This homemade slow cooker play dough recipe is super easy and creates the most fabulously soft, smooth sensory dough ever! It will be your new go-to recipe!
Slow Cooker Play Dough
Growing up one of my favorite things in the whole world was when my mom would take me to the teacher supply store and I could pick out a little tub of homemade play dough.
I can still remember the smell of the play dough and how smooth it felt to smush it for the very first time!
The girls and I make lots of homemade slime recipes and while we’ve tried a few fun edible slimes and play dough recipes before, we’ve never made classic play dough.
If you like play dough, be sure to check out our Homemade Play Dough Recipes Ebook!
Then a couple months ago I saw a photo on Facebook of play dough in the crockpot, and I had no idea you could do that!
My middle daughter is five years old, so I thought making our play dough in the slow cooker would not only be fun, but a  safer way to cook it.
So I gathered up my supplies and got to experimenting with my own recipe. I wanted to make it extra soft and smell-good!
You guys…this is seriously the BEST play dough recipe ever!! I can’t even believe how amazing it turned out!!
Why Make Play Dough in the Crockpot?
Since I’ve posted this play dough recipe, a few readers have asked why didn’t we just make it on the stovetop?
Here’s why we I think slow cooker play dough is the BEST play dough recipe:
- It turned out PERFECT — Our crockpot play dough was smooth, soft, the perfect consistency. It smells ahhhh-mazing!! The colors are so vibrant!! And it’s lasted for two weeks now (we keep it in an airtight container).
- It’s SUPER easy — The best part about this slow cooker play dough is that it is pretty much foolproof. Seriously, this is such an easy play dough recipe…just mix, cover, and go!
- Kids can help make it — Since stove top methods involve an open flame or hot burner, I like the crockpot play dough method because it’s safer for kids to help cook.
Oh, and I almost forgot to mention – you can make play dough in the crockpot TWO different ways! I’ll show you both below, plus I’ll share a video so you can see exactly how we did it!
Don’t Have a Slow Cooker?
- For a traditional stove top recipe, this one from my friend Kim at The Best Ideas for Kids is great!
- You can also make play dough in the microwave with our super fast microwave play dough recipe!
Homemade Play Dough Ingredients
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.
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 3 Tablespoons cream of tartar
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 cups warm water
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional – we used this because it makes the dough smell fantastic!)
- Food coloring of your choice – we use gel food coloring because it creates such rich, vibrant colors!
PS – I love my Pioneer Woman slow cooker – it is absolutely gorgeous and a great value!
Here’s the video tutorial (click to play):
Slow Cooker Play Dough Recipe #1 (all one color)
Add dry ingredients to slow cooker, followed by the wet ingredients. Stir until well combined.
Add a few drops of your favorite food coloring and stir until you have your desired shade.
Cover and cook on high for 1 hour.
Remove lid and stir play dough until you have an even consistency. Scoop the dough out of your slow cooker and it is ready to play!
Caution: Play dough will be hot when you remove from the slow cooker, so allow it to cool before playing.
Slow Cooker Play Dough Recipe #2 (multiple colors)
Add dry ingredients to slow cooker, followed by the wet ingredients and stir until everything is well incorporated.
Cover and cook on high for 1 hour.
Remove lid and stir play dough until you have an even consistency. Scoop the dough out of your slow cooker and divide evenly into as the number of portions that corresponds to the number of different colors you want to make.
Add a few drops of food coloring to each portion, kneading with a spoon first (to avoid staining hands). Once colors starts to mix into the dough, finish kneading by hand.
If needed, add more coloring until you have your desired shade.
Repeat for each color you’d like to make.
Caution: Play dough will be hot when you remove from the slow cooker, so allow it to cool before playing.
How to Store Homemade Play Dough
Your homemade play dough should last for a few weeks if you keep it in an airtight container. Washing hands before playing will keep the dough from getting as dirty and extend its life too.
ALL of our Favorite Play Dough Recipes in One Place!
NEW!! Now you can get all of our most popular homemade play dough recipes in one convenient printable 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!)
Slow Cooker Play Dough Recipe (Free Printable Copy)
Slow Cooker Play Dough Recipe - The Easiest Homemade Play Dough!
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 3 Tablespoons cream of tartar
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 cups warm water
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract optional
- Food coloring of your choice
Instructions
Slow Cooker Play Dough Recipe #1 (all one color)
- Add dry ingredients to slow cooker, followed by the wet ingredients. Stir until well combined.
- Add a few drops of your favorite food coloring and stir until you have your desired shade.
- Cover and cook on high for 1 hour.
- Remove lid and stir play dough until you have an even consistency. Scoop the dough out of your slow cooker and it is ready to play!
- Caution: Play dough will be hot when you remove from the slow cooker, so allow it to cool before playing.
Slow Cooker Play Dough Recipe #2 (multiple colors)
- Add dry ingredients to slow cooker, followed by the wet ingredients and stir until everything is well incorporated.
- Cover and cook on high for 1 hour.
- Remove lid and stir play dough until you have an even consistency. Scoop the dough out of your slow cooker and divide evenly into as the number of portions that corresponds to the number of different colors you want to make.
- Add a few drops of food coloring to each portion, kneading with a spoon first (to avoid staining hands). Once colors starts to mix into the dough, finish kneading by hand.
- If needed, add more coloring until you have your desired shade.
- Repeat for each color you'd like to make.
- Caution: Play dough will be hot when you remove from the slow cooker, so allow it to cool before playing.
Video
More of our favorite homemade play dough recipes:
Edible Ice Cream Play Dough – Only 2 Ingredients!
Edible Unicorn Poop Play Dough
- Santa’s Favorite Cookies - December 5, 2023
- “Mistletoe Margaritas” Christmas Margarita Recipe - November 30, 2023
- Peppermint Christmas Tree Craft - November 29, 2023
Sara says
Wow!! amazing! Thanx for recipe!
Emily says
Do you think the cream of tartar is critical? I want to make this today and that is the only ingredient I am missing…
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Cream of tartar helps make it a bit stretchier and acts as a preservative, so without it the dough might not last quite as long (our recipe lasts for months usually!) If you have lemon juice on hand, you can try adding a Tablespoon in place of the cream of tartar. If you try it let me know how it goes.
Jillian says
Mine is sticky any ways to fix?
Lisa says
Mine was also sticky and what worked for me was kneading it with gloves on and adding a couple tbsps of flour until it came together and was slightly cool. I then added my colour and kneaded it until the colour was incorporated. Then I wrapped it up and put it in the fridge. The stickiness was gone once I took it out of the fridge and it was fully cool.
Amy says
My dough came out so so so sticky. How can i fix it?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I would try kneading a bit more flour into it. Sometimes it can take 5-10 minutes of working with the dough to get it to the best consistency. But once you’ve got it, the dough should last for weeks!
Nikki says
Sticky is an understatement for what came out of mine.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
It is definitely sticky at first, but should firm up after you knead for a few minutes with your hands. We also made play dough in the microwave and that was even easier: https://thesoccermomblog.com/microwave-play-dough/ Hope this helps!
Ginger says
How many kids could I make a small portion for? I have 18 students so I need to know how many batches to make.
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
This makes a pretty big batch — probably enough for a golf-ball sized portion for each kid.
Jenn says
This dough lasts so long! I made it with 1/2 hot water and 1/2 apple cider and, not only did it smell delicious, it lasted for week over 4 weeks in my kindergarten room. The kids loved it!
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Yes! We made a batch one time that lasted for like 3 months! If you wash hands before you pay and keep it sealed, it can last a really long time! So glad you love the recipe!
Rita Neve says
Substitute baby oil for the veggie oil and it lasts even longer. Veggie oil can sometimes get rancid. Smells great too
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
Thanks for the tip! We used vegetable oil so it would be taste-safe for little kids, but baby oil could work for the older ages.
Patricia says
Is this safe if it gets eaten by your 2 year old?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
It’s non-toxic yes. I don’t recommend that they eat a lot of it (and they probably won’t because it doesn’t taste good), but it shouldn’t be harmful because the flour has been cooked.
Jayne Daily says
Can this recipe be baked to harden /preserve designs?
Stacey aka the Soccer Mom says
I haven’t tried, so I can’t say for sure!