Best Ever No-Cook Playdough Recipe You Can Make in a KitchenAid!
Today we’re sharing our best ever, no-cook playdough recipe that you can make in a KitchenAid stand mixer. It doesn’t get any easier than this! Read on to discover the all-time best playdough recipe that has stood the test of time. It’s perfectly smooth, not the least bit sticky, and so easy to make.
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There is nothing better than a freshly made batch (or two!) of homemade playdough. For years we made our one-pot playdough on the stove. But it was a lot of work mixing it by hand!
Today, we’re sharing our time-saving no-cook playdough recipe. We love playdough for so many reasons- the endless opportunities for creative play and learning, the sensory aspect, and the excitement on the faces of our little ones when we tell them we’re whipping up a new batch.
Not sure what to do with playdough? No worries! We will be sure to share a few of our favorite play ideas at the bottom of this post. But first, read on below to see how we make our famous homemade no-cook playdough.
Begin by adding the following ingredients into your KitchenAid stand mixer:
11 ounces (about 2 cups) of flour
2 teaspoons cream of tarter (we buy it in bulk and save- this is the one we purchase)
1/4 cup salt
2 tablespoons oil
Several drops of food coloring into a glass or metal measuring cup + 1 cup boiling water (we heat our water in this electric kettle)
Once all the ingredients have been added to the mixing bowl, turn the mixer on low speed until the flour is incorporated (about 10-20 seconds).
Then, increase the speed to low-medium and allow to mix for an additional 1.5 minutes or so. If the dough is still sticky, add a bit more flour and mix until incorporated.
Then, remove from mixer and enjoy!
Isn’t it just lovely? There is nothing like warm, homemade playdough. No artificial ingredients. So soft and smooth. Add in a few drops of essential oils and you’ve just put the icing on the cake!
I often make several batches of different colored playdough at a time and never wash the bowl between batches. Just remove as much playdough as you can between batches and you’ll be fine. I typically start with the lighter colors and then make the darker colors but I’ve made a dark brown batch and then a white batch and it came out completely white – you’d never know I had just made brown playdough seconds before.
Want a super simple playdough activity that will keep the kids entertained for hours? Pair a couple batches of this playdough along with their favorite set of Toobs and a playdough tool set. Place everything out on a plastic tray to keep it all contained and sit back and relax. 😉
Want more? Check out our other homemade playdough recipes:
Arctic themed playdough activity
Into the clouds playdough invitation
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Andrea D says
May 15, 2019 at 8:43 amI don’t do a ton with play dough because of the mess it makes, but I do have some homemade play dough availability to the kids right now, and I don’t shy away from store bought play dough much when it is gifted to the kids (except in the messiness factor).
Donna says
May 15, 2019 at 8:58 amI’ve always bought playdough, but it would be fun to try making it!
The Art Kit says
May 15, 2019 at 10:59 amI make it in the kitchen-aid now and it is so much easier than on the stove!
Heather Brewer says
May 15, 2019 at 8:59 amI haven’t made play dough in years but when I did I added a few drops vanilla or peppermint oil to it.
The Art Kit says
May 15, 2019 at 10:58 amOoh! I love those scents!
ko says
May 15, 2019 at 9:20 amI’ve never made my own play dough… Haven’t been much of a fan with the food coloring. Maybe I should try.. but for now, I generally buy them at the store.
The Art Kit says
May 15, 2019 at 10:58 amI used to add the food coloring after I made the playdough but now I squirt the food coloring directly in a glass measuring cup, then add the water, and then add it to the bowl and mix it all up together. It’s so much less messy. In fact, the easiest method I’ve found is to mix the food coloring + boiling water together, add the other ingredients, all in a kitchen-aid mixer bowl, and then mix it all together on low-med speed for a few minutes. Or, sometimes I just buy the store bought version. 🙂
Margarita D says
May 15, 2019 at 10:16 amI buy from the store but would like to make my own!
The Art Kit says
May 15, 2019 at 11:03 amI make it in the kitchen-aid now and it’s so easy! The kids love it- especially when it’s still warm. 🙂
Sarah says
May 15, 2019 at 10:18 amI have a love hate relationship with playdoh, but the kids adore it. We buy it- pretty much in bulk. We’ve made it a few times, but the extra mess of making it makes me cry on the inside. It’s messy enough.
The Art Kit says
May 15, 2019 at 11:02 amI know what you mean! I toss all the ingredients in a kitchen-aid bowl, mix it on low-medium speed for a few minutes, and then wash (or at least soak) the bowl right away before it dries to concrete. It is so much easier that way than on the stove!
Ali McDonald says
May 15, 2019 at 10:41 amWe do both depending on how we are using it/cost. My kids really like playdough soap but the store bought is better because it doesn’t disapate in the water as easily. We like making homemade clay best.
Angela says
May 15, 2019 at 10:55 amI have just made my first batch of playdough for my granddaughter…after 25+ years of making it for our 5 sons. I never liked the texture, scent or mess of the storebought. I will try the no cook recipe soon! Thanks
Angela
The Art Kit says
May 15, 2019 at 11:00 amAww!! <3 Yes, homemade playdough feels and smells so much better. I always make it in the kitchen-aid now, it's so much easier than on the stove!
Francine Long says
May 15, 2019 at 12:35 pmI have ‘saved’ several playdough recipes, have actually never made it. I have, however, bought a LOT of play-doh
Angie G says
May 15, 2019 at 12:44 pmI love making it myself, but I make a cooked version and add the food coloring after it is cooked. The kids love to knead in the color!
Aurora says
May 15, 2019 at 12:56 pmI always buy it, but this recipe looks very easy to make, I would definitely try it
Sue D says
May 15, 2019 at 1:13 pmI have a play dough recipe that I make on the stove top that we like.
Myra says
May 15, 2019 at 1:18 pmI always make my kids’ playdough; never bought any.
Lisa says
May 15, 2019 at 2:12 pmI buy it!
Debbie says
May 15, 2019 at 3:06 pmI prefer homemade playdo. I don’t like the smell of the commercial varieties.
Nancy says
May 15, 2019 at 5:12 pmI’ve both bought & made PlayDoh for my kids.
Gina Ferrell says
May 15, 2019 at 5:52 pmI’ve made homemade playdough with my daughter before and we had fun making it.
Melissa says
May 15, 2019 at 8:49 pmWe both make it and have the store bought on hand. The homemade lasts so much longer in our house that I prefer it but my kids also love having all the colors all at one time so sometimes store bought is just easier.
Thomas Gibson says
May 15, 2019 at 11:14 pmI prefer the store brand versus homemade because I hate making messes.
Emily says
May 16, 2019 at 7:11 amSometimes Ike it and sometimes I buy it. Never thought of using it for math. I really like the counting mat ideas. I just don’t like it in the carpet and the mess they make with it but now that it’s warmer they could go outside with it on the deck.
Lisa Ann Smith says
May 16, 2019 at 3:05 pmI’ve never made it myself before, but I will now! Thanks for the great recipe!
Jessica Compton says
May 16, 2019 at 6:31 pmWe love homemade play dough!
Katie says
May 16, 2019 at 7:15 pmI used to make playdough. I need to again.
Ashley Trombley says
May 17, 2019 at 12:54 pmwe have the store bought version play sets
Amber Kolb says
May 18, 2019 at 2:20 pmWe have always bought the store version. I never thought about making it at home, though the girls love making slime. This could be fun!
Melanie Hawk says
May 18, 2019 at 9:24 pmYes, both my boys have loved making homemade play dough throughout the years (my oldest is 18), as well as my nanny kiddos years and years ago and daycare kiddos after that. This is the exact same recipe that my mom used with my siblings and I 40 odd years ago. The best part about the recipe is that if any play dough gets eaten it is not a terribly frightful thing to worry about, depending on amount eaten an achy belly or the runs may be experienced (my poor mom, we just would not stop eating the warm play dough). I am tickled pink to find that you use the same recipe and I highly recommend it. It is an easy one for kiddos to get involved in helping to make and they love to make it, mix colors and become expert color mixers, measuring ingredients, etc… it is also super inexpensive to make, well, once you buy cream of tarter in bulk (I have never understood what makes that ingredient so expensive).
Yay! Thank you so very much for bringing memories alive. It’s nostalgia for me this recipe and I have been sitting here dreaming about all those wonderful days gone by. My youngest son is special abilities and he loves this recipe too. It will keep being passed down in my family.
Carolsue says
May 20, 2019 at 12:30 amI’m lazy. I buy the store-bought kind!
Paula G says
May 21, 2019 at 8:44 amI used to always make homemade playdough for my kids. Now the playdough is for my small grandkids 🙂
Karla Cook says
May 21, 2019 at 10:14 amI have bought PlayDoh but I’ve probably made it more than I’ve bought it. It’s so easy and I like how you can add fragrance to it.
Judy K says
May 21, 2019 at 10:29 amI always made playdough for my daughter. It is softer and nicer to use. The version I had was cooked over the stove. Interesting it doesn’t have to be cooked here.
Betsy says
May 21, 2019 at 5:38 pmLooking forward to making it and then playing with it, with my grandkids. Making is so much more nite resting than buying and we an talk about the chemistry of how it hangs together!
Rebekah Furgason says
May 21, 2019 at 5:44 pmHomemade playdough is so much softer and longer-lasting than the store-bought stuff!
Katie Sexton says
May 21, 2019 at 6:09 pmwe do a little of both, the kids enjoy making it but we also pick it up at the store for special occasions when the kids want some of the fun play sets.
Debbie Welchert says
May 22, 2019 at 9:25 amI have made homemade playdough at home before and I had to cook it, which I didn’t like. Now that I have a recipe you don’t to cook, I know I will make it again. It has a better texture then store bought.
Melissa M. says
May 23, 2019 at 2:28 pmSo far, I have always made my son’s play dough on the stovetop—all two batches of it!
Riley Romatz says
May 24, 2019 at 8:51 pmI usually buy it, but I think it’d be fun to make some with them this summer!
J says
May 25, 2019 at 12:12 amI’m a kindergarten teacher and I make playdough ALL THE TIME! My favourite thing to do is add cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg and make gingerbread playdough or cocoa to make chocolate playdough
Danyel says
May 25, 2019 at 9:07 pmI generally just get the store bought version. Maybe we will trying making it sometime though. Thanks for the recipe!
Michelle Catallo says
May 26, 2019 at 1:13 pmAll my kids enjoy playing with play-doh and while I have made it at home, I normally buy it.
Simone Maltais says
May 26, 2019 at 2:34 pmI usually buy it but love trying g DIY stuff.
Patricia Brown says
May 27, 2019 at 11:08 amI love to make and use home made play dough. It lasts so much longer and you get so much more bang for your buck compared to store bought brands.
Trudy says
May 27, 2019 at 7:12 pmI make homemade playdough all the time, but on the stove. I’ll have to try just adding boiling water. Homemade playdough stays softer longer.
Brandy Austin says
May 27, 2019 at 9:37 pmI’ve done both ways. Kids love playing with play-doh
Donna Cress says
May 28, 2019 at 2:51 amI do both. I have made it on the stove for years but I also buy it when its on sale.
Thanks for the recipe!
Antoinette M says
May 28, 2019 at 6:41 amI have made play dough, but I’ve also bought some in store.
Jody says
May 28, 2019 at 7:56 amI have never made it, but this recipe looks very easy. I have to say, though, there is something about the smell of purchased playdough that makes me feel like a kid again.
Deena says
May 28, 2019 at 11:14 amI have bought play-doh and have made it at home. Probably bought it more then not. My last 5 at home really enjoy playdoh so i will probably try your recipe soon!
Kylie A Frazier says
May 28, 2019 at 11:40 amI usually buy store bought 🙂
Tessa Spears says
May 28, 2019 at 12:33 pmThis recipe and method looks great! We have made homemade and bought, but usually we buy play-doh.
Stephanie S says
May 28, 2019 at 1:36 pmHonestly we have not used any in awhile because they got all dried up. So this would be cool to try. Ive never done a homemade recipe before!
Sarah Fenner says
May 28, 2019 at 3:07 pmI’ve always had a NO play doh rule for the house so I never bought any. A few months ago my son got some for his birthday and was really happy. So I set him outside with a table and chair and he had a great time. But this spring has been really rainy. He was dying to play with it when it was cold and windy and rainy outside so I let him play in the laundry room since there’s no flooring in there. It has to stay contained tho or no more! I have also not been a fan of the chemicals in the store bought stuff and I’ve been thinking of making my own! Actually excited now to make this!