Did you know it’s possible to make homemade play dough without using food coloring? You can easily use natural items to dye the play dough and get beautiful colors as a result! It’s actually quite easy, and is such a fun experiment for kids too!
We previously shared a great recipe on How to Make the World’s Best Play Dough. The only thing you will do differently is to remove the food coloring and use naturally dyed water.
Naturally dyed water? Is that a thing?
Yep – it sure is! You can do this by boiling color-rich foods and/or plants. Then, strain the water from pot and it will be tinted. You can find many color rich fruits, vegetables, flowers, and plants.
HOW TO MAKE NATURAL DYED PLAYDOUGH
Determine the color you want to make. Peel the fruit or veggies (as needed). If a large product (such as a beet), dice into chunks. Boil until the water turns color. Strain over a mesh strainer and retain the water. Add one cup to your playdough and mix well.
PINK
To get pin playdough, use foods such as beets or strawberries. Dice as needed and boil saving the colored water to blend with your playdough.
RED
Boil raspberries to get a nice red water to add to your playdough.
GREEN
If green is what you want, you’ll want to use spinach.
YELLOW
Try some ground red-pepper to create yellow playdough.
ORANGE
Add paprika to some water and boil to get a nice orange to use.
BLUE
To create blue playdough, boil blueberries. You won’t be very dark, but it will have a little tinge to it.
PURPLE
Boil blackberries to get purple colored water to add to your playdough.
PLAYDOUGH RECIPE
Once you have your coloring, you’ll add it to this recipe and work the colors in, until they are well blended.
- 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup of colored water (created above)
- 2/3 Cup Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Vegetable or Canola Oil
- 1 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar
