Let your kids ‘bake’ alongside you with Homemade Gingerbread Playdough — it looks, smells, and feels just like the real thing!

Today sharing one of my favorite things…homemade playdough! I’ve made it countless times for my girls when they were young, but this time, instead of the multi colors I usually make, this one has a warm, spicy holiday vibe. And speaking of the holidays, this is the time of the year when so many kids need a little something to keep them busy during the seemingly endless wait until the big day. This looks, feels, and smells just like gingerbread dough and it’s positively therapeutic. So even if you don’t have kids or grand-kids, you might want to check it out…

This homemade gingerbread playdough is made with lots of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and other warm holiday spices so it smells as good as it looks. The dough takes just minutes to make, but if you’ve never made it before you might be surprised to learn that it’s cooked in a saucepan. A little water and oil is added to the dry ingredients and it’s all cooked briefly, just until it comes away from the pan and forms a ball. A few seconds of kneading and it’s ready for play!

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3.45 from 18 votes

Homemade Gingerbread Playdough

Let your kids ‘bake’ alongside you with All Natural Homemade Gingerbread Playdough — it looks, smells, and feels just like the real thing!

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Total Time15 minutes

Servings: 1

Author: Sue Moran

Ingredients
dry ingredients
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
3 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ginger
2 teaspoons cloves
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon cardamom
wet ingredients
1 cup water
1 tablespoon oil

Instructions
Put the dry ingredients in a medium saucepan and whisk to combine.
Add the water and oil, and stir together.
Cook on medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the dough comes away from the sides of the pan and forms a ball in the center, a silicone spoon works really well for this.Â It will look lumpy, but don't worry.
Turn the warm dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead it a few times until it is smooth and not sticky. Lightly flour your hands if necessary.
Store the playdough in an airtight baggie or container.

Don’t forget to pin this fun Homemade Gingerbread Playdough!

Questions and Reviews

Sarah DeKeyser says:

Have you tried baking this or letting it harden to make ornaments?

Sue says:

I haven’t tried that, Sarah, but I don’t think it would work since this isn’t made like regular cooking dough. I would use my Gingerbread Cookie recipe for ornaments, just bake them a little longer so they get hard: https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/easy-gingerbread-cookies-with-royal-icing/

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Lesley says:

I haven’t had much luck with homemade playdoh recipes, but this one is awesome! It turned out so good and my 3 year old has been playing with it for hours. Thanks!

Sue says:

I’m thrilled to hear this Lesley, I loved playing with it myself!

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Lynda D Krop says:

Cam this recipe be multiplied for bigger batches?

Sue says:

I don’t see why not, but it’s pretty big as is. You might want to do it in separate batches just for practicality.

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Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says:

This is genius, Sue. I just need to borrow some kids (or wait for some grandkids 😉

Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says:

Very cool! I need to try this for my grandson 🙂 He loves the kitchen!

Diane {Created by Diane} says:

oh II bet this playdough smells amazing. I need to make a batch so I can play with it, sounds like a perfect activity this holiday season.

Chris Scheuer says:

I have a few little friends who would LOVE this! Pinning!!

Sue says:

Chris I was SO thinking about you!!

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3.45 from 18 votes (18 ratings without comment)