Fall is here, and what better way to embrace the season than with some homemade pumpkin playdough? This simple craft combines the sensory fun of playdough with the delightful scent of pumpkin spice, making it a perfect activity for kids during the cooler months. Plus, it’s easy to make with a few basic kitchen ingredients. Here’s everything you need to know to whip up a batch of pumpkin playdough at home!
Pumpkin Spice Play Dough Recipe
Supplies/Ingredients You’ll Need:
- • 1 ½ cups flour (180 grams)
- • ¾ cup salt (215 grams)
- • 1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar
- • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
- • 1 ½ cups water
- • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil – you can substitute this for coconut oil
- • 10-12 drops of orange food coloring
- • Medium saucepan
- • Spoon
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Why use cream of tartar? I prefer playdough with cream of tartar as it makes the dough stronger and adds volume and elasticity making the dough nice and stretchy. Finally, it acts as a preservative which is important if you want to keep your playdough for another day
What is in pumpkin pie spice?
Pumpkin spice is a blend of several warm spices commonly used in fall baking. The exact mix can vary, but here are the common spices that go into making pumpkin spice:
- 1. Cinnamon: The dominant spice in pumpkin spice, it adds warmth and sweetness.
- 2. Nutmeg: Provides a slightly sweet, nutty flavor with hints of clove.
- 3. Ginger: Adds a bit of heat and zest, balancing out the sweetness.
- 4. Cloves: A strong, slightly bitter spice that adds depth to the blend.
- 5. Allspice (optional): Some blends include allspice, which has a flavor reminiscent of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg combined.
A typical ratio might be heavier on cinnamon, with smaller amounts of the other spices. You can easily make your own pumpkin spice blend by combining these spices to your taste!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Gather Your Ingredients
Before you start, make sure you have all your supplies ready. You’ll need common kitchen ingredients like flour, salt, cream of tartar, and pumpkin pie spice, plus water, oil, and food coloring to give it that fun pumpkin look.
2. Mix the Ingredients
In a medium saucepan, combine the flour, salt, cream of tartar, pumpkin pie spice, water, and vegetable oil. Stir everything together until well combined. This will form the base of your playdough.
3. Cook the Dough
Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir continuously for 4-5 minutes. The mixture will start to thicken as it heats up. Keep stirring until the dough pulls away from the sides of the pan and forms a ball.
4. Cool and Color
Once the dough has thickened, remove it from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes until it’s safe to touch. After it’s cooled down a bit, add 10-12 drops of orange food coloring and knead the dough until the color is evenly distributed.
5. Play and Enjoy!
Your pumpkin playdough is now ready! Kids will love squishing, molding, and shaping it into pumpkins or other fun fall shapes. The added pumpkin pie spice makes it smell amazing, too!
Storage Tips
To keep your pumpkin playdough fresh, store it in a container with a tight-fitting lid or in a resealable plastic bag. It should last for several weeks if properly sealed.
Why Kids Will Love It
Pumpkin playdough not only provides hours of creative fun, but it also offers a wonderful sensory experience. The soft, squishy texture combined with the smell of pumpkin spice will engage your child’s senses of touch and smell, making it an ideal fall craft.
Fun Ideas for Play:
• Make mini pumpkins: Use cookie cutters or shape the dough by hand into mini pumpkins.
• Create a fall scene: Pair the playdough with small toys like animals or leaves to build a fall-themed play scene.
• Letter and number practice: Roll the dough into long ropes and shape them into letters or numbers for a fun educational activity.
Making pumpkin playdough is a simple and fun way to celebrate the fall season with your little ones. It’s a great hands-on activity that sparks creativity while also incorporating sensory play. Give it a try, and watch as your kids enjoy crafting their own little pumpkin patch! This isnt taste safe as it is full of salt, so please keep an eye on toddlers and preschoolers.