Make Homemade Play Dough

Whip up this colorful DIY play dough in a snap with only a handful of simple pantry staples.

Colorful Balls of Homemade Play Dough on Table Near Rolling Pin

Homemade Play Dough

HGTV Handmade's Jill Tennant shares her favorite recipe for homemade play dough. To make, you will need all purpose flour, cream of tartar, table salt, vegetable oil, food coloring, water and a sauce pan.

From: HGTV Handmade

Photo by: Cassidy Garcia

Cassidy Garcia

Pinterest is filled with loads of homemade play dough recipes — so many that it can be a little overwhelming to pick just one. HGTV Handmade’s Jill Tennant did all the homework for you and shares a tried-and-true, homemade play dough recipe that stands out among the rest. Round up a handful of common kitchen ingredients and get the kids involved with this easy, homemade play dough recipe.

Colorful Balls of Homemade Play Dough on Table

Homemade Play Dough

HGTV Handmade's Jill Tennant shares her favorite recipe for homemade play dough. To make, you will need all purpose flour, cream of tartar, table salt, vegetable oil, food coloring, water and a sauce pan.

From: HGTV Handmade

Photo by: Cassidy Garcia

Cassidy Garcia

Ingredients + Tools

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup table salt
  • 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
The Best Homemade Play Dough Recipe
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1: Add Ingredients + Color

Add 1 cup of flour, 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar and 1/2 cup of table salt to a medium saucepan (Image 1). Next, add 1 cup of water to a glass measuring cup and dash in several drops of food coloring (Image 2); stir together with a whisk. Next, pour the water and food coloring mixture into the saucepan with all dry ingredients (Image 3). Tip: Add food coloring and water at the beginning of the process rather than the end to avoid stained hands and ensure the color penetrates the dough evenly. Last, add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to the pan.

2: Heat + Stir

Turn the burner on medium/low heat (Image 1). Use a spatula to stir the mixture until it starts to become thick, solid and lumpy (Image 2). Once the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the pan and stick together it's ready to remove from the heat (Image 3). Tip: Total cook time should be around 2-3 minutes.

3: Knead + Enjoy

Place the warm dough on a piece of parchment paper and it let cool (Image 1). Once cooled enough to touch, knead the play dough thoroughly to remove lumps (Image 2). Keep the play dough in a resealable bag and let your kids enjoy it for up to one month (Image 3).

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