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Home » Kids Activities » Kids Crafts » Christmas Scented Playdough

November 22, 2021 · 2 Comments

Christmas Scented Playdough

Holiday Fun for Families· Kids Activities· Kids Crafts

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Get into the holiday spirit with these 3 fabulously festive scented Christmas playdough recipes! Learn how to make peppermint playdough, Christmas tree playdough, and gingerbread playdough!

 

Christmas Scented Playdough (3 Recipes)

These holiday play dough recipes are based on my favorite fragrances of the season! I started with my favorite microwave play dough recipe — which only takes 2 minutes to make — and added a few festive ingredients.

In this post I’ll show you how to make:

  • Peppermint/Candy Cane Playdough
  • Christmas Tree Playdough
  • Gingerbread Playdough

All of these are easy to make, non-toxic, and perfect for hours of safe sensory play for kids!

ball of peppermint playdough with mint on top

For your convenience in creating this easy play dough recipe, we’ve included shop-able ad links to some of the products used; disclosure policy available here.

Peppermint Playdough

This wintery peppermint play dough smells just like a candy cane!

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • ⅔ cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • red food coloring

Directions: Add all ingredients (except food coloring) to a microwave safe mixing bowl. Stir well to combine.

adding red food coloring to homemade playdough

Add 2-3 drops of food coloring and stir until the dough is evenly colored. Add more food coloring as needed, a couple drops at a time. You can always add more, but if you use too much from the start, the dough could be too dark and more likely to stain, especially in “warm colors” like red, orange, etc.

Microwave for 1 minute, stir, then microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Finish kneading by hand.

green pine tree scented play dough

Christmas Tree Playdough

If you love the smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree, then you’ll love this pine tree play dough!

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • ⅔ cup water
  • 2 drops balsam fir essential oil*
  • 2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • green food coloring

Directions: Add all ingredients (except food coloring) to a microwave safe mixing bowl. Stir well to combine.

Add 2-3 drops of food coloring and stir until the dough is evenly colored. Add more food coloring as needed, a couple drops at a time.

Microwave for 1 minute, stir, then microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Finish kneading by hand.

step by step photo collage showing how to make pine tree scented playdough

*Safety Note About Essential Oils: Balsam fir oil is generally considered safe. I highly recommend purchasing your essential oils from a trusted brand with known quality standards. As with any essential oils, perfumed soaps, lotions, etc. skin sensitivity is possible in some individuals. Always supervise children with essential oils.

ball of gingerbread scented playdough

Gingerbread Playdough

Nothing smells better than a batch of gingerbread cookies baking in the oven, and this play dough perfectly recreates that!

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • ⅔ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 Tablespoons cornstarch
  • brown food coloring (optional)

Directions: Add all ingredients (except food coloring) to a microwave safe mixing bowl. Stir well to combine.

mixing spices to make homemade gingerbread playdough

Even without the addition of food coloring, the spices will make this gingerbread playdough a warm brown color. If you’d like a richer shade of brown, you may choose to add a bit of food coloring. Start with 2-3 drops and add more as desired.

Microwave for 1 minute, stir, then microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Finish kneading by hand.

Stir well, then finish kneading by hand until dough is smooth. (Make sure it is cool enough to handle first.

cutting a gingerbread man out of playdough

Ways to Play

There’s no “right” way to use play dough, but these are great for making pretend Christmas cookies! We love to grab some of our favorite cookie cutters and add sprinkles!

cutting our a Christmas tree cookie from playdough

Why Put Cream of Tartar in Playdough?

You’ll notice that we use cream of tartar in our holiday play dough recipes. Here’s why:

  • In addition to the salt, cream of tartar acts as a preservative, helping your homemade play dough last longer. When stored in the fridge, homemade play dough can often last for weeks!
  • Cream of tartar also helps create a super soft and stretchy texture, so they dough is less likely to crumble and break apart.

What Can I Use Instead of Cream of Tartar?

If you don’t have cream of tartar at home, try one of these simple substitutes:

  • 2 Tablespoons white vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, strained first to remove the pulp

How to Store Homemade Playdough

Because the salt in this recipe acts as a preservative, your homemade playdough can last for weeks if you take care of it! We keep ours in a zip-top plastic bag or a sealed storage container with a lid.

To keep your playdough cleaner longer, always wash hands before playing with it.

If the dough ever starts to look dirty or smell weird, toss it and make a new batch!

What if My Playdough Starts to Dry Out?

Hey, it happens! As play dough is exposed to air, it will begin to lose a bit of its moisture.

To rehydrate your playdough, simply knead a little water in your dough until you have the texture you like.

Keep in mind that if your dough has completely dried out, it might not be usable again.

Get Our NEW Playdough Recipe E-Book

NEW!! Now you can get our most popular homemade play dough recipes in one convenient printable ebook!

homemade play dough recipe ebook

In our homemade play dough recipe book, you’ll find everything from seasonal play dough, to edible play dough made with taste-safe ingredients.

There are 10 unique play dough recipes that you can make with simple ingredients you probably already have at home!

  • Click here to get the Homemade Play Dough Recipe bundle! (Pssst…Save 20% on your first order with code 20NEW at checkout!)

Christmas Playdough (Printable Recipe Card)

3 colors of Christmas playdough
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Christmas Playdough (3 Scented Recipes)

Get into the holiday spirit with these 3 fabulously festive scented Christmas playdough recipes! Learn how to make peppermint playdough, Christmas tree playdough, and gingerbread playdough!
Keyword: Christmas, play dough, sensory play
Servings: 3 recipes
Author: Stacey aka the Soccer Mom
Cost: $10

Equipment

  • Microwave
  • Microwave safe bowls

Ingredients

Peppermint Playdough

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • ⅔ cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • 2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
  • 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
  • 2 Tablespoons oil
  • 2-3 drops red food coloring

Christmas Tree Playdough

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • ⅔ cup water
  • 2 drops balsam fir essential oil
  • 2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 Tablespoons oil
  • 2-3 drops green food coloring

Gingerbread Playdough

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • ⅔ cup water
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
  • 2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
  • 2 Tablespoons oil
  • 2-3 drops brown food coloring optional

Instructions

Directions

  • Add all ingredients (except food coloring) to a microwave safe mixing bowl. Stir well to combine.
  • Add 2-3 drops of food coloring and stir until the dough is evenly colored. Add more food coloring as needed, a couple drops at a time.
  • Microwave for 1 minute and stir. Microwave an additional 30 seconds and stir again. If needed, continue microwaving in 15-20 second intervals until dough begins to form and pull away from sides of the container (or is no longer soupy).
  • Stir well, then finish kneading by hand until dough is smooth. (Make sure it is cool enough to handle first.

Video

Pin our Christmas Playdough Recipes on Pinterest:

3 different Christmas playdoughs

You might also like:

3 different scented fall playdough recipes

Fall Playdough (3 Recipes)

Just in time for Christmas — edible candy cane slime that smells and tastes like the real thing! Click for video tutorial & step-by-step recipe instructions

Edible Candy Cane Slime

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Stacey aka the Soccer Mom
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom
Stacey is the creator of The Soccer Mom Blog, a Houston Texas mom blog that focuses on positive living for women and families. She loves to share real food recipes, money-saving tips, parenting encouragement, kids activities, DIY tutorials, home hacks, fitness, and so much more! To get to know Stacey even better, click here.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom
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Comments

  1. T says

    November 22, 2021 at 7:52 pm

    Does this need to be stored in the fridge because of the apple sauce?

    Reply
    • Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says

      November 22, 2021 at 10:57 pm

      Oh gosh! That was a typo! The playdough will turn out fine with applesauce, but it is not necessary. (I used it for my fall playdough). If you already made it and DID use the applesauce, then yes, refrigeration is best. Otherwise it’s not necessary to store in the fridge.

      Reply

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