Pumpkin Spice Playdough
Pumpkin Spice Play Dough Recipe:
- Water
- Vegetable Oil <– you can use melted coconut oil but if it’s cold where you are, it will make the play dough a bit tough at the start of playing (will soften with the heat of hands playing)
- Flour
- Salt
- Cream of Tartar <– I buy the big container or from a bulk store as those little jars are so expensive! A bulk container will last us for months of play dough making – and can also be used for soft sugar cookies, snickerdoodle cookies, etc.
- Pumpkin Puree
- Pumpkin Pie Spice <– grab our recipe for homemade pumpkin pie spice
I like using these sectioned trays for our craft invitations.
Materials for our Pumpkin Patch Play Dough Invitation:
- Pumpkin seeds
- Pumpkin scatter (small acrylic beads)
- Small fake sunflowers
- Whole nutmeg
- Cinnamon sticks
- Cloves (which were quickly removed by a disapproving toddler)
In retrospect, I wish I had added some green pipe cleaners to this pumpkin patch play dough invitation to imitate the twisting vines of the pumpkins, but the kids still had a ton of fun with the invitation as it was set up.
How to Make Pumpkin Spice Play Dough
You can develop so many wonderful play dough invitations with this pumpkin spice play dough – from a coffee shop, to a leaf play dough, to a pumpkin pie play invitation. I decided to do a pumpkin patch invitation with materials I had on hand.
I love adding the whole versions of spices or scents that we add to our play dough – like offering a whole vanilla bean with a vanilla buttercream play dough.
Exploring a cinnamon stick offers an additional layer of sensory input to the cinnamon scent in the play dough and allows children to explore isolating their sensory perceptions – can they smell the cinnamon stick and find that smell in the play dough?
I did find that the pumpkin spice play dough with the real pumpkin in it dried out a bit quicker than our other homemade play doughs, but it did revive quickly with the addition of some oil. I personally preferred the pumpkin-free version mostly because it was a no-cook recipe, but they were both equally amazing to smell and the kids loved playing with their pumpkin spice play dough!
Grab our printable recipe for homemade pumpkin spice play dough:
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Pumpkin Spice Playdough
Pumpkin Spice Play Dough - easy homemade play dough recipe used in a pumpkin patch play dough invitation. A wonderful and amazing smelling fall sensory activity for kids.
Materials
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1 T cream of tartar
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree (ours was homemade and very thin compared to store-bought puree)
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 Tablespoons oil
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg, optional
- 1 teaspoon ginger, optional
- 1 teaspoon cloves, optional
Tools
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
Instructions
- Cook water, puree, spices and oil over medium heat until starting to boil.
- Add the dry ingredients and stir until a ball starts to form.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead once cool enough to touch. You may need to add additional flour to get the consistency you'd like.
Notes
Or, if you'd prefer to leave out the pumpkin (and use a no-cook play dough recipe):
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1 cup boiling water
- 2 Tablespoons oil
- 1 Tablespoon cream of tartar
- 2 Tablespoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg, optional
- 1 teaspoon ginger, optional
- 1 teaspoon cloves, optional
Stir all dry ingredients together. Add the oil to the boiling water before pouring into the dry ingredients.
Mix ingredients with a wooden spoon or spatula until a thick dough forms. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead once cool enough to touch. You may need to add some flour to get the consistency that you want.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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McCormick Gourmet Organic Whole Nutmeg, 1.5 oz
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Amazon Brand - Happy Belly Cloves, Whole, 2 Ounces
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PMLAND Mini Acrylic Pumpkin Ornaments for Fall Decorations Party Table Scatter Halloween and Thanksgiving Décor, 1 Pound Package, Approx. 105 pcs
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Amazon Brand - Happy Belly Cinnamon Sticks, Whole, 1.5 Ounces
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365 Everyday Value, Organic Pumpkin Puree, 15 oz
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KINWELL 100pcs Mini Artificial Silk Yellow Sunflower Heads 1.8" Fabric Floral for Home Decoration Wedding Decor, Bride Holding Flowers,Garden Craft Art Decor
-
GERBS Raw Whole Pumpkin Seeds, 32 ounce Bag, Top 14 Food Allergy Free, Non GMO, Vegan, Keto, Paleo Friendly
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Cream of Tartar, 2 Cups by Unpretentious Baker, Highest Quality USP & Food Grade, Better than Restaurant Quality, Non-GMO, Kosher, Gluten Free, Vegan, Slotted Cap Spice Shaker
Be sure to check out our other Sensory Activities for Kids and Homemade Play Dough ideas!
That’s a smart way of thniking about it.
I love this playdough . Easy with fast prep!!! Perfect!