Fruity Playdough

Playdough is a huge hit in our home, but I loathe store-bought playdough. It's expensive, it smells funny, it's crumbly (and those teeny tiny crumbs find their way into every crack and crevice!) and it doesn't last very long.  Ever gotten your kid all excited about playing with the playdough only to open the can and it's rock hard?!  Yeah, me too.

I tried making my own playdough that you cook on the stove but I didn't like that either. It seemed to be even more prone to drying out, had a strange texture and a weird odor as well!  Yuck.  Then years ago I tried a recipe for "Fruity Playdough" using kool-aid for the color and smell.  We have loved it ever since!  I have tweaked the recipe over the years to get it "just right."  I'm happy to report that it lasts a very long time, is not prone to crumbling and does not smell funny. Make this mommy very happy!  

Fruity playdough is really simple to make....my little man helped me mix it up in just a few minutes.

Add your flour, salt and kool-aid flavor/color of your choice to a bowl.  He wanted to mix yellow and pink. Smells like lemonade...yum!!  =)

After the dry ingredients are stirred together well, take over for your little people and add the boiling water. Then stir it up until it's playdough consistency.  You may have to add some more flour to get it just right.  After it cools a bit, take it out of the bowl and knead it until it's nice and soft. 

Hand it over to your little people and have some fun!  

Fruity Play Dough

1 cup plus 1 tbsp.  all-purpose flour 
1 package Kool-Aid (any flavor)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup salt
2/3-3/4  cup boiling water


Mix all dry ingredients in bowl and add oil. Pour boiling water into flour mixture and mix thoroughly. (You may need to add a few more spoonfuls of flour to get it to the right consistency.) After it has cooled a little, knead it with your hands until smooth. Store in an air tight container and keep in the refrigerator. (The play dough should last a few months.)  Enjoy!! =)

Just curious, are you a store-bought play-dough lover or hater?  

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