Apple Cider Playdough

Since we took our old playdough outside and got woodsy with it (see my post Bringing Playdough Outside), it was time for making new playdough.  My go-to playdough recipe is easy and quick, and Big Sister loves to help make it.  Since it's September now and we're pumped for Fall, we decided to add some yummy-smelling spices to it.  It ended up smelling like delicious spiced cider, so we named it Apple Cider Playdough.

Here's what you need to make it:
1/2 cup salt
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons cream of tarter
1 cup of cold water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
food coloring
spices of your choosing

Mix the dry ingredients.  I got crazy with the spices because sprinkling them in is Big Sister's favorite part, and she really can't mess it up.

 

 

 

 

Add the wet ingredients.  Stir well.  Cook it over medium heat until it has a playdough consistency, stirring frequently.  Big Sister's been asking to make red playdough for months, so that's what we went with.

 

Knead it up and let it cool, kneading it a few more times as it cools.  Super simple!  This stuff stays good forever if you store it in an airtight container.

Ready to play!  Except for some salt on the floor, this one was pretty mess-free.

 

Bringing Playdough Outside!

Big Sister (age 2), and I decided to have one last hurrah with some old playdough before throwing it out.  The colors have all been mixed together over the past few months, resulting in the appealing gray/black color you see in the pictures.

We live in the woods, so we didn't have to go far for some good messy fun.  I didn't have a solid plan for this activity, but I suggested that Big Sister find some things from nature to stick in the playdough.  She started with sticks.

 

She was very happy with the finished product.

  Next up, nuts.  She wanted to see how many she could squish in there.

Then, clover and herbs from the garden.

 

 And finally, rocks and ferns.

 



This was so simple and fun, we'll definitely be doing it again whenever we have old playdough.  Big Sister always loves exploring the little bits of nature surrounding our house, and this gave her something new to do with them.  Plus, it involved playdough, so it was a sure thing that it'd be a hit!