Homemade Playdough
The one recipe here nobody is meant to eat. Ten minutes at the stove, and it is softer than anything from the store.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup salt
- 1 tbsp coconut or olive oil
- 3 tbsp white vinegar
- ¾ cup water
- food coloring (optional)
Method
- 1 Whisk the dry.
Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium saucepan, off the heat, until no lumps remain.
- 2 Add the wet.
Add the oil, vinegar, and water. If you want one solid color, stir the food coloring into the water first. Whisk until you have a smooth, thin batter.
- 3 Cook and stir.
Set the pan over medium-low heat and stir constantly with a wooden spoon or sturdy spatula. It will look hopeless for a couple of minutes, then suddenly thicken.
- 4 Watch for the ball.
Keep stirring until the dough pulls away from the sides and gathers into one shaggy ball, about 3 to 5 minutes. When no wet spots remain, take it off the heat.
- 5 Cool and knead.
Turn the dough out onto the counter and let it sit until just cool enough to handle. Knead for a minute or two until smooth and soft.
- 6 Color and store.
For a rainbow, divide the dough and knead a few drops of coloring into each piece. Store in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature.
A few notes.
- — Gel food coloring gives the brightest colors. Knead it in wearing kitchen gloves, or let the kids do it inside a zip-top bag and keep everyone’s hands clean.
- — It is completely non-toxic, but that half cup of salt means one curious taste is usually the last.
- — If it ever feels sticky, knead in a spoonful of flour. If it dries out, work in a few drops of water.
- — A drop of glycerin or a little extra oil makes it even silkier, but it is lovely as written.