Our Thermomix Playdough recipe is absolutely foolproof! It's quick and easy to make, plus it lasts for ages. Choose your kids favourite colours, add glitter or a scent with essential oils... the choice is yours! Plus making playdough is a great activity to do with the kids.
Before food blogging, I was a primary school teacher. During my teaching years, I made a LOT of playdough!
At the beginning (before I owned a Thermomix), I would always make my playdough the good old conventional way on the stovetop.
But then my Thermomix came along and I've never looked back.
Not only is the texture of cooked playdough so much better in the Thermomix, there's also less mess and washing up to do afterwards.
What You Need
To make playdough in your Thermomix, you'll need:
- salt - there's no need to use sea salt in this recipe. Just cheap table salt will work perfectly. The salt acts as a preservative, ensuring that your playdough lasts for weeks, even months.
- water
- cream of tartar - ever wondered what the secret is behind super soft playdough? It's cream of tartar! If you haven't bought this ingredient before, you can find it in the baking section of the supermarket next to the gelatine powder.
- plain flour - also referred to as all-purpose flour.
- oil - choose any oil you like. I generally use vegetable or coconut oil but olive oil is fine too.
- food colouring - choose your little one's favourite colours and add a drop or two to the mixture.
- glitter and essential oils (optional) - if you'd like sparkly and perfumed playdough, add a sprinkle of glitter and a few drops of essential oils as the same time as the food colouring.
Step By Step Instructions
It couldn't be easier to make playdough in your Thermomix!
Step 1 - Grind The Salt
Place the salt into the Thermomix and mix until it resembles a fine powder. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Step 2 - Add The Water & Cream Of Tartar
Add the water and the cream of tartar to the Thermomix bowl. Cook according to the recipe card instructions below. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
Step 3 - Add The Flour & Oil
Mix together and then knead on Interval/Kneading function.
Step 4 - Add The Colouring
If you're making just one colour of playdough, then you can add the food colouring directly to the Thermomix bowl and mix it through on Interval/Kneading function.
If you would like several colours, remove the playdough from the Thermomix bowl and divide into seperate bowls or containers. Add the food colouring and knead through with your hands.
If you would like to add glitter or essential oils, do so with the food colouring.
Expert Tips
This recipe can be easily doubled in your Thermomix. The think you'll need to change is that the kneading time may need to be increased.
If you're making several colours of playdough and mixing the colour through by hand, ensure you wear gloves as the food colouring will stick to your hands. This is not necessary if you're just making one colour and mixing it in the Thermomix.
Store the playdough in sealable plastic bags (like Glad bags) at room temperature for up to 3 months.
Add a sprinkle of glitter and a few drops of essential oils along with the food colouring for sparkly and scented playdough.
More Kids Thermomix Recipes
You kids are going to LOVE our most popular kids recipes that can be made in a Thermomix. Here's our Top 5:
- Chocolate Coconut Balls - made with sweetened condensed milk and crushed biscuits, these are always a favourite.
- Jelly Slice - a bakery classic couldn't be easier to make in your Thermomix.
- Chocolate Chip Biscuits - fill up the biscuit jar with our good old fashioned choc chip bikkies.
- ANZAC Slice - this simple slice takes just a few minutes to prepare and is perfect for school lunchboxes.
- Banana Smoothie - a great after school treat! This healthy smoothie tastes great.
Thermomix Kids Cookbooks
For more great lunch box recipes, check out our Thermomix Lunch Box Bundle of hardcopy cookbooks!
The bundle includes:
- Thermomix Lunch Box
- Thermomix Kids Snacks Volume 1
- Thermomix Kids Snacks Volume 2
Thermomix Playdough
Equipment
- Thermomix
Ingredients
- 110 g salt
- 250 g water
- 1 tbs cream of tartar
- 250 g plain flour
- 1 tbs oil (coconut, vegetable etc are all fine)
- food colouring
- glitter and essential oils (optional)
Instructions
- Place the salt into the TM bowl and mix on Speed 10 for 5 seconds.
- Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the water and cream of tartar and cook for 5 minutes, 60 degrees, Speed 3.
- Leave to cool for 5 minutes.
- Add the plain flour and the oil and mix together for 50 seconds, Speed 4.
- Knead for 1 minute on Interval Speed.
- Check the texture and if it's a little sticky, add some more flour and knead for a further 30 seconds.
- Separate the playdough into several bowls if making different colours (if you're only making one colour, leave the playdough in the Thermomix, add 1-2 drops of food colouring and mix on Interval/Kneading Function for 1-2 minutes).
- In the bowls of playdough, add 1 tiny drop of food colouring (and a sprinkle of glitter - optional) to each bowl and mix together with your hands until the colour is evenly dispersed (wear gloves!).
- Store the playdough in sealable plastic bags at room temperature for up to 3 months.
Tahnee says
This is the best playdough recipe!! The perfect consistency and so easy to make in the thermo. Thanks ladies for another great recipe xx
Leanne says
Super easy, lovely consistency.
I used coconut oil - so it smells pretty without adding essential oils!
I also added the colour (much more than a drop, to get a vibrant colour) when I put the water in.
Trina says
One of the best consistency play doughs I’ve made! And super easy in the Thermomix.
Lucy says
Yay! I'm so glad!
Toni says
I doubled the recipe. Had to add heaps of extra Flour. Now I have a dough that coates to the hands even though it’s much thicker. Any suggestions
Kylie says
Lovely recipe, we make it quite often and it lasts forever in the fridge. My son loves helping to make it too. We add the colour with the water if we are only doing a single colour. Thanks so much!
Cindy says
Hi, any reason why need to put cream of tartar? Or can I replace it with other ingredients? Thanks.
Lucy says
It just helps to preserve the playdough longer and helps with elasticity.
Narelle says
Brilliant recipe so quick and easy.
I did add colour with water and didn’t wait for it to cool for 5 lol
Georgie says
Hi! Could you please tell me how long this would last for? Thank you
Lucy Mathieson says
Hi Georgie, I find that if you store it in an airtight container in the fridge it lasts a good month. xx
georgia says
great dough. very soft. my daughter loved being involved in the preparation and, of course, playing.
Lucy says
Fantastic!!!!
Kylie says
Great recipe, thanks! I did need to add a bit more flour. I also added colour at the flour and oil stage as I just wanted one colour.
Lovely consistency.
Sheree Brown says
Gamer changer! I am a teacher and this has revolutionised my life!
I didn't wait the 5 mins and added the flour right away. I didn't need the extra kneed either!
Thanks xxxx
Lucy says
Yay! That's so great!