How to Create Cornstarch Playdough

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 13, 2022 References Tested

Playdough can be just as fun and easy to make as it is to play with. Maybe your old playdough dried out and you don't have the time to run to the store to buy more. Or maybe you want to make a special color that you can't buy. Whatever your reason, with a little time, effort, and a couple of supplies from the kitchen (or bathroom!) cabinet, you will have your very own playdough!

Ingredients

Two-Ingredient Playdough^{[1]
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1 cup (340 grams) lotion or hair conditioner
2 cups (250 grams) cornstarch
Food coloring (optional)

Simple Playdough^{[2]
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1 cup (180 grams) baking soda
½ cup (65 grams) cornstarch
¾ cup (180 milliliters) water
4 to 5 drops food coloring (optional)
2 to 3 drops essential oil (optional)

Edible Playdough^{[3]
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6 large marshmallows
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons coconut oil
Food coloring (optional)

Stovetop Playdough^{[4]
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1 cup (240 milliliters) water
1 cup (100 grams) flour
½ cup (115 grams) salt
¼ cup (30 grams) cornstarch
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
½ tablespoon powdered Alum
Food coloring (optional)

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Making Two-Ingredient Playdough

1
Add the lotion or hair conditioner into a large bowl. You can use the scented or unscented kind. Avoid using the expensive kind; the cheap kind from the dollar or discount store will work just fine!^{[5]
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- You can also make this using shaving cream instead.
- If you'd like to make it in smaller amounts, simply use the ratio of 1 part lotion/conditioner to 2 parts cornstarch.
2
Add the cornstarch. If you are using shaving cream, then use only 1 cup (125 grams) of cornstarch.^{[6]
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Research source} For a stiffer, more dry playdough, use up to 3 cups (375 grams) of cornstarch.

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3
Add in a few drops of food coloring, if desired. Start with 3 drops of food coloring.^{[7]
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Research source} It is not completely necessary, but it can make your playdough look more interesting.
4
Finish kneading the dough with your hands. It may take up to 5 minutes for the dough to come together. Note that this part can get very messy and sticky.^{[8]
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Research source} If you used food coloring, there should be no streaks or swirls of color.
5
Make any necessary adjustments. At this point, your playdough is ready. If it is not quite to your liking, however, you can still fix it. Add in some of the adjustments based on the list below, and knead the dough again until everything is well-blended.
- If the playdough is too sticky, add more cornstarch.
- If it is too dry, add more lotion/conditioner/shaving cream.
- If the color is not dark enough, add in a few more drops of food coloring.
6
Play with your playdough. Smooth it, pull it, or make figures with it. You can even try rolling it out flat and cutting shapes out of it. Store it an air-tight container when you are done playing with it so that it doesn't dry out.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Making Simple Playdough

1
Combine the baking soda, cornstarch, and water in a saucepan. Stir the ingredients together briskly until the baking soda and cornstarch dissolve. Don't add the food coloring and essential oils yet.
2
Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it starts to turn solid. Place the saucepan on the stove and turn the heat to medium. Stir it constantly as it cooks. After about 4 to 5 minutes, it will start to bubble. It will then start to solidify and clump into a ball.^{[9]
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3
Once the ball forms, take the dough out of the saucepan and place it down onto a sheet of parchment paper so that it can cool. Every so often, carefully flip it over and knead it. This will help speed up the cooling process. Be careful, however; the dough will be hot!
4
Add the food coloring and essential oils, if desired, and knead until well-blended. The essential oils are not necessary, but they will give your playdough a nice smell. The food coloring is only necessary if you wish to make colored playdough. Keep kneading the dough until it is an even color; there should be no streaks or swirls.
- You can use even less food coloring. Even a single drop will give it a lovely pastel color.^{[10]
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5
Play with the playdough. Smoosh it, pull it, and make figures with it. You can even roll it out and cut out shapes using cookie cutters. When you are done playing with it, store it in an airtight container.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Making Edible Playdough

1
Place the marshmallows, cornstarch, and coconut oil into a microwave-safe bowl. Note that while this playdough is safe to eat, it probably would not be a good idea to gobble it up all at once. It is a great choice for young children who like to put things into their mouths, however.
2
Add a few drops of food coloring, if desired, and give the ingredients a quick stir to combine. This is enough for one batch of edible playdough. If you'd like to make more colors, you will need to make another batch.
- How much food coloring you add is up to you. The more you add, the darker your playdough will be.
3
Heat the ingredients in the microwave until the marshmallows start to expand. This will take about 30 seconds, but it may take less depending on the strength of your microwave.^{[11]
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4
Carefully take the bowl out of the microwave and stir the ingredients together with a spoon. Keep stirring until the ingredients thicken and you can't stir anymore.^{[12]
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5
Knead the dough with your hands until everything is evenly mixed together. If the dough is too dry, add a little bit more coconut oil. If the dough is too wet, add some more cornstarch.
- Be careful; the ingredients may still be hot.
6
Play with the playdough. Because it is edible, you can even eat some of it too. Just don't eat too much, or you'll get a tummy ache! When you are done playing with it, store it in an airtight container. If it starts to smell funny or weird, throw it out; it is expired and not safe to eat anymore.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Making Stovetop Playdough

1
Whisk together all of the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Place a large saucepan on the stove, and add the water, flour, salt, cornstarch, vegetable oil, and powdered Alum. Turn the heat to medium, and begin stirring with a whisk.
2
Switch to a wooden spoon when the mixture starts to thicken, and continue stirring. As the mixture heats up, it will start to thicken. Switch to a wooden spoon so that it doesn't get caught in our whisk.^{[13]
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3
Remove the dough from the saucepan. As you continue to stir it, the ingredients will begin to leave the sides of the saucepan and clump together to form a dough. When this happens, turn off the stove, and carefully remove the dough from the saucepan. Set it down onto a smooth working surface.^{[14]
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4
Knead in some food coloring, if desired. You can make it all one color, or you can split the playdough up into smaller balls, and knead some food coloring into each one. Keep kneading until the food coloring is mixed evenly throughout the playdough. There should be no streaks or swirls; the color should be even.
- If you are working with one big ball, start with just three drops of food coloring. If you are working with smaller balls, start with one drop. A little bit goes a long way!
- The more food coloring you add, the darker your playdough will become.
5
Finish kneading the playdough, and adjust it as necessary. If the playdough's texture is not quite right for you, you can still fix it. Knead in a little more cornstarch or flour if it is too wet or sticky. If it is too dry, knead in some water. Lastly, if the playdough is too light in color for you, add a few more drops of food coloring.
6
Play with the playdough. You can make little figures with it, or roll it out and cut shapes out using cookie cutters. When you are done playing with it, put it into an airtight container so that it doesn't dry out.

Community Q&A

Question

Does the play dough stick to your hands

Community Answer

Not unless you've used too much water.
Question

Do I have to make this amount?

Community Answer

You can make more or less playdough to suit your needs, just make sure to adjust each of the ingredients as needed.
Question

Can you use flour instead of corn- flour?

Community Answer

No, because they have different consistency. The flour will make it dry out quickly.

Warnings

Do not leave out of container; it hardens after a couple of days!

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Do not eat playdough, unless it is specifically indicated to be edible.

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