DIY Play Dough recipes

Play dough is so much fun for young and old. It also helps your child tap into their creativity, making all sorts of shapes and objects while enjoying the sensation of dough squishing between their fingers. Here are three recipes to try - one requires cooking, one just boiling water. The third is gluten-free, making it safer for kids with gluten intolerance or allergies.
Get extra creative and add glitter, sand or even a drop or two of essential oil to your play dough mix for sparkly, scented fun!

Cooked Play Dough:

1 cup plain flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tbsp oil
1 cup of water
A drop or two of food colouring

Heat all ingredients in a saucepan, stirring until the mixture forms a firm ball. Leave to cool.

Uncooked Play Dough:

1 cup plain flour
1/2 cup salt
1 tbsp cream of tartar
1 tbsp oil
A drop or two of food colouring
1 cup of boiling water

Mix all the dry ingredients together; add the oil and food colouring. Carefully pour in the boiling water and mix with a metal spoon. Knead on a floured surface until cool enough for little hands to join in.

Gluten-Free Play Dough:

1 cup rice flour
1 cup corn flour
1 cup salt
4 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp vegetable oil
2 cups hot water
A drop or two of food colouring

Heat all ingredients in a saucepan, stirring until the mixture forms a firm ball. Leave to cool.

Play dough keeps for a month or so if stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It does however tend to collect dust, dirt, hair, crumbs... anything it comes into contact with really, so you might find it needs to be thrown out after particularly creative play sessions.