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Children playing with colorful modeling dough, forming shapes on a white table

Homemade Playdough

Classic cooked playdough made with flour, salt and cream of tartar — soft, elastic and long-lasting, in any color you like. A craft recipe, not a food.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 2 cups of playdough (one color batch)
Cuisine: Kids Craft
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup (150 g) table salt
  • 2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil or coconut oil
  • 1 cup (240 ml) boiling water
  • Gel food coloring a few drops, or liquid food coloring

Method
 

  1. Whisk the flour, salt and cream of tartar together in a medium saucepan, off the heat.
  2. Stir the food coloring into the boiling water.
  3. Pour the colored water and the oil into the pan and stir to a shaggy paste.
  4. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes, until the mixture forms a ball and leaves the sides of the pan clean.
  5. Tip onto a plate and cool a few minutes, until safe to handle (adults only for the hot stages).
  6. Knead 1 to 2 minutes until silky and smooth, adding a pinch of flour if sticky.

Notes

NOT edible: the salt content is very high. Supervise toddlers and keep the dough away from pets.
Cream of tartar is what gives the dough its elasticity and long life — do not skip it.
Store airtight at room temperature for up to 6 months; revive dry dough with a few drops of water kneaded in.
Discard the batch if it grows mold or smells off.
Variations: turmeric, cocoa or beet juice for natural colors; pumpkin pie spice or a drop of extract for scented dough.