How to Make Homemade Playdough

Learn to make soft, colorful playdough at home with simple kitchen ingredients for hours of creative play.

1. Gather Your Ingredients. You'll need: 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1 cup boiling water, and food coloring (optional). The cream of tartar helps create that perfect soft texture, but if you don't have it, the playdough will still work fine. Have measuring cups, a mixing bowl, and a wooden spoon ready.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and cream of tartar. Stir them together with a spoon until they're well mixed. This step prevents lumps from forming later when you add the wet ingredients.
3. Add Oil and Boiling Water. Add the vegetable oil to your dry mixture and stir. Very carefully pour in the boiling water while stirring constantly with your wooden spoon. The mixture will look lumpy and wet at first – this is normal. Keep stirring as it cools slightly. If you want colored playdough, add 3-5 drops of food coloring now and mix it in.
4. Knead the Dough. Once the mixture is cool enough to handle (about 2-3 minutes), turn it out onto a clean surface and knead it with your hands for 2-3 minutes. The dough should become smooth and stretchy. If it feels too sticky, sprinkle in a little more flour. If it's too dry, add a tiny bit of water.
5. Store Your Playdough. Your homemade playdough will stay fresh for several weeks when stored in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator. Let it come to room temperature before playing with it again. If it starts to feel dry, you can knead in a few drops of water to refresh it.