Safe, Non-toxic Coloured Play Dough!

I came across this idea in the local community newspaper, and wanted to ensure I remembered it for when my own kids are old enough to want to play with play dough.  Instead of spending your hard earned cash on that smelly, neon play dough, this is a homemade, toxin free recipe that will be sure to get your kids sculpting and creating in no time!

Recipe for Uncoloured Dough:

Mix together:
3 cups white flour
1/2 cup table salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar

Boil 2 cups of water.  Add 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil and stir.***
***(eliminate this step if adding any of the homemade colour recipes found below)

Pour water/oil (or homemade colour mixture) into dry ingredients.

Mix with a spoon and add more flour as required for kneading (most likely ~1 more cup).  Knead until smooth with the consistency of bread dough.

This play dough can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for 3-4 weeks.


Homemade Colour Mixtures

For these mixtures, substitute them in the above recipe in place of the water/oil mixture.

Green--Spinach  Boil 2 1/2 cups of water.  Add two handfuls of spinach and simmer 15 minutes.  Add 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil and puree.  Add the puree to dry ingredients.
         --Liquid Chlorophyll  Boil 2 cups of water.  Add 2-3 tablespoons of liquid chlorophyll.  Add 3 tablespoons of oil and add to dry ingredients.

Yellow--Turmeric Powder  Boil 2 cups of water.  Add 1-2 teaspoons of turmeric powder, stir, and strain if desired.  Add 3 tablespoons of oil and stir.  Add to dry ingredients.

Orange--100% Carrot Juice  Bring 2 cups of carrot juice to a slow rolling boil.  Add 3 tablespoons of oil and stir.  Add to dry ingredients.  (can also use boiled carrot puree in place of juice)

Red/Pink--Red Cabbage  Boil 3 cups of water.  Add 1/2 a cabbage, diced.  Simmer for 20 minutes and strain.  Add 3 tablespoons of oil and add to dry ingredients.
              --Red Beets  Boil 2 1/2 cups of water.  Add 1 large diced beet.  Simmer for 15 minutes and strain.  Add 3 tablespoons of oil and stir, then add to dry ingredients.  (Red beet powder can be used as well)

Baking Soda Blue--Boil 3 cups of water and add 1/2 a cabbage, diced.  Simmer for 20 minutes and strain.  Add 1 teaspoon baking soda and stir.  Add 3 tablespoons of oil and add to dry ingredients.
**note:  I have no idea how this creates a blue colour, but if anyone tries it, please let me know!**

Brown--Cocoa  Boil 2 cups of water.  Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa and stir.  Add 3 tablespoons of oil, stir, and add to dry ingredients.

Feel free to mix and match, and experiment with other naturally coloured items in your house!  This non-toxic, colourful, kid-friendly recipe should be a staple for any mom wanting


I would love to hear from you below, or if you try this, or have tried it, leave some feedback or other colour options you've discovered!  Happy sculpting!