Gingerbread Playdough Recipe

Surprise your loved ones with this fun gingerbread playdough recipe! It's quick, easy, and sure to put a smile on everyone's face this season.

Let's Make Gingerbread Playdough!

Bring some holiday cheer to your home with this fun and easy gingerbread playdough recipe! Not only is this homemade playdough incredibly quick and simple to make, but it also smells amazing thanks to the cinnamon, cloves and ginger. Get ready for hours of delicious sensory play that’s sure to bring joy to all your family members this season!

Entertain the Kids for Hours!

The kids are on Christmas break and I've forgotten how much energy it takes to keep them entertained all day!! During the summer it's easy to send the kids outside and watch them play for hours on end. They make mud pies, jump on the trampoline, play in the sprinklers. But during the winter? Fifteen to twenty minutes after playing outside they run in the house freezing cold and bored.

I don't know about you, but I can't stand the smell of Playdoh. It's smelly! I love this recipe for gingerbread playdough. It smells delicious and is fun for the kids to play with.

Gather the Recipe Ingredients

Before you begin making the gingerbread playdough, gather all the ingredients required for the recipe. This recipe requires 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 cup of salt, 4 teaspoons of cream of tartar, 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon, 4 teaspoons of ginger, 1 teaspoon of nutmeg and 1 teaspoon of ground cloves. In addition you’ll need 2 cups of water and 4 tablespoon of oil to bind the ingredients together.

Mix the Ingredients Together

In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and spices. Make sure to thoroughly mix it so that the ingredients are evenly distributed. If you will be storing the mix, place the mix now into a mason jar or continue to prepare if you are going to use the playdough now.

Next, add the hot water and oil to the dry ingredients in the bowl and stir them together until all of the ingredients are fully incorporated and form into dough. The mixture should be thick but still pliable. Knead the dough for several minutes until it is soft and smooth.

Knead the Dough Until Smooth

Knead the dough for several minutes until it is soft and smooth. It may be necessary to add a bit more flour or hot water if the dough is too sticky or too dry. The final result should be pliable enough to easily form into shapes, yet still hold its shape when played with. Once the playdough is ready, let it cool slightly before having your loved ones dive right in and start playing!

GET MORE DELICIOUS GINGERBREAD RECIPES HERE!

Add Color, Smells and Glitter to Personalize

Once the playdough is cooled and ready to use, you can start to spruce it up. For color, you can use food coloring to make any shade you’d like. To give the dough a delicious aroma, consider adding some dried fruit. If you’re looking for a more festive approach, add gold or silver glitter and some pieces of dried fruit like raisins or cranberries are great for creating little edible decorations. We love the idea of adding some tiny plastic gingerbread people too. Enjoy!

Let the Kids Enjoy Their Creation!

Once everything is in place, it’s time for the fun part – letting the kids create some gingerbread-themed art and decorations. From crafting cute little figures to using cookie cutters to help them bring their visions to life, they can do whatever they like! Encourage your children to use natural materials like cinnamon sticks, dried fruit or herbs to decorate their creations and make them even more special. Don't forget that you're creating a lasting memory too – you could take pictures of the finished product and print them out as artwork or festive cards.

Can I Make This With Gluten Free Flour?

Absolutely! Substitute your favorite gluten free flour blend. Make sure your flour includes xanthum gum. For a more pliable dough, add 1-2 teaspoons of psyllium husk powder.

Ingredients

1 large mason jar
2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 cup salt
4 tsp cream of tartar
2 tbsp cinnamon
4 tsp ginger
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cloves

Directions

In a jar, place ingredients in order listed. Place lid on jar and store until ready to use. Make a tag with instructions for making playdough.

To make playdough, place ingredients from jar into a large saucepan. Pour 2 cups of water and 4 tbsp of oil and stir until a very thick batter forms. Place the ban on a stovetop burner and turn the stove to low medium. Cook and stir until a thick dough ball forms. Turn off the stove and drop dough onto parchment paper or on countertop. Knead for several minutes. Store in jar. Makes 4 cups.