Christmas Play Dough Kit (with Video)
We are loving homemade play dough kits – after the success of our mermaid play dough kit that we gave out at Ella’s mermaid birthday party, I knew that putting together some Christmas play dough kits for the kids would be a hit!
I love creating homemade play dough kits that offer several ways to play and enjoy the gift. By including open-ended materials that children can imagine and re-use in many different ways, you can facilitate hours of play with a simple kit!
Check out just how easy it is to make these fun Christmas play doughs by watching our quick video and then scroll down to grab the printable recipe:
Materials to Make Your Own Christmas Play Dough Kit
Ingredients for Egg Nog Play Dough
- 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.
- Glycerine
- Rum Extract or Butter Extract
- Vanilla Extract
- Nutmeg Extract
- Cinnamon
- Ground Cloves
Ingredients for Cranberry Play Dough
- Water
- Vegetable Oil
- Flour
- Salt
- Cream of Tartar
- Cranberry Juice
- Glycerine
- Orange extract or zest
Ingredients for Mint Play Dough
- Water
- Vegetable Oil
- Flour
- Salt
- Cream of Tartar
- Glycerine
- Mint Extract
Ingredients for Gingerbread Play Dough
- Water
- Vegetable Oil
- Flour
- Salt
- Cream of Tartar
- Ground Cinnamon
- Ground Nutmeg
- Ground Cloves
- Ground Ginger
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Kettle
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Large mixing bowl
- Cookie cutters
- Wooden spoon
To add to the play dough kit:
- Any open-ended mix-ins you have on hand: pipe cleaners, googly eyes, pom poms, coloured rice or barley, etc.
- Cookie cutters
- If giving as a gift, include a note with how to make more homemade play dough so the parents can replace the play dough when it is all done – and also, to check for allergens
How to Make a Christmas Play Dough Kit
Make each play dough in a separate bowl.
Mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar, and spices for each in a large mixing bowl.
Add food colouring and oil to the boiling water then into the dry ingredients. (Note: For the cranberry play dough add the cranberry juice to the boiling water.)
Stir continuously until it becomes a sticky, cohesive dough and then add the glycerine.
Fold the dough out onto a well-floured surface and allow it to cool slightly until your can knead it comfortably. (Don’t burn your hands!)
Knead it vigorously for a couple of minutes until all of the stickiness has gone – this can take up to four minutes, but start adding a bit of extra flour after two minutes if it is still a bit too sticky.
These play dough kits make a great homemade gift, and while I sent one home with each of my daycare kids, I also presented all of the components on a tray (Montessori even with play dough!) for an easy afternoon activity.
I loved watching how the children all interpreted the materials differently and came up with different ways to use them, engaging their creativity and fine motor muscles at the same time.
One child saw the opportunity to develop her pincer grip (essential for holding a pencil) by pushing the pipe cleaner into a mound of play dough, and then worked on her hand strength by rolling it out with a rolling pin.
One child very adeptly identified the gingerbread dough by smelling all of the doughs and calling on his scent memory to figure out what types of doughs were on offer. He then figured out how to use the other mix-ins to decorate his gingerbread man.
And of course, my little chef Ella decided to play bake shop!
There are so many ways to play with this homemade Christmas play dough kit, and my kids just loved them – I hope yours do, too!
Grab your free printable recipe for our homemade Christmas play dough:
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Christmas Play Dough Kit
Homemade Christmas Play Dough Kit - a fun and useful homemade gift for kids, this homemade play dough kit engages fine motor muscles and creativity at the same time! Super easy and cheap to put together if you're making gifts for a large group or party
Materials
Ingredients for Egg Nog Play Dough
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
- Up to 1.5 cups boiling water (adding in increments until it feels just right)
- few drops glycerine
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (rum extract or) butter extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
Ingredients for Cranberry Play Dough
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
- Up to 1 cup boiling water (adding in increments until it feels just right)
- 1/2 cup cranberry juice
- few drops glycerine
- 1 teaspoon orange extract or zest
Ingredients for Mint Play Dough
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
- Up to 1.5 cups boiling water (adding in increments until it feels just right)
- few drops glycerine
- 1 teaspoon mint extract
Ingredients for Gingerbread Play Dough
- 2 cups flour
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
- Up to 1.5 cups boiling water (adding in increments until it feels just right)
- few drops glycerine
- 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp. ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp. ground cloves
- 1 tbsp. ginger
Tools
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Kettle
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
- Cookie Cutters
Instructions
- Make each play dough in a separate bowl.
- Mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar, and spices for each in a large mixing bowl.
- Add food colouring and oil to the boiling water then into the dry ingredients. (Note: For the cranberry play dough add the cranberry juice to the boiling water.)
- Stir continuously until it becomes a sticky, cohesive dough and then add the glycerine.
- Fold the dough out onto a well-floured surface and allow it to cool slightly until your can knead it comfortably. (Don't burn your hands!)
- Knead it vigorously for a couple of minutes until all of the stickiness has gone - this can take up to four minutes, but start adding a bit of extra flour after two minutes if it is still a bit too sticky.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract, 1 fl oz
-
Ocean Spray Cranberry Cocktail Juice, 64 Fl Oz
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LorAnn Nutmeg Super StrengthNatural Flavor, 1 ounce botttle
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NOW Solutions, Vegetable Glycerin, 100% Pure, Versatile Skin Care, Softening and Moisturizing, 16-Ounce
-
LorAnn Oils Emulsion, Rum, 4 Ounce
-
Winter Cookie Cutter Set of 3 by GSA
-
Carl & Kay 348 Pipe Cleaners [Bonus: 48 Googly Eyes] in a Zipper Storage Bag, Chenille Stems in 29 Colors for DIY Art, Creative Kid’s Gift, Assorted Fuzzy Craft Sticks, Children’s Craft Supplies
-
Premium 300 PCS 1 Inch Assorted Pom Poms, Craft Pom Pom Balls, Colorful Pompoms for DIY Creative Crafts Decorations, Kids Craft Project, Home Party Holiday Decorations
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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
Check out these other fun Christmas busy bag ideas from my fellow kids’ activity bloggers:
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
Christmas Tree Counting Fine Motor Activity // Sugar Aunts
Fine Motor and Color Sorting Christmas Trees // Teach Me Mommy
Christmas I Spy Bottle // The Pleasantest Thing
Christmas Tree Counting Number Cards // Modern Preschool
Christmas Playdough Kit // Study At Home Mama
Reusable Pom Pom Christmas Tree Busy Bag // Powerful Mothering
Free Gingerbread CVC Game // The Kindergarten Connection
DIY Christmas Tic Tac Toe // Adventures of Adam
Free Christmas Number Clip Cards // Fairy Poppins
Free Christmas Themed Prewriting Practice Cards // Stay At Home Educator
Felt Christmas Tree Number Match Up // Frogs Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
Christmas Stocking Matching Activity // Play & Learn Everyday
Free Printable Holiday Word Clouds // Lalymom
Christmas Addition to 15 // Liz’s Early Learning Spot
Free Christmas Counting Cards // Playdough to Plato
Christmas Stamp Patterns // Still Playing School
Christmas Tree Decorating Felt Busy Bag // Coffee Cups and Crayons