Easy Playdough Recipes: COOKED & NO COOKED [with video]

 Here is how to make playdough with the cooked and no cook methods.

Welcome to our tutorials on how to craft your very own playdough using both the cooked and no-cook methods! Playdough is a timeless, versatile, and endlessly entertaining modeling material loved by kids and adults alike.

Whether you're a parent looking for a fun activity to do with your children, a teacher searching for a creative classroom project, or simply someone eager to explore the world of DIY crafts, you've come to the right place.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through two distinct playdough-making techniques: the traditional cooked method, which yields a durable and pliable dough, and the convenient no-cook method, perfect for those moments when you need playdough in a pinch.

So, roll up your sleeves and get ready to embark on a creative journey that's sure to provide hours of imaginative fun. Let's dive in and start making your own playdough today!

These batches are made with lavender essential oils, infusing your playdough with the soothing and aromatic essence of lavender.

This not only enhances the sensory experience, but also provides a calming effect as you knead, mold, and create with your homemade playdough, making it a perfect choice for relaxation and imaginative play alike.

These are the only playdough recipes you will ever need again.

Have you ever wondered why your playdough never works, despite following a recipe exactly? Well, that's because there is no 'one recipe fits all'.

Everyone is at different parts of the world which affects moisture content in the air and in our ingredients, so someone might not have to add much flour at all and then another might have to add it quite a bit of flour to get it right.

That's why this recipe starts off with just 1 1/3 cup of flour and then extra added in as needed.

BEST PLAYDOUGH RECIPES

NO COOK PLAYDOUGH RECIPE

Ingredients For No Cook Playdough

• 1 1/3 cups of flour 
• 1/2 cup of salt
• 2 tbsp cream of tartar
• 1 tbsp olive oil (great for your hands)
• 5 - 7 drops of lavender essential oil
• 1 cup of water
• Purple food coloring (if you don't have purple then red + blue)
• 4 tbsp lavender flowers

Instructions For No Cook Playdough

Step 1

In a mixing bowl, mix together flour, salt, cream of tartar and lavender flowers.

Step 2

In another mixing bowl mix together the olive oil, water, lavender essential oil, and food coloring.

Step 3

Add the flour mixture into the water mixture and stir.

Step 4

Once the playdough mixture is blended together enough, you can scrape it out of the bowl and onto a floured surface.

Step 5

Knead more flour in until silky smooth. If your texture is sticky, add more flour until it has a soft texture that's no longer sticky.

Here's what your uncooked lavender playdough should look like:

COOKED PLAYDOUGH RECIPE

Ingredients For Cooked Playdough

• 1 1/3 cups of flour (have another 1 cup or so on hand for kneading)
• 1/2 cup of salt
• 2 tbsp cream of tartar
• 1 tbsp olive oil (great for your hands)
• 5 drops of lavender essential oil
• 1 cup of water
• Purple food coloring (if you don't have purple then red + blue)
• 4 tbsp lavender flowers

Instructions For Cooked Play Dough

Step 1

Mix all of your ingredients together in a saucepan.

Step 2

Stir until slightly mixed together

Step 3

Turn on the burner to medium heat and stir. The mixture will start to thicken. At this time, you can add a bit more flour, one tablespoon at a time, if you need to thicken up the mixture. Just be careful not to add too much, you want it slightly sticky and very soft.

Step 4

Turn the playdough out onto a floured wooden cutting board.

Step 5

Knead until silky smooth (about 4-5 minutes). Add more flour onto your cutting board if needed. You are looking for a very soft, but not sticky texture. 

Hey, notice that the recipes are exactly the same for the cooked playdough and the no cooked method? It's the technique that's different!

Make sure it's completely cooled before storing in the fridge.

Here's what your cooked lavender playdough should look like:

DIY Playdough Tips

How to prevent food coloring from staining hands.

Both of these methods shouldn't get your hands stained but if you are concerned about this, then to prevent the food coloring from staining your hands, use gloves like these Framar gloves on Amazon, or knead your playdough in a zip lock bag.

But since we are adding the food coloring directly to the water, you probably won't need that.

If you are making a different recipe that requires the food coloring to be incorporated into the dough (because you are making different colors) then you might want to protect your hands better.

How long does homemade playdough last?

Playdough will last up to 2-3 weeks if you keep it refrigerated in a tightly sealed container.

Clean hands will help it last, so wash up before playing. I've found absolutely no difference in the cooked and uncooked methods for how long it lasts. We use these glass snap lid containers here on Amazon.

 

Can I bake play dough?

Yes, you can make playdough into shapes and bake it. Treat it just like polymer clay and bake it at a low heat (200c) for about 15 minutes until it's hard.

Just keep checking on it because it will depend on how thick or thin your piece is. And this is a great way to use up playdough before it starts to go bad.

What's the difference between the cooked playdough and uncooked?

The biggest difference that we found between cooked playdough and uncooked playdough was the uncooked playdough looked and felt like the playdough that you would get from a store and the color was excellent.

The cooked playdough definitely has a different kind of feel. You can tell by cooking the flour that the gluten gets really stretchy. It made the playdough really smooth and extra soft.

If you want the cooked playdough to have a vibrant purple color like the uncooked version, then you can add the color during the kneading instead of to the pot. The heat changes things. It's fun to experiment.

As you embark on this playdough-making journey, we hope you find joy in the process and the delightful results.

Whether you choose the traditional cooked method for a durable, long-lasting dough or opt for the quick and easy no-cook version, your playdough infused with lavender essential oils promises to ignite creativity, engage the senses, and provide hours of entertainment for kids and adults alike.

So, roll, sculpt, and create to your heart's content, and let the calming aroma of lavender transport you to a world of imagination and wonder. Enjoy your homemade playdough adventures!

Supplies We Used For Handmade Playdough

Flour

Salt

Olive Oil

Cream Of Tartar

Wilton Food Coloring Paste

Dried Lavender Flowers

Lavender Essential Oil

Copper Measuring Spoons

Glass Containers

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Here's our video for how to make lavender playdough, both uncooked and cooked methods.

VIDEO: How To Make Playdough

 

And do be sure to check out more tutorials, including this very popular How To Make Coffee Stained Paper tutorial. And how about our new guides about working with epoxy resin.

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