Kids will love these 3 colorful scented St. Patrick’s Day playdough recipes! They’re easy to make with simple kitchen ingredients!

St. Patrick’s Day Play Dough

Homemade playdough is a favorite in our house…we make different recipes for all the holidays and occasions, like our Christmas playdough.

St. Patrick’s Day is on the way, so of course I had to whip up some new themed recipes for the season! Our family does have Irish heritage, but really anyone can enjoy these festive, colorful homemade doughs. They’re scented and smell deliciously fruity — they’d be perfect for preschool play and working on fine motor skills.

We made three different St. Patrick’s Day themed playdough recipes: dark green (lime), bright green (sour apple), and gold (lemon). They looks amazing together, but you could also choose your favorite color to make if you just want one batch.

This recipe is based on my favorite microwave playdough recipe. This is my go-to homemade play dough because it doesn’t require the stove top and you can mix and cook the playdough in about 5 minutes total!

We also added some festive elements, like gold coins and a “pot of gold” for playtime fun. I’ll tell you more about those and link to some of the products we used later in the post.

Let’s play!

Ingredients and Supplies Needed

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

Dark Green Playdough

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2/3 cup water
1 packet lime sugar free jello
2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoons cornstarch
Green food coloring, if needed

Bright Green Playdough

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2/3 cup water
1 packet sour apple sugar free jello
2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoons cornstarch

Gold Playdough

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2/3 cup water
1 packet lemon sugar free jello
2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions

The instructions will be the same no matter which color(s) you’re making. Be sure to mix up each batch separately in a clean mixing bowl.

Add all ingredients to a microwave safe bowl,
Stir well to combine. If using food coloring, stir it in now.
Microwave for 1 minute, stir, and microwave for 30 more seconds.
Allow dough to cool so it is safe enough to handle, then finish kneading by hand.

Safety Note: Always use a microwave-safe bowl and handle the bowl with care during microwaving, as bowl may become hot. Make sure that the dough is cool enough to safely touch before kneading by hand.

Prep Tips

If after microwaving the full 90 seconds, the playdough mixture is still a bit runny, heat in 15 second intervals until it thickens up. Keep in mind that the dough will also thicken up as it cools, so you don’t want to overcook.
We used sugar free gelatin for our playdough because it is less sticky than using regular jello.
While this playdough is non-toxic and taste-safe, it’s not meant to be consumed as a food item. Always supervise kids while making and playing with this homemade dough.

St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Play Ideas

Try adding some of these fun elements to your St. Patrick’s Day sensory activity:

Plastic cauldron or “pot of gold” (we found this cute green plastic cauldron on Amazon that was just the right size!)
Shamrock sprinkles
Chocolate gold coins
Shamrock cookie cutters
Playdough mats or play dough tray (our kids love these silicone craft mats…they contain the mess and are easy to wash and roll up when you’re done playing!)

How to Store Homemade Play Dough

To keep your playdough as clean as possible, always wash hands before playing. Playing on a clean surface or play dough mats also helps prevent getting the dough dirty and makes it last longer.

To store, place the playdough in an airtight container or ziplock bag. We keep ours in the fridge because it helps it last even longer, sometimes weeks at a time! Before storing, toss any bits of the playdough that are visibly dirty.

To clean up, simply wipe down surfaces with warm, slightly soapy water. Always wash hands with soap and water after playing.

More St. Patrick’s Day Crafts For Kids

St. Patrick’s Day Playdough Recipes (Printable Recipe Card)

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stack of dark green, light green, and yellow balls of playdough with gold coin on top, for St. Patrick's Day

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St. Patrick's Day Playdough (3 Scented Recipes)

Kids will love these 3 colorful scented St. Patrick's Day playdough recipes! They're easy to make with simple kitchen ingredients!

Prep Time10

Cook Time2

Total Time12

Keyword: kids activities, kids crafts, play dough, sensory play, St. Patrick's Day

Author: Stacey aka the Soccer Mom

Cost: $10

Equipment

microwave safe bowl