Simple Homemade Playdough Without Cream of Tartar Recipe
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My kids LOVE Playdough. The problem is, every time we buy new playdough sets, every color magically finds its way together until it’s one ugly blob. I know you know what I’m talking about. So, when my kids decided they wanted to use playdough today, I needed to find a way to make some at home with the ingredients in my pantry, and I have to say, this homemade playdough without cream of tartar recipe worked great!
This playdough came out very soft and squishy, similar to store-bought Play-Doh. You need to be patient with the recipe and knead it thoroughly.
Most homemade recipes called for these ingredients I didn’t have: cream of tartar or lemon juice. So instead, I made some easy play dough without them.
Can you make homemade playdough without cream of tartar?
Yes, you absolutely can! While cream of tartar is a stabilizer that gives the playdough that soft, stretchy, and long-lasting texture, you can substitute it with another acidic base.
Generally, most people will use lemon juice. Unfortunately, I didn’t have that either. So when I searched for some more alternatives, I found that vinegar can be used as a 1:1 substitute.
While vinegar doesn’t have a pleasant scent, you’ll be happy to know your playdough won’t come out smelling like vinegar. However, if you’re sensitive to the smell, you can add in a few drops of your favorite scents or essential oils.
How to Make Homemade Playdough Without Cream of Tartar Recipe
As I mentioned, this is a playdough recipe without cream of tartar or lemon juice. It will require a few minutes of cooking to help heat the liquids. It’ll make around 1 batch of playdough at a time. You can cut the recipe in half if you prefer to work in smaller batches.
Supplies Needed for Homemade Playdough
- 1 Cup Flour
- 1/4 Cup Salt
- 3/4 Cup Water
- 1 TBSP Oil (Vegetable or Canola Oil will work fine)
- 3 TBSP Vinegar
- 3-4 drops Food Coloring of Choice
**If you prefer NOT to cook or use the stove, you can instead heat the liquid ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. The liquid should be hot, but not boiling.
Making Your Homemade Playdough with Vinegar
In a mixing bowl, mix flour and salt together.
Combine water, oil, and vinegar in a small pot. Heat until hot. Liquids should NOT be boiling. Add in your food coloring.
Then, gently mix the dry ingredients into the hot liquids and remove from the stove so it doesn’t overheat.
Continue mixing until the dough is smooth and the color is evenly distributed, and then dump the dough onto parchment paper to start cooling.
As the dough cools, you can continue kneading and folding the dough to get that smooth texture. If it’s too hot, pop it into the refrigerator for 3-5 minutes.
Once the dough is smooth, squishy, and cooled down, it’s ready for use!
How to Store Homemade Playdough Without Cream of Tartar
Storing this playdough is easy and simple! You can use a small airtight container like this and keep your playdough in the refrigerator when not in use for up to a month or so.
However, make sure to always give your playdough a thorough look over. If you notice any strange smells or mold, toss it out.
As you can see, this playdough recipe was a huge WIN. My kids enjoyed adding sprinkles and glitter to their playdough. Along with using molds to cut out shapes, build letters, and more!
We hope you and your little ones enjoy this homemade playdough recipe, too!
