If you are a preschool teacher, you probably go through a lot ofplay dough.
If you are a preschool parent, you probably go through a lot of play dough, too. It can get pricey, which is why you need this absolutely perfect no-cookplaydough recipe without cream of tartar, and it really is…well…absolutely perfect.
Plus, check out all best playdough recipes and tips for how to make playdough at home.
The Last Homemade Playdough Recipe You’ll Ever Need!
*** This post has been updated to include a free printable recipe. Be sure to grab it from the end of this post. ***
I love this playdough recipe because, not only is it quick and easy to make and smells delicious, but it’s also the perfect consistency for hand strengthening.
Preschoolers need hand strengthening activities to prepare them for life skills. It also prepares them for learning the correct and mature pencil grasp. Playdough is also a great accompaniment to a variety of preschool themes andmath activities.
And, did I mention it’s cheap? I don’t know about you, but with the quantities of play dough made around here, cream of tartar can get pricey. Or, if you’re like me, you’ve used the last of it in your mom’s best snickerdoodle recipe and now you have none left for play dough.
So, a playdough recipe without cream of tartar
is a really valuable thing!
This recipe does not call for cream of tartar to stabilize it, and the recipe doesn’t call for expensive extracts or essential oils for fragrance
, although they can easily be added.
Aside from this playdough recipe being so extremely affordable, the playdough itself really is just perfect. Watch the how-to video on this page and you’ll see how it is malleable, but not sticky, holds its shape beautifully, but without being crumbly.
Other perks include the fact that this is a no cook playdough recipe, which makes it super fast and easy to make. This is easily our favorite recipe. It has juts the right texture for activities like our cupcake playdough mats, too.
Disclaimer: I have had my fair share of play dough fails. Remember this Facebook post of my failed red play dough that brought my sweet daughter to tears? Well, tears no more, because I’m also sharing some tips and tricks to making play dough perfect the first time!
Scented No-Cook Playdough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar
This is always my go-to homemade playdough recipe because it is such an easy playdough recipe! It’s pretty fool-proof. It’s a small batch recipe, making just over a cup of playdough, but it can easily be doubled or tripled for larger groups.
Ingredients
- flour
- salt
- cooking oil
- lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
- Kool-Aid(optional for scent and coloring) oressential oils for fragrance
- Food Coloring (optional)
(fresh or bottled)Cooking Supplies Needed for No-Cook Play Dough
- large mixing bowl
- glass, heatproof, microwavable 2-cup measuring cup
- measuring cups and spoons
- aluminum foil, parchment paper or wax paper
- wooden paddle forstirring
forstirringWhat is a Good Cream of Tartar Substitute?
We’ve all been there when we’re ready to cook or bake something and ate we are out a key ingredient. For DIY homemake playdough recipes, that often means cream of tartar. However, there are a lot of cream of tartar substitutes that will work just as well.
This playdough recipe uses lemon juice, but any kind of vinegar will work just as well. In a super big pinch, you could even use plain yogurt or buttermilk. You might need just a little bit more water.
Playdough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar
***I created this recipe to make small batches so it would be easy and quick to make several colors. Each batch makes just a bit over one cup of play dough. If you want to do rainbow colors like the above photo, begin with white and work your way all the way through the rainbow. This way you won’t have to wash or rinse in between batches.***
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
3/4 cup of water minus 3 tablespoons
3 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 tablespoon cooking oil
2 packets kool-aid (optional for fragrance and coloring)
*** This post has been updated to include a free printable recipe. Be sure to grab it from the end of this post. ***
How to Make Homemade Playdough without Cream of Tartar
Measure the water and lemon juice into a heatproof, microwavable 2-cup measuring cup. Heat in the microwave until just boiling, about three minutes.
Meanwhile, mix together the flour and salt.
If using Kool Aid
for the fragrance, slowly (and I mean s-l-o-w-l-y, because the mixture will foam a bit) pour the kool-aid packets into the HOT water and lemon juice mixture and add additional food coloring
to intensify the color if desired.
Caution: While this is a “no-cook” and very simple playdough recipe, it does involve boiling water, so please be careful and always supervise children while they are helping.
Slowly pour the liquid into the flour and salt mixture, and stir with a wooden paddle until it just barely begins to form a dough.
Drizzle the tablespoon of cooking oil over the dough and stir again until it forms a ball. At this point, you may want to knead the dough with your hands.
It may feel a bit sticky, too, but DO NOT add more flour. As the dough cools it will thicken and become less sticky. (Just like how gravy turns to sludge once refrigerated).
Now, once the dough is completely cooled, you may add flour a tablespoon at a time until it is the perfect consistency.
Allow the dough to cool a bit on a sheet of aluminum foil, parchment or wax paper. By the time you finish the next batch of play dough, the first will be cool enough to store.
I love to store playdough in these freezer jam containers because the screw on lids are more airtight than snap-on lids.
FAQ About How to Fix Playdough
This recipe if practically fool proof, but it the texture isn’t 100% perfect, then try these tips.
How do I fix sticky playdough?
Not using enough flour or salt result in sticky playdough, and so will using too much water. If you used the correct quantities in this recipe and your play dough is still sticky, it probably needs to cool a little longer. Once the dough is completely cooled, it should have the right consistency.
But if the dough is completely cooled, and it the playdough is still sticky, try kneading in some more flour, one tablespoon at a time, until you get the desired temperature.
How do I fix crumbly playdough?
If you end up with crumbly or dry playdough, it’s probably because you didn’t use enough water and lemon juice. To fix crumbly playdough, just add a little water, one tablespoon at a time, and knead really well. It’s going to be messy at first, but just keep kneading.
To avoid adding too much water while trying ti fix dry playdough, add leave the newly kneaded playdough in a plastic baggy overnight to let the water fully integrate before adding more.
Why do I need lemon juice in my playdough?
Like cream of tartar, lemon juice, or even vinegar, helps stabilize the dough, giving it that malleable playdough texture we all love. It also acts as a preservative, making the dough last longer.
This recipe has always turned out, and it’s definitely an added bonus that this playdough recipe doesn’t call for cream of tarter. Save that stuff for Snickerdoodle cookies!
And if you have a preschooler in your life and you make loads of playdough, my 45 Playdough Recipes E-book is for you! It is a collection of all my greatest recipes for making playdough.
Now Play with that Scented Play Dough!
My daughter took a giant whiff of blue raspberry-lemonade scented play dough. As far as a scented play dough recipe goes, the possibilities are endless! Literally. We’ve made grape scented play dough. Apple scented playdough. Peach-mango scented playdough. It’ll make your kitchen smell like a fruit orchard! (Or a Bath and Body Works shop).
And by adding Kool-aid for the color and fragrance, kids just love playing with it. Here’s another tip — if the Kool-aid doesn’t offer a strong enough color, just add a little gel food coloring to it.
How to Store Homemade Playdough
This playdough recipe will last a long time, especially if you keep it in the fridge, which is another reason why preschool teachers love this recipe. It will keep on the shelf for up to three months if storied in an air-tight container. I like to use freezer jam containers.
This recipe will keep for up to three months, but be sure to have your preschoolers wash their hands before playing with the playdough. DIY playdough recipes don’t have additives that will increase shelf-life like commercial Play-Doh does, so a good hand washing before playing is a great idea.
Get Your FREE Printable Playdough Recipe Here
Think you’ll be making this playdough recipe a lot? Print a copy of the recipe to save it for later. Just click the image below to have it sent to your email.
Try Some of My Favorite Playdough Accessories
Best Playdough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar
Yield: a little over one cup
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
No cream of tartar? No problem! This no-cook playdough recipe doesn't call for cream of tartar to stabilize the dough.
Materials
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 cup salt
- 3/4 cup of waterminus3 tablespoons
- 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 2 packets kool-aid (optional for fragrance and coloring)
Tools
- large mixing bowl
- heat proof glass measuring cup
- measuring cups
- parchment paper
- wooden paddle or spoon
Instructions
- Mix water and lemon juice in a glass, microwave-proof mixing cup. Heat until boiling, about five minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix together flour, salt and oil in a medium size mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Add the kool-aid packet(s) to the boiling water and lemon juice mixture. Be careful, this could foam. Whisk until the kool-aid dissolves.
- Pour the liquids over the flour mixture and mix well.
- Turn out onto the counter and knead until the flour is well combined.
- Cool completely before play.
Notes
The consistency of this playdough will be slightly sticky while warm. Allow to cool completely before adding additional flour to adjust consistency.
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Sarah Punkoney, MAT
I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
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