by Alysa Dudley

Created on: June 03, 2009

Would you like a playdough recipe which uses common, non-toxic ingredients, has a great texture, and lasts a long time? Below you will find a recipe for the best playdough ever. You may have seen this recipe before, since it is very popular. However, in addition to the standard Stove Top Playdough recipe, this recipe includes a special ingredient. You will also find a tip to create unique, colorful playdough.

Kids of all ages love to work with playdough. It is perfect for people who feel the need to touch and manipulate things. There are many children who find it to be calming and soothing. It is so versatile that children of all ages can have fun with it. Children can make anything with playdough from a simple snake to a detailed sculpture.

There are a number of recipes for homemade playdough, this one is easy to make, uses easy-to-find ingredients, and is a hit with children.

Stove Top Playdough

In a medium saucepan mix:
1 cup white flour
cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar

Mix in:
1 cup water
1 Tablespoon oil
food coloring

Cook over medium heat. Stir for 3 to 5 minutes. It will start to get globby and gluey. When it forms a ball it is ready. (Don't worry if it sticks to the pan, it's easy to clean off.) Knead the dough and then store it in a sealed plastic bag, and keep in refrigerator if possible.

There is another ingredient to add which most recipes do not include. Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and your playdough will have a pleasant smell. Other extract flavors can be used instead, for example, mint extract would be a refreshing scent.

If you want your playdough to be really special, here's a tip. Instead of the food coloring you can find easily in the grocery store, get some cake decorator's colors. They seem more expensive at first, but they last practically forever since a little bit goes a long way. You will find many more colors than the red, blue, yellow and green that come in the little squirt bottles. Kids love choosing from the vivid shades of blues, pinks, purples and more.

Practically any color you can think of can be found for cake decorating. I'll never forget the time my daughter insisted on brown playdough. At a deep, rich brown color, you can just imagine what that ball of playdough looked like!

Children of all ages will enjoy using this playdough recipe. Stored in a sealed plastic bag, and preferably kept in the refrigerator, this playdough can be used again and again.

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