Homemade Play Dough Recipe (with a coloring guide)

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This is it. I've tried MANY play dough recipes before, and I've even thought that I already found the best one (see my Galaxy Dough recipe). While that recipe is a great no-cook option, it pales in comparison to this one. This play dough is softer, smoother, and lasts for months without feeling dry. So if you've got a few minutes (maybe the while the munchkins nap), whip out some supplies and make a batch of this dough!
Supplies:

• 3 cups of flour
• 1.5 cups of salt
• 6 tsp. cream of tartar
• 3 tbsp. oil
• 3 cups of water
• Food coloring (using any other variety may cause colors to come out differently than pictured)

Make it:

 

Pour all the ingredients into a pot. Mix until well combined and cook over medium heat, stirring continuously. The mixture will seem watery at first. My dough needed cooking for 7 minutes total. At that point, the mixture became doughy and was ready to be removed from the heat.

 

Let the dough cool before breaking it up into smaller pieces. I made 10 balls (1/2 cup each) and had a little bit left over. Please note, the coloring guide I am sharing is specifically created to color these exact size balls of dough. Anything larger/smaller will need adjusting with more or less food coloring.

 

 

To color the dough, I simple made a divot and dropped the colors in the middle. I used my hands to thoroughly mix it up. Be cautious though, because the food coloring can stain fingers and clothes!

 

 

 

Coloring Guide:

• Red: 27 drops of red food coloring (You may be able to use less, I was really going for a bright and vibrant red, but was only able to come up with a rosy colored red).
• Orange: 12 Yellow + 4 red (this one came out nice and vibrant)
• Pumpkin-colored orange: 17 yellow + 6 red
• Yellow: 15 yellow
• Lime Green: 10 yellow + 2 green
• Green: 15 green
• Lighter Teal: 5 red + 15 blue + 5 green
• Darker Teal: 12 blue + 8 green
• Blue: 15 blue
• Purple: 15 red + 6 blue

 

 

Now all that's left is to let the kids dig in and pay!

 



 

Our Christmas list also has some fun play dough tools that I can't wait for the boys to get their hands on!

 

If you have any other color combinations for this play dough, Please leave me a comment so I can update the guide! And don't forget to stop by the Munchkins and Moms Facebook page and leave a picture or comment on the activities your doing with your munchkins!