Step-by-step tutorial
Step 1
Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2
Add in the vegetable oil and mix well. If you want to add holiday extracts (peppermint, cinnamon, etc), then add these now.
Step 3
Add in the boiling water and stir the mixture until it forms a dough-like consistency.
Step 4
Divide the dough into separate balls for each color or type of playdough.
Step 5
Add in food coloring and any optional glitter or decorations and knead the dough until the color is even and the decorations are well-mixed.
Step 6
Play and have fun! What Holiday creations can you make?
Tip
Tips for Making the Best Christmas Playdough
- Use hot water when mixing the ingredients together for a smoother consistency.
- Add in food coloring gradually to get the desired shade.
- For extra sensory play, add in scents like peppermint or cinnamon.
- Store your playdough in an airtight container to keep it fresh and reusable.
- To avoid staining, use washable or non-toxic food coloring.
Tip
Decorating Ideas for Christmas Playdough
The best part about making playdough is the endless possibilities for decorating and creating. Here are some fun decorating ideas to try out:
- Make little snowmen, Christmas trees, or candy canes out of playdough.
- Use cookie cutters to make Christmas shapes like stars or angels.
- Use small decorations like pom poms, sequins, or beads to decorate your creations.
- Use a rolling pin and cookie cutters to make ornaments for your Christmas tree.
- Make miniature presents, complete with bows and ribbons.
Happy Holidays!!
Learn more
Have you ever wondered what makes it so squishy and moldable?
First of all, playdough is made up of a few simple ingredients: flour, salt, water, oil, and cream of tartar. When these ingredients are mixed together, they undergo a chemical reaction that transforms them into a pliable dough. Here's what happens:
Flour:
Flour is made up of starch and gluten. When you add water to flour, the starch granules absorb the water and swell up. This creates a sticky, stretchy substance called gluten. Gluten is what gives playdough its elasticity and allows it to hold its shape.
Salt:
Salt is added to playdough for a few reasons. First of all, it acts as a preservative, keeping the dough fresh for longer. But it also helps to strengthen the gluten in the dough, making it even more elastic and stretchy.
Water:
Water is the key ingredient that activates the starch and gluten in the flour. Without water, the flour would just be a dry powder that wouldn't stick together.
Oil:
Oil is added to playdough to make it smooth and silky. It also helps to keep the dough from sticking to surfaces or drying out too quickly.
Cream of tartar:
Cream of tartar is a byproduct of wine production. It acts as a stabilizer in playdough, helping to prevent it from drying out or becoming too crumbly. It also makes the dough more pliable and easier to work with.
When these ingredients are mixed together and kneaded, the gluten in the flour forms a network of elastic strands that trap the water and other ingredients. This is what gives playdough its unique texture and allows it to be molded into different shapes and forms.