Easy Homemade Play Dough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar (2024)

This homemade play dough recipe is super easy to make and requires no cream of tartar. I can whip up a batch in about 5 minutesand have a totally customized play dough!

Easy Homemade Play Dough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar (1)

Play Dough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar

I have never been one to make my own play dough. It seemed like too much work and required expensive supplies (like cream of tartar). It never really seemed that much cheaper than just buying a few cans for $0.99 at Meijer.

When I did finally try to make my own I used a no cook recipe because that seemed more my speed. However, it failed. In a big way.Since then, I have always just bought play dough.

We use itall the time for play dough invitations – like this book inspired play dough invitation, this scarecrow play dough invitation and this ocean play dough. We even learned about weather with play dough.

But one day I got the great idea to make my an apple pie play dough invitation. The only thing is, I wanted it to be a certain color and I definitely wanted it to smell like apple pie.

And since you can’t buy apple pie smelling play dough, my only option was to make some.

After trying a no cook recipe yet again, I decided no cook just wouldn’t work for me. And since I don’t want to buy cream of tartar in bulk for $20, I decided I needed to come up with an alternative.

So I did some research andI learned that you can substitute vinegar or lemon juice for the cream of tartar. I figured lemon juice would smell better and hopefully would not overpower the apple pie smell.

After 3 failed batches, I came up with this super easy play dough recipe that uses no cream of tartar!

FREE Alphabet Play Dough Mats

Make learning letters and their sounds a fun, hands-on experience when you get these FREE Alphabet Play Dough Mats.

Easy Homemade Play Dough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar (3)

No Cream of Tartar Play Dough Recipe

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Ingredients:

  • 1cup of flour
  • 1/4 cup of salt
  • 3/4 cup of water
  • 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
  • Food coloring
  • Any seasonings or scents you would like

I also love using these super affordable airtight containers to store my play dough in the refrigerator.

Making the Play Dough:

  1. Add the water, oil and lemon juice to a mediumnon-stick pot and heat on medium heat on the stove (maybe even slightly lower heat depending on your stove).
  2. Add food coloring, liquid scents or Kool-Aid to the water mixture.
  3. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt and any dry seasonings you are using.
  4. After the water is hot, but not boiling, slowly add the dry ingredients to the pot andwhile mixing to combine. I use a wooden or plastic cooking spoon.
  5. Continuously stir until the ingredients combine, dry out and begin to form a ball. If there are parts that seem a bit sticky still, just flatten the dough out and put the sticky side down on the bottom of the pot very briefly. Flip back and forth frequently until it doesn’t seem sticky anymore.However, don’t cook it too long. It is better to be a bit undercooked as it will firm up as it cools down.
  6. Place on a sheet of wax paper until it cools down a bit. Then knead the dough for a minute or two to bring it all together.

This all happens quite quickly. I can make a batch of play dough in less than 5 minutes and I am totally new to making play dough.

Easy Homemade Play Dough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar (4)

Play Dough Recipe Tips and Information

Weused these neon gel food colors to make the blue and the purple play dough. I added several drops of these candy flavoring oils to them as well. My daughter wanted the grape in the purple play dough and my son wanted the cherry in his blue play dough.

I only used the oils because I got them on clearance, but in the future I will use Kool-Aid to scent and color my play dough. You can even had a few drops of food coloring for even more vibrant colors.

Easy Homemade Play Dough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar (5)

The pinkish color smells like apple pie because my son combined my red apple play dough and the vanilla pastry play dough we used for our apple pie play dough activity.

This play dough is so soft and amazing in the hands! I just love it!

Easy Homemade Play Dough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar (6)

One batch makes enough to fill one of these 16 oz plastic air tight containers. These containers are my favorite play dough hack!I use them to store my play dough in the refrigerator so it lasts longer.

I hope you now feel empowered to make fun scented and colored play dough for your kids!

If you want to try a no cook play dough recipe instead, here is one without cream of tartar.

Here are some additional play dough activities you can do with this play dough recipe!

FREE Printable Alphabet Play Dough Mats

Number Recognition and Counting with Play Dough

Easy Homemade Play Dough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar (7)

Play Dough and Alphabet Beads Activity

Easy Homemade Play Dough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar (8)

Farm Play Dough Activity

Easy Homemade Play Dough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar (2024)

FAQs

Easy Homemade Play Dough Recipe Without Cream of Tartar? ›

bag. Knead water into dough to refresh. 1-cup flour ¾ to 1-cup water 1 bag of cotton balls (any color) Mix flour and water together until you get a smooth paste.

Can you make playdough with just flour and water? ›

bag. Knead water into dough to refresh. 1-cup flour ¾ to 1-cup water 1 bag of cotton balls (any color) Mix flour and water together until you get a smooth paste.

How to make homemade playdough with 2 ingredients? ›

Instructions. Place the cornstarch in a large bowl. Mix in the hair conditioner with your hands--it will just start coming together and it will be pliable and very, very smooth. If desired, add a drop or two or food coloring.

How to make playdough without cream of tartar? ›

How to Make Playdough Without Cream of Tartar
  1. 1 cup of flour.
  2. 1/4 cup of salt.
  3. 3/4 cup of water.
  4. 3 tablespoons of lemon juice.
  5. 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
  6. Food coloring.
  7. Any seasonings or scents you would like.

What are the 4 ingredients in playdough recipe? ›

Combine plain flour and salt. Add water, food colouring and oil. Mix until ingredients are combined. Knead well.

What is a substitute for cream of tartar in play dough? ›

Lemon juice and white vinegar can both act as substitutes for cream of tartar. Lemon juice will give your playdough a more pleasant scent than vinegar.

Can you make playdough with plain flour? ›

For one playdough ball, mix together: 8 tbsp plain flour. 2 tbsp table salt. 60ml warm water.

Can you make dough with flour and water? ›

With just flour, water, oil, and salt, you can create a delightful, no-yeast flatbread that's quick to prepare. What is this? While many may associate flour and water solely with making pasta like cavatelli, these simple ingredients are also perfect for homemade flatbreads.

Can you make clay with just flour and water? ›

Start with 1 cup flour and 1 cup salt. Add spices or other kitchen ingredients for color and texture. Slowly add up to one half cup cold water while mixing together to form a ball. It helps to knead the clay for several minutes.

Can you make playdough with flour and shampoo? ›

Experiment Steps:
  1. Start off with a little conditioner or shampoo in the bowl.
  2. Mix in some flour or corn starch and start folding the two ingredients together.
  3. Add in the food coloring of your choice.
  4. Keep mixing, rolling, and experimenting with the flour and conditioner until the dough comes together!
May 19, 2020

What is the 3 ingredient homemade playdough recipe? ›

1/2 cup cornstarch. 1 cup baking soda. 3/4 cup water. optional: 2-3 drops of essential oils are fun to add in.

How to make play dough at home? ›

In a plastic bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and cream of tartar. Make a well in the center of the bowl and add vegetable oil, boiling water and food coloring. Let playdough cool completely before playing with it.

What is the secret recipe for play doh? ›

Ingredients for Super Soft Playdough
  1. 3/4 cup flour.
  2. 1/4 cup baby powder (this is the secret ingredient! If you don't like using baby powder, corn starch is a good alternative)
  3. 1/4 cup salt.
  4. 2 tsp cream of tartar.
  5. 1 tablespoon of baby oil.
  6. 3/4 cup of water.
  7. food coloring (I used gel food coloring)
Feb 20, 2023

What is the recipe for old school playdough? ›

How to make playdough
  1. 2 cups all-purpose flour.
  2. 3/4 cup salt.
  3. 4 teaspoons cream of tartar.
  4. 2 cups lukewarm water.
  5. 2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil (coconut oil works too)
  6. Food coloring, optional (I like Wilton gel food coloring or AmeriColor gel)
  7. Quart sized bags.
Mar 16, 2018

How to make play dough easy no cook recipe? ›

Combine flour and salt in a medium bowl. Slowly stir in the oil, warm water, and 2-3 drops of food coloring until the mixture is well combined. Transfer the dough to a flat surface and let it sit for a few minutes. It may feel a bit sticky, but DO NOT add more flour.

How to make homemade playdough with flour and salt? ›

Ingredients
  1. 3 cups all-purpose white flour.
  2. 2 tablespoons cream of tartar.
  3. 1 cup + 2 tablespoons table salt.
  4. 3-4 tablespoons cooking oil canola, coconut, etc.; start with 3 and if the dough is a little dry, slowly work in a little more.
  5. 3 cups hot water.
  6. Optional: Food coloring.

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