Making clay is really easy and fun. Kids love to play with this pasta, so making it at home can be a wonderful way to strengthen the bond between parents and children. Among the ingredients in many recipes is cream of tartar, a leavening agent that can cause nausea, vomiting and even life-threatening illness if ingested in large quantities. However, there are many other recipes that, not contemplating the use of cream of tartar, do not involve risks in case a child were to ingest some pasta. Preparing them at home will be fun for the whole family.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Making Dough Without Baking
Step 1. Get the supplies
For this recipe you will need the following material:
- A large bowl for mixing the ingredients
- 240 ml of water
- 500 g of flour
- Two to four tablespoons of cooking oil
- 400 g of salt
- Five drops of food coloring
- Glitter (optional)
Step 2. Measure 240ml of water
Pour it into a large bowl, large enough to add and mix all the ingredients.
Step 3. Add the food coloring
You won't need much of it, but the more you use, the more vivid the clay color will be.
Step 4. Combine the dry ingredients
Mix the 500g of flour and 400g of salt in the bowl containing the water and food coloring.
Step 5. Add cooking oil
It is a key ingredient in this recipe, as it keeps the clay soft and malleable. Start with two or four tablespoons, as indicated in the material list, but if the dough feels crumbly or starts to dry, don't hesitate to add a little more.
Step 6. Merge the glitter (optional)
If you add the glitter, pour in generous amounts and mix well to blend them evenly into the mixture.
If you use glitter, supervise children when they play with clay to prevent them from ingesting it
Step 7. Knead
Work with your hands until you form a soft paste with a uniform consistency.
At this point, if the dough is dry or crumbly, consider adding a tablespoon or two of cooking oil
Step 8. Store the plasticine properly
When not in use, seal it tightly, using a plastic food bag or container. They will keep the dough soft and malleable.
Part 2 of 4: Making Dough with Edible Ingredients Without Baking
Step 1. Get the supplies
For this recipe you will need the following material:
- A large vessel
- 75 g of corn syrup
- 115 g of margarine or melted soy butter
- A few drops of vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
- Five drops of food coloring
Step 2. Mix the ingredients
Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Add the food coloring last, once you have the right consistency of the paste.
Step 3. Pour in the food coloring
Knead until the dye is evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Step 4. Store the play dough when not in use
Close it tightly, using a plastic food bag or container.
Part 3 of 4: Making Dough with Baking Process
Step 1. Get the supplies
For this recipe you will need the following material:
- A big dish
- 125 g of corn starch
- 450 g of baking soda
- 240 ml of water
- 0.5 ml of cooking oil
- Food coloring
Step 2. Combine the ingredients
Mix them thoroughly to make the dough as uniform as possible.
Step 3. Turn on the stove over medium heat
Put the dough on the stove keeping an eye on it so it doesn't burn. Stir as needed, until the mixture acquires a "velvety" consistency.
Step 4. Remove the dough from the heat
Transfer it to a plate and cover it with a clean, damp cloth until it cools.
Step 5. Knead
Once it's cool enough to work with your hands, knead it to make it malleable.
Step 6. Store it properly
Once cooled, store the play dough in an airtight container when you're not using it. A plastic food bag or container will work fine.
Part 4 of 4: Adopt Some Variation
Step 1. Make an allergy-free dough
All these recipes can be adapted for children with allergies.
- Use a lactose-free substitute in place of margarine.
- Use rice flour instead of the traditional white one in order not to trigger allergies or intolerances to wheat or gluten.
Step 2. Take action on the consistency
You can use other ingredients to change the composition of the dough. However, keep in mind that most substances, if ingested, can cause stomach pain, so it is best to avoid having children ingest a paste containing additives.
- Add 240ml conditioner to make the clay softer and more silky.
- Add 430g of clean sand to make it more modelable and easier to sculpt.
Step 3. Add some perfume
Another simple variation is to incorporate a fragrance. However, do not forget that, when you intervene on the composition of the dough, some perfumed substances could cause stomach pain and make the pasta inedible.
- Add 25g of cocoa powder and 50ml of chocolate essence to make a chocolate-scented paste.
- Add 50ml vanilla essence if you want the play dough to smell like vanilla.
- Add 80 g of blueberry jam and 125 grams of chopped blueberries to give the paste the scent of blueberries.
- Add 50ml of strawberry essence to give the mixture the strawberry flavor.
- Add 50ml of peppermint essence to a pile of red or green plasticine if you want it to look and smell like candy.
Advice
- To store any type of play dough once you're done playing, wrap it in plastic wrap or put it in a plastic bag or food container so it doesn't dry out. Plus, you can store it in the fridge to make it last longer.
- If you have trouble getting some ingredients, you can also make play dough by mixing two parts of cornstarch and one part of conditioner. Just mix them in a bowl and knead.
