Making Playdough at Home

What better to do on a rainy day than have some art time?  Here are two different recipes for homemade playdough.  One is cooked and has a consistency that is a little more appealing, but if you want your kids to make it on their own, you probably want to opt for the uncooked variety.

Cooked Playdough

2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon cream of tartar (optional for improved elasticity)
food coloring (liquid, powder, or unflavored drink mix)

Mix all of the ingredients together, and stir over low heat. The dough will begin to thicken until it resembles mashed potatoes. When the dough pulls away from the sides and clumps in the center remove the pan from heat and allow the dough to cool enough to handle. If your playdough feels sticky, you need to cook it a little longer.

Turn the dough out onto a clean counter or silicone mat, and knead vigorously until it becomes silky-smooth. Divide the dough into balls for coloring. Make a divot in the center of the ball, and drop some food coloring in. Fold the dough over, working the food color through the body of the playdough.

When you're done store it in an air-tight container. If it begins to dry out, you can knead a bit of water in again to soften the dough back to useability.

If your kids make a masterpiece with the dough, you can put in in the oven at 300 degrees for about half an hour to dry the dough.  Then just coat with varnish.


Uncooked Playdough

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water

Mix flour and salt and add water.  Add a few drops of food coloring and knead.  If the dough feels sticky, add a little flour.  If it feels dry, just add a little water.

Dough should be stored in an air-tight container.

Both recipes come from the Instructables website.