Edible Pudding Play Dough – Only 3 Ingredients!
A soothing cross between slime and play dough, this pudding slime recipe is made with just 3 simple ingredients and smells almost good enough to eat! (And it’s taste-safe!) Our most popular edible slime of ALL time!
Pudding Playdough
If you’re searching for a boredom buster or rainy day activity for the kids that will make you look like a total hero…this is it!!
This pudding playdough is the best of both worlds — it stretches and pulls like slime, but still molds and holds its shape like classic playdough. It’s soft, squishy, and ridiculously fun to play with (don’t be surprised if you catch yourself messing with it too).
What makes this recipe even better is how simple it is. You only need 3 basic kitchen ingredients to whip it up in minutes, and since it’s made with pantry staples, it’s taste-safe for little ones who are still in that “everything goes in my mouth” stage. No stress, no complicated steps…just easy, hands-on fun!
This is my most viral slime/playdough recipe ever, and once you try it, you’ll see why! It’s the kind of activity that keeps kids busy, sparks creativity, and gives you a few quiet minutes…which honestly might be the real win here!
Pudding Playdough Ingredients
This recipe rocks because you only need 3 simple ingredients that you might already have in your kitchen! I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience; read our disclosure policy here.
- 1/4 cup instant pudding mix
- 1 cup corn starch
- 1/3 cup warm water
Tip: If your kids love making edible slime or playdough, stock up on corn starch! It’s one of the base ingredients we use ALL the time!
(Keep reading for full photo step-by-step instructions and slime making tips!)
How to make Pudding Playdough
- Add instant pudding mix and half of your cornstarch to a mixing bowl.
- Add 1/3 cup water and stir until dough begins to form (it will be pretty sticky at this point).
- Slowly add the rest of your cornstarch, stirring as you go.
- When dough thickens and is hard to stir with a spoon, finish kneading by hand.
Video Demo:
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my pudding dough is too sticky?
Making slime and playdough isn’t an exact science, and sometimes I need to add a bit more water if the mixture is too dry, or a bit more cornstarch if it is sticky.
I’d compare it to making bread — sometimes you need to keep working on it until you have the perfect consistency. It usually takes us about 3-5 minutes to get just the right texture.
Keep in mind that this edible pudding slime won’t behave exactly like stretchy glue/borax slime, as they have different properties and react differently. However, I feel that safety aspect of an edible slime is well worth the trade, especially with younger children.
Can my kids really eat pudding slime?
While this recipe is technically edible, it’s not meant to be consumed as food or a snack. The goal here was to make a non-toxic slime dough that wouldn’t be harmful if kids tasted it or stuck their fingers in their mouth (as kids do).
Also, though our pudding dough smells amazing, it doesn’t actually taste that great. That’s because a large portion of the recipe is cornstarch, which on it’s own tastes pretty yucky. That was intentional, so kids don’t want to eat it once they taste it.
Always supervise kids when playing with slime or playdough, even taste-safe slime.
Read this next: How to Make Slime Safely
How Long Does Pudding Playdough Last?
Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge. When you want to play with it again, you may need to re-hydrate by working a little water into it.
Since this recipe is made with food ingredients, it won’t stay fresh for as long as traditional glue-based slimes or store-bought playdough.
To extend the life of your pudding dough, always wash hands before playing. Discard any dough that ends up on the floor or appears dirty.
Before re-using, always check for signs of mold. Discard immediately if dough appears old or moldy. We recommend tossing it after 1-2 uses to be on the safe side.
To clean up, simply wash hands with soap and water. Clean your play area with a wet cloth or sponge and soapy water. The slime should wash away fairly easily since it’s just food ingredients.
More Edible Homemade Playdough Recipes:
Edible Pudding Playdough Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)
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Edible Pudding Play Dough – Only 3 Ingredients!
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup instant pudding mix any flavor
- 1 cup corn starch
- 1/3 cup warm water
Instructions
- Add instant pudding mix and half of your cornstarch to a mixing bowl. Add 1/3 cup water and stir until dough begins to form.
- Slowly add the rest of your cornstarch, stirring as you go.
- When dough becomes difficult to stir with a spoon, finish mixing by hand.
- If the mixture is still sticky, add more cornstarch. If dough is too thick, add more liquid – until you have the perfect texture.
Video
Notes
- Texture Fix: Add more cornstarch if sticky or a little water if too dry; knead 3–5 minutes to reach the right consistency.
- SAFETY: While this recipe is made with edible ingredients, it is not meant to be eaten as a food item (cornstarch keeps it from tasting good). Always supervise kids when making or playing with playdough.
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge; rehydrate with a little water before reuse.
- Shelf Life: Best for 1–2 uses; discard if dirty or any signs of mold.
- Cleanup: Wash hands and surfaces with warm soapy water.
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Sticks to EVERYTHING. Did it twice and followed EXACT measurements. Even had my sister try it, it sticks to everything it comes in contact with. But if definitely is edible.
We tried this over the weekend and it was a huge hit. Our kids spent hours playing with their pudding slime! Will be doing this again soon.
Awesome! So glad the kids loved it!
Unfortunately, eating raw cornstarch is not recommended. It can cause a sudden spike in blood sugar due to its high glycemic index. Other options include all-purpose flour, potato starch, rice flour, tapioca starch, and arrowroot powder.
As noted in the recipe tips, this is not intended to be served as food. It is simply meant to be non-toxic alternative to slimes that are often made with borax, etc.
I can’t seem to find the balance between too much water and not enough. It’s either dry, crumbly play dough or very sticky to little hands. Any advice?
It’s always going to be a little bit sticky – I tend to err more on the stretchy side vs. the dry side because as you said, it’s gets crumbly when it’s too dry. One thing that can help prevent the slime from sticking to hands as much is to coat the hands in coconut oil (or another cooking oil) before playing.
This pudding play-doh/slime/whatever was a total fail. It never got NOT sticky. And in fact, it turned to the stickiest GLUE that ever was! And I teach Deaf kids so trying to sign with my hands completely covered in yellow goo was disastrous!! And I stupidly let them feel it/play with it just before realizing it was never going to work out so we were all COVERED. And it was wicked hard to wash off. Like BAD.
WHAT WENT WRONG???
I keep adding cornstarch until it’s no longer too sticky. What kind of pudding mix did you use? Was it instant pudding?