drops of essential oil to make it smell lovely!
Check out how we made the dough with the video below!
Super Soft Playdough
Equipment
- 1 bowl
- 1 spatula
- 1 mat
- 1 burner or stove
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup baby powder
- 1/4 cup salt
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 tablespoon baby oil
- 3/4 cup water
- 3-5 drops food coloring
Instructions
- Start by mixing 3/4 cups flour, 1/4 cup baby powder, 1/4 cup salt and 2 teaspoons of cream of tarter in a bowl.
- Next, mix in the 1 tablespoon of baby oil, 3/4 cup of water, and a few drops of food coloring.
- Cook the mixture on the stove on low heat for a few minutes.
- Keep stirring and watch for it to start sticking together. If the mixture seems too dry, add in a little water.
- Cook the dough until it does not stick to your fingers when you touch it. If it is too sticky, try adding a tablespoon or two of flour.
- Once it looks like a dough, remove it from the heat and then knead in some flour until you get a good consistency.
Notes
Make sure you store this in an air-tight container so it will last longer! Hope you will try this recipe out and let me know how you like it!
Hi, I love this recipe,,, I have been using it for many years.
What can I use instead of baby oil. I don’t have any on hand at the moment
Thanks You
You could try vegetable oil or olive oil. It won’t be quite as soft.
Does this stay soft for a good while? If I make it a week ahead of when I need it for a group, and wrap it up well, will it be ok?
Also, can I double/triple/quadruple the batch or would you recommend making in single batches?
Yes it does stay soft! I would make it in either a single or double batch.
This is my go to recipe for playdough- It’s soft and lasts a long time!! I havent added essential oils yet–But Im about to make another batch…And I think I will add some this time! Thanks so much!
just made some dough for my 3 yr. old granddaughter! Its the second time using your recipe, turned out fabulous! so soft and pliable! Thank You for sharing. … we’ve got yellow (her favorite color), off to make blue and green!!
Hi, I love this recipe!! I have been using it for many years.
What can I use instead of baby oil? I don’t have any on hand at the moment
Thanks
Ashleigh
Thank you! You can also use vegetable oil.
Hello. I was wondering at what temperature we’re supposed to cook the playdough at?
I usually heat it at low to medium heat. I don’t have a specific temperature…sorry!
This is a great recipe. I am going to try it. Do you find it to be stretchy compared to other recipes you used?
Yes it is a bit more stretchy. It’s not like slime, but it’s stretchier for play dough!
Thanks for this cool recipe! It still leaves a little grease on my hands while playing. Ive tried everything. Any ideas?
I’m sorry! I didn’t find the dough to leave grease on my hands, so I’m not sure how to fix that.
I love this play dough recipe! I have noticed however that sometimes when I make it the next day it’ll have a coating of fine white powder, as if an ingredient has come to the surface? Can you advise as to what is causing this. I’m baffled as sometimes it doesn’t!
I honestly have no idea. I’m guessing it’s the baby powder? You should be able to knead the dough to fix this.
this is THE best play dough recipe i’ve tried yet! so soft 🙂
& like the idea of adding essential oils for added sensory experience. thank-you for sharing 🙂