NO-COOK KOOLAID PLAYDOUGH
Supplies
- 1 c. flour
- 1/2 c. water
- 1/2 c. salt
- 3 TBSP vegetable oil
- packet of unsweetened Koolaid
- medium mixing bowl
Making Playdough
1. Place all of the dry ingredients in the bowl and blend them together. If you only want to make one color, you may add the Koolaid along with the other dry ingredients.
2. Add the water and oil and blend the mixture well. You may want to use your hands to mix it thoroughly.
3. If you want to make several different colors, break your dough into portions and place each into its own bowl to add koolaid.
Playdough Colors
Using Koolaid to color this dough not only gives it vibrant colors, it makes it smell great! Use a small amount of Koolaid for pastel colors and more for vibrant dough. Try the following flavors to get some of the most popular colors:
Watermelon Cherry β a nice bright pink
Pink Lemonade β for a softer, gentler pink
Grape β a dark purple
Orange and Mandarina-Tangerine β both make nice orange colors
Black Cherry β a dark purplish red
Strawberry β a pure red
Lemon Lime β a soft yellowish green
Try mixing flavors to make new colors and scents.
Safety and Mess Quotient
This playdough is edible and completely safe. The food coloring in the Koolaid will stain clothing and the scent may stay on your hands for some time, but it is generally pleasant.
COOKED FOOD COLORING PLAYDOUGH
Supplies
- 1 c. flour
- 1 c. water
- 1/2 c. salt
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp cream of tartar
- food coloring
- medium saucepan
- cutting board or waxed paper on a flat surface
Making Playdough
1. Place the water into a medium saucepan.
2. Measure all of the remaining ingredients, EXCEPT THE FOOD COLORING, into the pan.
3. Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat for several minutes, until it holds together in a ball of dough.
4. Allow the dough to cool in the pan until it is comfortable to touch.
5. Place the dough on a cutting board or large piece of waxed paper and knead for several minutes.
6. Break the dough into several portions.
Playdough Colors
For soft playdough colors, use liquid food colorings or very small amounts of paste or gel coloring. For bright, vivid colors you must use paste or gel food coloring. Whatever type of coloring you use, you may want to wear gloves to avoid dyeing your hands.
If you are using liquid food coloring, place two drops of any color onto a portion of dough. If you have chosen paste or gel, dip a clean toothpick or the end of a knife into the coloring, then wipe it onto the dough portion. Knead the dough until the color is blended into the entire piece of dough. You may add more coloring if you would like more color.
Party stores often sell collections of food coloring to match popular themes and characters. For example, you can get the Pooh bear food coloring set in order to model the favorite characters from the 100-Acre Wood. Or, make holiday appropriate dough selections; for Christmas make red and green dough, for Halloween mix up orange and black and for Easter make a full selection of pastel dough.
Your dough may be kept in sealed air-tight containers for a several weeks. You may refrigerate it to extend its life a little.
Safety and Mess Quotient
While this dough is perfectly edible, it doesnβt taste very good. The basic dough will wash out of most washable fabrics and off most surfaces; pre-treating is suggested due to the oil content in the dough. Most food coloring stains, so it may leave dye on the skin and on clothing.
