Y’all, the weather is changing and I’m dreaming of all things apple! In celebration of cooler weather and delicious desserts, I whipped up a batch of Apple Pie Play Dough. Wanna play?
Unlike the other play dough recipes I’ve shared so far, this Apple Pie Scented Play Dough does require just a little bit of cooking. But don’t let that deter you from making it. It’s a much heartier play dough and will last much longer than most others play dough recipes.
Note: It’s recommended that adults make this play dough since it does require cooking.
Apple Pie Playdough
I’ve made lots of play dough recipes over the years and this play dough recipe is hands down the best homemade play dough yet. It produces a perfect dough each and every time, even if you don’t get the measurements absolutely perfect.
And with the addition of the apple pie spice, y’all, this play dough smells delightful.
Play Dough Sensory Play
Play dough is a popular sensory activity with kids and there’s good reason why. It’s fun to play with, but making your own play dough adds to an already fun activity (as long as there is adult supervision).
This homemade play dough recipe does require the use of the stove, but only for a very short time. If you’ve never made play dough before, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how quickly you can whip up a batch or two. I’m talking 5 minutes or less!
This Apple Pie Play Dough recipe makes a pretty big batch of play dough. If you want, feel free to halve the recipe if you don’t want one big batch of the same color. If you like having bigger batches, I recommend making a few so that you have multiple colors to play with.
Granny Smith apples, anyone?
Apple Pie Play Dough Ingredients
Homemade Play Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- red food coloring
- 1 cup flour
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar – If you plan on making more batches of homemade play dough, I recommend buying a bigger bottle of cream of tartar to save money. Those little jars at the grocery store are super small and will only last for a few batches.
- 1/3 cup salt
- 1 tsp apple pie spice
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
How to Make Apple Pie Play Dough
There is a printable tutorial available at the bottom of this post.
In a measuring cup, add red food coloring to water and stir to combine. The amount of food coloring to use is totally up to you. The brightness will depend on the kind of food coloring you use. I love Wilton’s Color Right coloring and that’s what I used for this play dough recipe. Set aside.
In a large bowl, pour in flour, cream of tartar, and salt and then stir to combine.
In a 2 quart saucepan, pour in the dry ingredients, followed by the oil, and then the water. Stir really well to make sure all the ingredients are mixed together. Keep stirring until most of the lumps are gone. If a few lumps remain, it’s okay. You’ll be able to work them out later.
By the way, I love this portable cooktop pictured in the video I shared above. I use it when I need an extra burner when cooking, but I also like using it when we’re making play dough because we don’t have to be standing at the stove. We can be sitting at the table making and playing all together.
Turn the burner on low to medium heat and stir without stopping. As you stir you will notice the dough getting thicker and lumpy again. Keep stirring until the dough starts to stick to whatever you are stirring with. Once it sticks together like one big blob, you know it’s done. See the video for a visual.
Remove the play dough from the pan and turn onto a flat surface lined with wax or parchment paper to cool.
Once the play dough is cooled and comfortable to the touch, knead the play dough for a couple of minutes to work out any of the remaining lumps.
How to Store Homemade Play Dough
The key to keeping your homemade play dough in playable condition is to store it in an airtight container. It really can be anything that doesn’t allow air in or out.
How I store my play dough is dependent on what I have at home. Sometimes I store it in plastic baggies, sometimes I store it in plastic containers, and sometimes I store it in glass containers. It really just depends on what is within reach and available.
Obviously some ways of storing play dough are prettier than others and it’s basically just however you want to store it. I love storing it in those little glass jars you can get from the Dollar Spot at Target. Or if you catch Hobby Lobby on a 50% off glass sale you can score some pretty cute glass jars really cheap.
Note: If at any time your homemade play dough becomes dry, add a little bit of water and work it in to the mixture.
Play Dough Play Tips
There really isn’t a right or wrong way to play with homemade play dough. I’m all about imaginative play so we like playing with different kinds of tools, molds, stamps, etc. For this play dough recipe we used cinnamon sticks and green pipe cleaners to make apples.
If you don’t have play tools, using different things from your kitchen works just as well. But if you’re on the hunt for some play dough play tools, this set includes 44 pieces and is a good assortment of tools.
The possibilities are endless when playing with homemade play dough. Make sure you pin this to your favorite Pinterest board so that you won’t lose this perfect play dough recipe.
If you loved this play dough recipe, then you’ll really love these:
- Chocolate Play Dough
- Marshmallow Play Dough
- Pudding Play Dough
- 3 Ingredient Play Dough
- Pumpkin Pie Play Dough
- Homemade Latte Play Dough
- Homemade Play Dough Recipe
- Edible Jello Play Dough
Apple Pie Play Dough Recipe
Apple Pie Play Dough
Celebrate the scents of the season with this fun to play with Apple Pie Play Dough
Materials
- 1 cup water
- red food coloring
- 1 cup flour
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1/3 cup salt
- 1 tsp apple pie spice
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Tools
- 2 quart saucepan
Instructions
- In a measuring cup, add red food coloring to water and stir to combine. The amount you use is totally up to you. The brightness will depend on the kind of food coloring you use. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, pour in flour, cream of tartar, and salt and then stir to combine.
- In a 2 quart saucepan, pour in the dry ingredients, followed by the oil, and then the water. Stir really well to make sure all the ingredients are mixed together. Keep stirring until most of the lumps are gone. If a few lumps remain, it’s okay. You’ll be able to work them out later.
- Turn the burner on low to medium heat and stir without stopping. As you stir you will notice the dough getting thicker and lumpy again. Keep stirring until the dough starts to stick to whatever you are stirring with. Once it sticks together like one big blob, you know it’s done. See the video for a visual.
- Remove the play dough from the pan and turn onto a flat surface lined with wax or parchment paper to cool.
- Once the play dough is cooled and comfortable to the touch, knead the play dough for a couple of minutes to work out any of the remaining lumps.
Debra says
Wondering how big of a batch this makes? Considering making for a pre k class.
Crystal says
Hi Debra,
This recipe makes enough for two apple-sized balls. To make some for an entire class, you will definitely need more than one batch. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks!