Buzz
Making playdough without cream of tartar is not only fun but also super easy! The traditional recipe typically involves flour, salt, water, and oil, but you can also use cornstarch and conditioner for a different twist. Adding food coloring or flavored drink powder like Kool-Aid will bring your playdough to life with vibrant colors and delightful scents.
Ingredients
Using conditioner and cornstarch
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) conditioner
- 1 cup (120 g) cornstarch
- Food coloring
- Glitter (optional)
Using Flour, Salt, and Oil
- 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup (75 g) fine salt
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) water
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil
- 4-5 drops of food coloring or 2 packets of Kool-Aid powder
Steps
Using Conditioner and Cornstarch
Pour 1/2 cup (120 ml) conditioner into a bowl. Choose a fragrance you love, as your playdough will take on both the scent and color of the conditioner. If you'd prefer a custom color, go for a white conditioner and add your own food coloring or dye.
You can use any brand of conditioner. Budget-friendly brands are often the best.
Add a few drops of food coloring if you wish. Start with 1-2 drops, mix well, then add more if necessary. If the conditioner already has a color and you'd like a darker playdough, be sure to choose a food coloring that matches the conditioner color.
Sprinkle in some glitter if desired. You can use glitter in the same color as your conditioner or food coloring, or go for a different color. Ultra-fine glitter looks best, but regular chunky glitter works too. Start with a small pinch and add more if you like the sparkle level.
Stir in 1 cup (120 g) of cornstarch. At first, the mixture may be lumpy, but the longer you stir, the smoother the dough will get. Once the mixture begins to look like frosting, you can transfer it onto a clean surface like a countertop or cutting board.
- If you can't find cornstarch, you can substitute it with cornflour.
Knead the dough and add more cornstarch if necessary. The longer you knead, the firmer the dough will become. Kneading for about 1 minute is just right. If the dough seems too sticky, add a little more cornstarch as needed.
Nếu bột nặn có vẻ như quá cứng hoặc khô, hãy rót thêm một giọt dầu xả vào hỗn hợp và tiếp tục nhào.
Bảo quản bột nặn trong hộp nhựa. Như vậy bột nặn vẫn mềm và không bị khô sau khi chơi.
Dùng bột mì, muối và dầu
Trộn nước, nước cốt chanh và dầu trong bát to. Đong 3/4 cốc (180 ml) nước và rót vào một chiếc xoong cỡ vừa. Khuấy thêm 3 thìa canh (45 ml) nước cốt chanh, tiếp theo là khuấy thêm 1 thìa canh (15 ml) dầu thực vật.
Bạn có thể dùng nước chanh tươi hoặc nước cốt chanh đóng chai. Nếu dùng chanh tươi, bạn nhớ phải lọc bỏ hạt chanh và tép chanh!
Heat the mixture over medium-low heat until it nearly boils. Place the pot on the stove and set the heat to medium-low. Let the mixture gradually heat up until it is just about to boil.
Stir in food coloring or Kool-Aid powder into the mixture. You can add 4-5 drops of food coloring to enhance the playdough's color. If you'd like to add both color and fragrance, stir in 2 packets of Kool-Aid powder. Feel free to use both if you want the playdough to be extra vibrant!
- Adjust the amount of food coloring or Kool-Aid powder to control the intensity of the color.
- Remember to use sugar-free Kool-Aid powder to prevent the dough from becoming too sticky.
Mix flour and salt in another bowl. Pour 1 cup (120 g) of all-purpose flour into a mixing bowl. Add 1/4 cup (75 g) of refined salt. Stir the flour and salt together with a spoon.
- Use all-purpose white flour, not whole wheat flour.
- Use refined salt, not rock salt or sea salt.
Slowly add the flour mixture into the hot liquid mixture in the pot. Be sure to add the flour gradually and stir continuously to avoid any lumps forming as you pour it in!
Keep stirring until the mixture forms a ball. As you stir the dough, the dry ingredients will absorb the wet ingredients and begin to form a ball. Once all the liquid has been absorbed, you can stop stirring.
- If the mixture seems too sticky, flatten the dough at the bottom of the pot and let it sit for a few seconds. Then, flip it and do the same on the other side. You can continue flipping it until the dough reaches your desired consistency.
- Do not overcook! Remember that the dough will firm up as it cools.
Knead the dough for 1-2 minutes to complete the mixing process. Place the dough on parchment paper. If the dough is still too hot, allow it to cool for a few minutes, then knead it for 1-2 minutes to finish mixing.
Wait for the dough to cool completely before storing it in the fridge. Once the dough has cooled, you can store it in an airtight plastic container and keep it in the refrigerator. A batch like this can fit in a 500 ml plastic container.
- While it's not necessary to store the dough in the fridge, it will last longer if kept cold.
Tips
- Add a few drops of essential oil to make the dough smell pleasant. Peppermint and lavender essential oils are great options.
- Sometimes, a simple ziplock bag may not be enough. You should wrap the dough in plastic wrap, then place it in the ziplock bag.
- It's best to avoid using glitter in the Kool-Aid dough recipe, as the scent of the Kool-Aid is very enticing. If you're sure your child won't put it in their mouth, you can add a pinch or two of glitter.
- If you're allergic to gluten, try using rice flour instead of all-purpose flour. Note that the texture of the dough may differ.
- Cocoa powder will give the dough a delicious chocolate scent. However, it will also turn the dough brown, just like chocolate!
- For extra fragrance, you can add a bit of essential oils or extracts like strawberry, lemon, or vanilla.
Warnings
- Do not use glitter in playdough for young children.
- When playing with playdough with kids, it's best to stick to recipes that are uncooked and free of harmful ingredients.
- All types of playdough will eventually harden or expire. If the dough starts to smell sour or seems off in any way, dispose of it and make a fresh batch.
What You Need
Use flour, salt, and oil
- Mixing bowl
- Pot
- Wooden spoon
- Airtight plastic container
Use conditioner and cornstarch
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon
- Plastic container
