Homemade Lemon Scented Play Dough!
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I can’t believe how fast Easter is approaching! Today I thought I’d share with you a fun little craft that kids just love: homemade play dough. It’s even better when it has a sunshiney lemon scent like this recipe does. This is great for a craft at home, family get together, or even as gifts for classmates. For an easy and fun packaging idea, just put it in little plastic Easter Eggs. 🙂
You’ll need: All purpose flour, salt, water, a little vegetable oil and a little cream of tartar, some lemon essential oil, and yellow food coloring.
I often order my essential oils from Amazon but stores like Walmart and such are starting to carry a good variety of them over in the pharmacy section. There is some debate about the quality of essential oils not bought from one of the main two direct sales companies but we probably agree that they are fine in a pinch and for projects like this.
Add the flour, salt, water, oil and cream of tartar to a large saucepan.
Place saucepan on the stove over medium heat, stirring continuously until a stiff ball of dough forms (3-4 minutes).
Remove the warm dough from the saucepan and place it on your working space. Knead for 1-2 minutes. Allow it to cool for 5 minutes.
If you would like it to be yellow in color, add a small amount of yellow food color to the dough and knead until the color is evenly distributed.
Enjoy your lemon scented play dough!
*Keep in an airtight plastic bag for up to 3 months.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup salt
- 2 cups water
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
- 10-15 drops lemon essential oil
- Optional - yellow food color
Instructions
- Add the flour, salt, water, oil and cream of tartar to a large saucepan.
- Place saucepan on the stove over medium heat, stirring continuously until a stiff ball of dough forms (3-4 minutes).
- Remove the dough from the saucepan and place it on waxed paper lined countertop or clean cutting board. Knead for 1-2 minutes. Allow it to cool for 5 minutes.
- The playdough will be white in color. If you would like it to be yellow, add a small amount of yellow food color to the dough and knead until the color is evenly distributed.
- Enjoy!
*Keep in an airtight plastic bag for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
“The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.”
~Socrates
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When do you add the essential oil?
Playdough is so much fun and a great experience for children. In my preschool it was out everyday and we changed colors and scents each month. Chocolate playdough in February and I had saved little heart boxes for them to make “candy” to put in. Smells just like fudge but no sugar in it so not tasty at all. Going to make some lemon for my great grands. Thanks.
🙂 I hope you and the great grands have a wonderful time playing!!!
is the tartar absolutely necessary
Hey Misty, the cream of tartar makes it smooth and helps it stick together. I’ve seen play dough recipes without it but prefer to use it myself. If you decide not to please report back and let us know how it turned out. 🙂
What a great idea to scent the dough. And so pretty with it being yellow. I made this for many years for my kids. I think it’s easier if you add the food coloring to the water….it blends in quicker and isn’t as much work as kneading it. =) Thanks for sharing all your fun and delicious recipes! May you and yours enjoy a blessed Easter week!
Great idea!! I hope you have a blessed Easter week as well!!!
We LOVE your play dough recipe! We made the gingerbread version for Christmas gifts (and our own fun!!!) a couple years ago. I can’t believe how LONG this stuff lasts! It has way outlasted our purchased doughs. The best thing though is how much better homemade play dough smells. My older kids have fits when they see a younger sibling getting out the name brand stuff! Thanks Christy!
I am so glad to hear that y’all like it Becky!!!
What a good Mom you are, Christy!
I remember making homemade play dough for my sons when they were very young, and we used a small package of unsweetened powdered drink mix (Kool Aid) to scent it and color it. I should make some for my future step grandchild.
What wonderful memories y’all will be making!!!