Gingerbread Playdough Recipe
This homemade Gingerbread Playdough is a fun, easy, and fragrant craft project perfect for kids and adults alike. Made with common pantry ingredients and warm holiday spices like ginger and cinnamon, this playdough smells delightful and stays soft for weeks when stored properly. It’s an affordable alternative to store-bought playdough and encourages sensory play and creativity.
- Author: Isla
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: Enough playdough for 2-3 children to play with (about 1.5 cups dough)
- Category: Kids Craft
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (or pumpkin pie spice)
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Additional
- Wax or parchment paper (for kneading and rolling the dough)
- Combine dry ingredients: In a mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together the flour, salt, cream of tartar, ground ginger, and ground cinnamon until well mixed and uniform in color and texture.
- Add wet ingredients: Pour the water and vegetable oil into the dry mixture. Stir vigorously using a spoon or spatula until the mixture begins to come together into a dough.
- Cook the dough: Transfer the mixture to a nonstick pan or saucepan and heat over medium-low heat. Continuously stir the dough to prevent burning while it thickens and forms a ball. This process usually takes about 3-5 minutes.
- Knead the dough: Remove the cooked dough from the heat and place it onto wax or parchment paper to cool briefly. Once safe to handle, knead the dough by hand until smooth and pliable. If the dough is sticky, sprinkle with a little flour.
- Store properly: Place the finished gingerbread playdough inside an airtight container or a ziplock bag to keep it moist and soft. It can last for over a month when stored in a cool place.
Notes
- Use wax or parchment paper to prevent sticking during kneading and play.
- If dough becomes sticky over time, sprinkle lightly with flour and knead.
- You can substitute pumpkin pie spice for cinnamon to adjust the flavor.
- Store the playdough in an airtight container or ziplock bag to maintain moisture.
- This recipe is safe and non-toxic, but avoid ingestion in large quantities.
Keywords: gingerbread playdough, homemade playdough, kids craft, sensory play, easy playdough recipe, holiday playdough, ginger cinnamon dough