Easy Playdough Recipes To Make

If you need a new batch of playdough for the kids to play with, look no further. We’ve rounded up 25+ easy playdough recipes that will give you and your kids lots of variety.

Homemade playdough is so much better than the store-bought kinds. You control the ingredients that go into it, which means that you can make it taste-safe for little ones who still put things in their mouths.

Additionally, it can be made cheaply in big batches, which is perfect when you need some for several kids. Even better, you can add lots of lovely scents to homemade playdough using extracts, essential oils, and other ingredients.

Ready to get started? Choose a few recipes from this list, and then gather the kids in the kitchen to make a batch or two. You’ll be glad you did!

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Easy Playdough Recipes to Make at Home

One Fish Two Fish Dr. Seuss Playdough from Craft Play Learn:

Our completely taste-safe playdough is a bundle of fun, and you don’t have to worry about curious toddlers sneaking a bite. Pair it with the popular Dr. Seuss book One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish book for a fun hour of reading and sensory play.

Galaxy Playdough from The Inspiration Edit:

This space-themed playdough recipe is perfect for STEM activities. This particular version is not taste-safe, so it’s best for kids who are no longer putting things in their mouths.

Caramel and Apple Playdough from The Inspiration Edit:

Use food flavorings like apple, caramel, and green apple flavorings or extracts, to make this yummy-smelling playdough. It is the perfect playdough recipe for fall.

Bug Fossil Playdough from The Inspiration Edit:

This is the best playdough recipe using cream of tartar. Use it to teach kids about insects and fossils. With only five ingredients, this recipe is super simple to pull together. If you don’t have brown food coloring, don’t fret! You can make brown by mixing red and green food coloring together.

Kool-Aid Playdough from Little Bins for Little Hands:

This fruit-scented playdough is bright, colorful, and smells amazing. Use your favorite Kool-Aid flavors to make several batches!

Pink Princess Playdough from Crayons and Cravings:

This recipe is perfect for little princesses who love the color pink. It’s made with cake mix, icing, food coloring, olive oil, and glitter. If you want to make this taste-safe, use edible glitter instead of real glitter.

Edible Ice Cream Playdough from 123 Homeschool 4 Me:

Kids will love playing with this playdough—you can scoop it just like ice cream! It’s made with frosting and powdered sugar, so you can’t get any simpler than a 2-ingredient recipe. It’s non-sticky, easy to make, and easy to shape and mold.

Rainbow Foam Dough from Little Bins for Little Hands:

Made with cornstarch and shaving cream, this foam dough has a unique texture that kids will love shaping and molding in their hands. However, it doesn’t last as long as regular homemade playdough, so you’ll probably want to make a fresh batch each time.

Strawberry Playdough from Natural Beach Living:

This no-cook recipe is made with strawberry Jello, so you know it smells fantastic. It’s soft, squishy, and oh-so-fun.

Peeps Marshmallow Playdough from Kids’ Craft Room:

Make this 3-ingredient taste-safe recipe that smells great. It’s fluffy and soft with beautiful pastel colors, so it’s perfect for spring.

Pretty Playdough Cupcakes from Artsy Momma:

This super-soft playdough recipe is made with cornstarch and conditioner. Food coloring is optional, of course. Decorate the “cupcakes” with beads, buttons, glitter, or shredded paper.

Fall-Scented Playdough from Real Life at Home:

Enjoy all your favorite fall scents—pumpkin, cinnamon, apple, and green apple. The kids will have as much fun smelling it as they do playing with it. Note that it is not an edible recipe, so supervise young children who still mouth objects.

Winter Playdough from STEAM-Powered Family: 

This pretty, sparkly playdough looks like it was inspired by the movie Frozen. We love the blue and white colors!

Pumpkin Pie Playdough from The Best Ideas for Kids: 

Your home will smell like pumpkin spice when you’re finished making a batch of this pumpkin pie playdough. Kids can pretend they are making and serving pumpkin pie, complete with “whipped cream” made from cotton balls.

Super Soft 2-Ingredient Playdough from Artsy-Fartsy Mama: 

Use cornstarch and Johnson’s baby lotion to make this 2-ingredient playdough recipe. Kids will love the pillowy-soft texture, and moms will undoubtedly love that baby smell.

Chocolate Playdough from The Happy Home Life: 

This taste-safe chocolate playdough is fun to pinch, pull, and mold into all sorts of fun things. Make it with pure cocoa powder or use your favorite powdered chocolate drink mix.

Blackberry No-Cook Playdough from Kids’ Craft Room: 

Blackberries produce the prettiest purple color, so they’re terrific for this homemade playdough recipe that requires no cooking at all. It will last for a few days in the refrigerator, thanks to the salt, but it should be thrown out after that.

Edible Valentines Playdough From Craft Play Learn:

This Valentines Day love heart playdough is not only fun but it’s also edible and made from peeps. Check out this fun and easy playdough recipe today!

Sand Playdough from Natural Beach Living:

Make this beach-themed playdough to feel like you’re on vacation again! Add seashells or glass beads for an extra fine motor component. You can find sand in craft stores or online.

Edible Peanut Butter Playdough from Powerful Mothering: 

This playdough is made with peanut butter, powdered sugar, and honey. It will only last 2-3 days since it’s made with fresh ingredients, but the kids will so enjoy playing with it and tasting it!

Calming Lavender Scented Playdough from The Chaos and the Clutter:

The soothing scent of lavender makes this playdough an excellent sensory outlet for anxious kids.

Natural Dye Homemade Playdough from Hello, Wonderful:

Use food powders like Matcha, Goji Berry, Pitaya, or Butterfly Pea to make this beautiful playdough recipe with vivid colors.

Christmas Playdough from The Best Ideas for Kids:

Whether you’re making this at Christmastime or you’re feeling a little Christmasy in the summer, this red, white, and green playdough will have you ready for the holidays. It’s scented with peppermint and vanilla extracts and is perfect for making Christmas trees, candy canes, and winter scenes.

Mud-Like Coffee Playdough from Kids Activities Blog:

This mud-like playdough is perfect for those days when you can’t get outside to play with real mud. It smells like coffee, which is a total win for mom.

Spiced Citrus Playdough from Childhood 101:

Bring out the cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon to make a batch of spiced citrus playdough. The blend of aromatic spices and citrus makes this recipe a real pleasure to create. Kids can practice measuring ingredients while whipping this up in the kitchen.

Oatmeal Playdough from Mess for Less:

No cooking is involved in this easy, 3-ingredient playdough recipe. All you need is oats, water, and flour. The oatmeal adds an interesting texture!

Pin this list of easy playdough recipes to use anytime you’d like to make a batch with your kids.