Easy Kool-Aid Playdough
When I was teaching preschool pre-motherhood, a co-worker showed my how to make homemade playdough using Kool-Aid. It’s been my go-to way to make playdough ever since, and now I make it for my own children.
It’s soft, not crumbly like store-bought, and smells good too. Plus it’s no-bake, only five ingredients, and comes together in no time!
I shared this recipe on my first motherhood blog almost 10 years ago, and it’s been on my to-do list to share an updated version here. While I’ve mostly focused on sharing encouraging, faith-based words for women and moms through my blogging (and that’s still what I plan to do), I also want to share these practical posts from time-to-time like I did in my early blogging days. My heart has always been to help others, whether through hope-filled words or practical tips.
So to the recipe…
One of the things I like about this playdough version is that it’s one bowl, no stovetop, and not much mess to cleanup. I make stovetop versions sometimes as well, but this is my favorite. And there’s nothing wrong with store-bought playdough either, I just prefer the super soft, homemade version.
When I’m grocery shopping and spot Kool-Aid packets, I often grab a handful to have for when I want to make playdough. Some flavors come out rich in color, while others like the lemonade flavor are fairly pale.
I made a new batch yesterday and with Valentine’s Day around the corner, I used the watermelon flavor which came out a pale pink/peach color. The Kool-Aid serves two purposes: color and smell.
For this playdough you need five simple ingredients, most of which I always have on hand:
- Flour
- Kool-Aid
- Salt
- Oil
- Boiling Water
I mix all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, warm the water in the microwave, add the boiling water + oil to the dry ingredients, and mix away until it starts to form into a ball. Then I knead it on the counter for a few minutes. It comes together as it cools and is kneaded, but if it’s too sticky, I add a little more flour at a time. If it’s a little dry, I add an extra tablespoon of oil.
I store the playdough in a Ziploc bag until ready for use, and it will keep for a long time.
*Printable Recipe Below*
Playdough is a such a wonderful sensory activity for children! While I make it for my preschooler, his older elementary brother also still enjoys playing with it occasionally. I personally don’t think there is an age limit on playdough. Yes it gets a little messy, but the benefits of it for my kids have always outweighed the mess.
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups Flour
- 1/4 cup Salt
- 1 packet Kool-Aid
- 2 tablespoons Canola or Coconut Oil
- 1 cup Boiling Water
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix together the 1 3/4 cups flour, 1/4 cup salt, and 1 Kool-Aid packet.
- Add 1 cup of boiling water and 2 tablespoons of oil of choice. Stir until it starts to come together.
- Knead playdough on a floured surface for about 3-5 minutes. The playdough will pick up the flour from the counter, but you can also add an additional 1-2 tablespoons of flour if it's too sticky. You can also add a little more oil if it's too dry. It comes together more as it cools and should form into a soft ball.
- Store in a ziplock bag or airtight container.
Notes
Have you ever made Kool-Aid playdough? If you try this recipe, I’d love to know how it turns out! Playdough has always been a hit in our home and having an easy recipe is a win for everyone.
