Edible Playdough Recipe

By
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
Kristina Vanni
An internationally recognized culinary authority, Kristina Vanni is well-known for her recipe development, food photography, and experience as a TV show host.
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Updated on 06/6/22
Edible Playdough

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 1 mins
Total: 6 mins
Servings: 3 servings
Yield: 3 pieces
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
279 Calories
5g Fat
59g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3
Amount per serving
Calories 279
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 6%
Saturated Fat 4g 19%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 37mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 59g 22%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 25g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 2mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 3mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Since kids will put just about anything in their mouths, it's a comfort to make your own homemade version of playdough with ingredients that can be found in your home kitchen. There are several different ways to make an edible version of this classic childhood toy—this one uses fluffy marshmallows to create a super-stretchy "dough." To be on the safe side, it is best to avoid edible playdough that is made with flour, since it shouldn't be consumed raw.

Edible playdough can be tinted just about any color of the rainbow. You can even add more color, texture, and interest to the dough by incorporating edible glitter, sprinkles, or coarse demerara sugar. Once the dough is ready, kids will love to play with rolling pins, cookie cutters, and molds to let their imagination run wild with the dough.

1:56

Edible Playdough

Ingredients

  • 18 large marshmallows (about 3 cups)

  • 3 teaspoons coconut oil, or vegetable shortening

  • Food coloring

  • 9 to 10 tablespoons cornstarch

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Edible Playdough
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  2. Using 3 separate microwave-safe bowls, place 6 large marshmallows in each bowl. Add one teaspoon of coconut oil or vegetable shortening to each. Microwave on high, one at a time, until the marshmallows puff up slightly, about 30 seconds. Alternately, if you want to make only a single color batch of edible playdough, place all of the marshmallows and all 3 teaspoons of coconut oil or vegetable shortening in one large bowl.

    Edible Playdough
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  3. Add a few drops of food coloring to each of the bowls and mix well to combine.

    Edible Playdough
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  4. Add three tablespoons of the cornstarch to each of the bowls and stir until a thick dough forms.

    Edible Playdough
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  5. Carefully remove the dough from the bowl to the countertop or cutting board. Use caution as the dough may still be warm. Knead the dough by hand, adding additional cornstarch as necessary until the it is no longer sticky but still pliable.

    Edible Playdough
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  6. Store the edible playdough in small individual airtight containers or zip-top bags to keep it from drying out.

    Edible Playdough
    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  7. Enjoy using the playdough to create endless shapes and cutouts!

    Edible Playdough
     The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Recipe Variations

There are other ways to prepare edible versions of playdough using items you can find in the pantry. These two-ingredient recipes are always a hit with kids on a rainy day.

  • Simplest Playdough: Put marshmallows into a bowl with a teaspoon of water (omit the oil) and microwave to melt. Stir and then pour melted marshmallow out onto a surface mounded with 1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar. Knead, coating hands with oil if needed, to a pliable dough.
  • Peanut Butter Playdough: Combine 1 cup of creamy peanut butter with 2 1/4 cups of powdered sugar. Mix well to form the dough. Chill in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to allow it to firm up before playing with the dough.
  • Vanilla Playdough: Place 1 cup of store-bought icing in a mixer and slowly add between 2 and 3 cups of powdered sugar until a dough forms. Mix until the dough is no longer sticky. This version works with any color or flavor of store-bought icing, so feel free to use your favorite.