How to Create Cornstarch Playdough

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: June 24, 2024 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]
X
Research source}

1 cup (340 grams) lotion or hair conditioner
2 cups (250 grams) cornstarch
Food coloring (optional)

Simple Playdough ^{[2]
X
Research source}

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]
X
Research source}

6 large marshmallows
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons coconut oil
Food coloring (optional)

Stovetop Playdough ^{[4]
X
Research source}

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

Download Article

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]
X
Research source}
- 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.
If you are using shaving cream, then use only 1 cup (125 grams) of cornstarch. ^{[6]
X
Research source} For a stiffer, more dry playdough, use up to 3 cups (375 grams) of cornstarch.

Advertisement
Start with 3 drops of food coloring. It is not completely necessary, but it can make your playdough look more interesting.
It may take up to 5 minutes for the dough to come together. Note that this part can get very messy and sticky. ^{[7]
X
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.
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

Download Article

Stir the ingredients together briskly until the baking soda and cornstarch dissolve. Don't add the food coloring and essential oils yet.
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. ^{[8]
X
Research source}
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. ^{[9]
  X
  Research source}
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

Download Article

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.
This will take about 30 seconds, but it may take less depending on the strength of your microwave. ^{[10]
X
Research source}
Keep stirring until the ingredients thicken and you can't stir anymore. ^{[11]
X
Research source} If you need to, use a potholder to handle the bowl.
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.
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

Download Article

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.
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. ^{[12]
X
Research source}
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. ^{[13]
X
Research source}
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.
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.
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

Search

Add New Question

Question

Does the play dough stick to your hands

Community Answer

Not unless you've used too much water.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 8
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.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 13
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.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 7

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Reader Videos

Tips

Give your playdough some sparkle with some extra-fine, scrapbooking glitter. If you are making the edible one, you can add edible glitter or pearls if you like.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
Give your playdough some fragrance with a few drops of essential oil. Or, if you making the two-ingredient playdough, use a conditioner that has a fragrance you like.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
If the cornstarch, flour, or baking soda are clumpy, sift them before using them in your recipe.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Show More Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

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

Thanks
Helpful 20 Not Helpful 4
Do not eat playdough, unless it is specifically indicated to be edible.

Thanks
Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

Things You'll Need

Two-Ingredient Playdough

Large bowl
Airtight container(s) for storing

Making Simple Playdough

Saucepan
Stirring spoon
Parchment paper or silicon mat
Airtight container(s) for storing

Edible Playdough

Microwave-safe bowl
Stirring spoon
Airtight container(s) for storing

Stovetop Playdough

Saucepan
Whisk
Wooden spoon
Decent container(s) for storing

You Might Also Like

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

Log in

How to Create Cornstarch Playdough

Ingredients

Two-Ingredient Playdough ^{[1]
X
Research source}

Simple Playdough ^{[2]
X
Research source}

Edible Playdough ^{[3]
X
Research source}

Stovetop Playdough ^{[4]
X
Research source}