Play dough recipe

I never buy play-doh, it is so easy to make your own, and very cheap. Use the cheapest flour you can buy or you can use any out of date flour you might have. This is my tried and tested recipe, I have have found that the most important stage is you have to get the mix very smooth before you start to heat (sift your flour and use a whisk to mix). Once made the more you kneed it, the better it is.

Ingredients

1 Cup Flour

½ Cup Salt

1 Tablespoon of Cream of Tarter (found in the cooking isle of supermarkets)

1 Cup Water

1 Teaspoon (approx) Food Colouring

1 Tablespoon Oil

2 Teaspoon (approx) Vanilla Essence (optional – I think this makes it smell more like original play doh)

Equipment
Bowl
Jug
Whisk
Pan (an old non-stick one is best)

Method
Combine flour (you do not need to sift but I do), water, salt and cream of tarter in a bowl.
In a jug combine water, colouring, oil and essence (if using), whisk this into the flour mixture, the smoother this mix the better, which is why I sift the flour.
Cook over a medium heat stirring all the time until mixture starts to come away from the sides of the pan and forms a sticky ball
Remove from heat and kneed well for a few minutes, if it is too sticky add some flour.

Keep in an air tight tub

Variations
Add glitter for a sparkling dough
Try peppermint essence for a different smell
Substitute some of the flour with coco powder to give a brown colour and chocolate smell (obviously no food colouring needed with this)

PLEASE BE AWARE this has a high salt content, so watch you child whilst using

 The mix ready to heat

 Looks like this whilst cooking

Ready when it starts to come away from the sides of the pan

This recipe makes just the right amount to fit in one of those chinese takeaway containers you get

HAVE FUN AND ENJOY!

Little Mr wants to make some with sprinkles in so we will try that one later today - I am not sure how it will turn out - I will post later with the results

Anyone like to add any of their tips for making playdough?