How to Make Cranberry Playdough
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Have you ever wanted to know how to make cranberry playdough? Looking for a fun holiday playdough recipe? Have some extra cranberries from Thanksgiving? This cranberry playdough is one of our favorites!
Creating a cranberry playdough activity for the kids is a fantastic way to engage young learners in hands-on, exploratory play that appeals to their senses.
Our cranberry playdough is so easy to make and will provide your child with lots of creative sensory play. Miss 6, Miss 8, and Miss 10 all came up with so many fun creative ideas from this simple cranberry playdough set!
Playdough really has a way of bringing out creativity!
This activity is ideal for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged children as well.
Here’s how you can make your own cranberry-themed playdough activity, plus some ideas for play and learning!
Remember to only use items that your child is old enough or mature enough to use safely.
One-stop shop for all the cranberry playdough supplies here! 😍
Add in some cranberry-themed books for even more fun! Check out these books! 📕
How to Make Cranberry Playdough
First, you’ll want to puree cranberries. Place the following items into a sauce pan:
- 1/2 cup of cranberries
- 1 cup water
Simmer this for about 15 – 20 minutes until the cranberries are soft. You may need to add additional water if your water evaporates before the cranberries are soft.
Then, using an immersion blender, blend the cranberries and water while still in the sauce pan.
Strain the mixture using a sieve. Keep the liquid and add additional water to the measuring cup so that you have 1 cup of water. Set this aside. Note, you will want this liquid boiling hot when you add it to the additional ingredients.
Begin by adding the following ingredients to your stand mixer:
- 11 ounces (about 2 cups) of flour
- 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar (we buy it in bulk and save- this is the one we purchase)
- 1/4 cup salt
- 2 tablespoons of oil (we like using coconut oil – it smells amazing!)
- 1 cup of boiling cranberry/water mixture.
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 two minutes or so. If the dough is still sticky, add a bit more flour and mix until incorporated.
Then, remove it from the mixer and enjoy!
Watch this video on how to make cranberry playdough
What You’ll Need for Your Cranberry Playdough Activity
This DIY playdough is simple to set up.
One-stop shop for all the supplies here!
- Flour
- Cream of tarter
- Salt
- Oil (we used coconut oil)
- Cinnamon sticks
- Cranberries
- Start anise
- Whole cloves
- Tartlet pans
- Orange slice free printable
- Sensory bin (this is the other one we use – the quality is incredible)
You’ll Also Love this Cranberry Sensory Bin:
Why Sensory Play Matters: Benefits of Cranberry Playdough
Playdough offers so many developmental benefits for children of all ages. Here’s how your child will benefit from this fun cranberry sensory activity:
- Fine Motor Skills: Rolling, squishing, and handling small objects help kids build fine motor skills, which are essential for writing and other hand-related tasks.
- Sensory Exploration: The texture of the cranberries, combined with the soothing playdough, provides a rich sensory experience, helping children calm down and focus.
- Imaginative Play: Toddlers and preschoolers can use the bin to pretend they’re making cranberry pies, cranberry pancakes, snowmen, and more, which encourages creative thinking.
- Math and Science Concepts: Measuring and pouring cranberries introduces important concepts in a fun, hands-on way.
- Calming Effects: The repetitive action of squishing and rolling has a calming effect, making this a great sensory play activity for stress relief.
Learn about Cranberries!
Cranberry play ideas
Miss 8 made a cute cranberry snowman and pie. I love seeing their imaginations soar with playdough!
Miss 6 made all sorts of cranberry pies and whipped cream on top. I love the natural elements and the smell is amazing!
Miss 6 also made a cranberry pancake. Yum!
Miss 11 made a cranberry snowman. Cute, right?
Extension Ideas: Make Your Sensory Play Last Longer
If your little ones are loving their cranberry playdough, here are some fun ways to keep the activity going:
- Orange Hunt: Hide our orange match game cards in the playdough and have your child find them. This is great for practicing letter recognition.
- Counting Cranberries: Practice counting them as they scoop them into bowls or squish them into the playdough.
- Pretend Cranberry Shop: Set up a pretend play scenario where your child can make cranberry pies and have a cafe, practicing social skills and basic math concepts like counting and currency.
Sensory Bin Cleanup Tips
Sensory play can get a bit messy, but here’s a pro tip: Lay a large sheet or plastic tablecloth underneath the bin to catch any stray playdough or ingredients.
Read Cranberry Themed Books
Add in some cranberry-themed books for even more fun! Check out these books!
Rice sensory bin ideas
- Dinosaur rice sensory bin
- Fall rice sensory bin
- Pumpkin pie rice sensory bin
- More coming soon!
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