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Gingerbread playdough recipe

gingerbread playdough recipe

It’s pretty obvious from the name of my blog that I love gingerbread. Mmmm, so many happy memories are associated with the very smell! My children adore playdough, it’s probably one of their top 3 favourite activities, so I thought I would make them some gingerbread playdough. We often make our own playdough as it’s cheap and lasts a long time. If you’re looking for ideas on how to play with playdough, take a look at our free printable gingerbread playdough mats.

gingerbread play dough recipe

This is my tried and tested no-cook playdough recipe:
150g plain flour
100g salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
200ml water

Easy gingerbread playdough recipe

I put all the ingredients into a bowl and mixed with a wooden spoon. When everything was mixed and very sticky I kneaded it by hand until a dough was formed. Then I added a pinch of ginger, cinnamon and all spice to give it an authentic smell and make the house smell lovely too.

gingerbread playdough

My children love this spiced version of playdough and it’s great for sensory play. When I asked my son what he thought he said it “smelled like cakes”.

gingerbread man playdough

My daughter has recently received a play kitchen so she’s been in heaven playing cook, “just like mummy”. They’ve both been baking batches of gingerbread men with cookie cutters and buttons instead of currants.

gingerbread playdough recipe

 

You may be interested in our other gingerbread posts:

Free printable gingerbread playdough mats

36 Comments

  • Reply
    Mummy of Two
    May 9, 2014 at 11:19 am

    Little Miss A played with some gingerbread playdoh at toddler group and loved it. Will have to try out your recipe as mine never turns out right!

  • Reply
    Kate Thompson
    May 9, 2014 at 11:31 am

    What a fabulous idea!!! Really original and fun. Will share 🙂

  • Reply
    Jo Bryan
    May 9, 2014 at 11:54 am

    I loved making playdough for my children when they were young, great idea adding ginger.

  • Reply
    Jen aka The Mad House
    May 9, 2014 at 11:57 am

    I adore play dough to and used to make it for the boys when they were younger. I love the idea of gingerbread dough. What a fab gift this would make with cookie cutters and a small rolling pin

  • Reply
    Lucie Aiston
    May 9, 2014 at 12:08 pm

    Oooooh! I want to make some for my son! 🙂

  • Reply
    Angela Spicer
    May 9, 2014 at 12:44 pm

    I’ve made plenty of playdoh before but never gingerbread. Great idea

  • Reply
    Louisa
    May 9, 2014 at 12:56 pm

    Fran has just discovered playdoh and all her lovely colours have been mushed into one brown ball. I love the idea of making your own and putting cinnamon in.

  • Reply
    Globalmouse
    May 9, 2014 at 1:46 pm

    What a brilliant idea…I would love to be around them when they played with this as I also love gingerbread. Definitely will be making this!!

  • Reply
    You Baby Me Mummy
    May 9, 2014 at 4:49 pm

    Great idea, I bet it smells lovely. I will try some of this for Baby x

  • Reply
    Nayna Kanabar (@SIMPLYF00D)
    May 9, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    Home made play dough brings back childhood memories when my girls were little. We used to make a batch every holidays.

  • Reply
    Jada Lewendon
    May 9, 2014 at 9:22 pm

    Making home made playdough is a fond memory from my childhood days spent with my Mum. I always forget about this as a fun craft activity to do with Spud, I must, MUST, give it a go one day! x

  • Reply
    Foz
    May 9, 2014 at 10:04 pm

    Oh would never of thought of gingerbread play dough..will have to try making this!

  • Reply
    Foz
    May 9, 2014 at 10:05 pm

    Oh would never have thought to make gingerbread play dough! Will have to try this!

  • Reply
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    May 10, 2014 at 12:22 am

    […] imagination run wild. If you’re looking for other recipe ideas we also have a fun recipe for gingerbread playdough which smells good enough to […]

  • Reply
    Kara
    May 10, 2014 at 6:50 am

    I hate the smell of playdoh so this sounds fab. Hope the kids wouldn’t be tempted to eat it though

  • Reply
    Shell Louise
    May 10, 2014 at 10:16 am

    Yum, gingerbread! I can smell it from here and I want to play!

  • Reply
    Kirsty
    May 10, 2014 at 11:09 am

    I would be so tempted to eat it! Your gingerbread play dough sounds like a fantastic sensory experience. Have pinned 🙂

  • Reply
    Kerry
    May 10, 2014 at 5:44 pm

    Love the idea of gingerbread play dough. I’ve been meaning to make some play dough for the longest time now so this has given me a kick up the butt, thanks! x

  • Reply
    Cass@frugalfamily
    May 11, 2014 at 10:45 am

    What a fab idea and so much better than bought play dough. I can almost smell it now!

  • Reply
    Jo Middleton
    May 11, 2014 at 5:02 pm

    Making your own play dough is really good fun for children but I’ve never thought of adding smells to it before! really good idea. I like that they’re making gingerbread men with buttons instead of raisins too 🙂

  • Reply
    Joanne Mallon (@joannemallon)
    May 11, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    oh what a great idea. I kind of want to make it for myself though, is that wrong?

  • Reply
    Helen Dickinson
    May 11, 2014 at 11:32 pm

    Making playdough is a fantastic idea. Not only do children/parents have fun playing with it but they also have the chance to have fun whilst creating it. Brilliant post!

  • Reply
    agatapokutycka
    May 12, 2014 at 7:51 pm

    This is a lovely idea. I would play with a dough like this as well 😉

  • Reply
    Helen
    May 12, 2014 at 11:32 pm

    I can only imagine the smell! I would like to play with this by myself 🙂

  • Reply
    Kizzy
    May 13, 2014 at 2:05 pm

    I love gingerbread and I would love to play with this let alone the kids!

  • Reply
    Lori
    May 15, 2014 at 10:39 pm

    What a great idea, I’ve never tried making my own before. I bet it smells amazing and so cute using the buttons. x

  • Reply
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    September 21, 2014 at 12:56 pm

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  • Reply
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  • Reply
    Pinkoddy
    December 24, 2014 at 8:12 pm

    Oh I bet this has a wonderful Christmas feel about it. just what my sensory seeker craves – thank you for sharing the recipe.

  • Reply
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  • Reply
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    November 29, 2019 at 7:12 am

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    October 8, 2022 at 5:50 pm

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