Make Your Own Play-Dough

I don’t know about your kids but mine love play-dough!  The problem is, it can get expensive because they keep accidentally letting it dry out.  Simple solution: make your own for much cheaper.  Personally, I like the homemade stuff a little better anyway.

Here’s what you’ll need:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 cup water
4 Tablespoons oil
food coloring

Step 1)  Mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar in the pot.

Step 2)  Add the water, oil, and food coloring.  Food coloring is to desired color.

(At this point in time my camera ran out of batteries and I was not about to leave my 5 and 3 year old alone by a hot stove to find new batteries.  Excuse the lack of photo(s) for the next part.)

Step 3)  Cook on medium heat until the mixture is able to remain a ball in the middle of the pot.  The mixture will be liquidy and clumpy at first (and you’ll wonder how in the world it is going to turn into play-dough) but it will get firmer as it cooks.  Make sure to keep stirring as it cooks.

(At this point in time I realize that my cell phone is sitting on the counter behind me.  It doesn’t take the greatest of photos, but it will work in a pinch.  Excuse the crappy cell phone photos.)

Step 4)  Dump the clumpy play-dough mixture on the counter and knead immediately until it is smooth.  It will be very warm but not hot.  Be careful of tiny, sensitive fingers if your kids want to knead it.

You now have homemade play-dough!  Enjoy!  Store in a plastic baggie in the fridge to keep it fresh and lasting for a while.

*This play-dough can leave a slightly oily residue behind.  Keep that in mind when you are playing with it.

Do your kids like Play-dough?  What types of things do they make with it?