Gingerbread Playdough

I know this old blog has been quiet the last two years, but it turns out I have an abundance of Christmas content that I've collected and photographed during that time. Even when I don't have time to actually blog about it (6 kids and what not), I always have some kind of project going (especially around Christmas time!) and thank goodness I had the good foresight to photograph much of it! So hold on to your hats while I try to bring you as much Christmassy goodness as I can over the next couple weeks!

Let's kick-off this Christmas season with gingerbread playdough. This is great to make right away because your kids will be able to enjoy it all season long! It will help keep little hands busy through Christmas read-alouds or while dinner is in the oven. It would also be fun to have on hand when grandkids come to town!

This playdough is simple to make, but it does involve cooking the dough. You can still get kids involved measuring the ingredients (and of course playing with the dough later) but just a heads up that you'll need to use the stove for a few minutes. 

Gingerbread Playdough Recipe:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 Tbs cinnamon
• 1 Tbs ginger
• 1 cup water
• 1 Tbs oil
• 1/4 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

Combine ingredients in a saucepan and mix well. It will look pretty runny at this point. Cook the mixture over low to medium heat, stirring often. After a few minutes the dough will begin to come together. Fold and flip the dough with a sturdy spoon as you continue cooking for another minute or two until the dough comes together into a ball. Overcooking the dough can dry it out and it won't be quite as flexible to play with. Remove the dough from the pan and let it cool. Knead the cooled dough a few times to smooth it out. It's ready for play!

Notes:

1. Playdough is fun on it's own, but my kids enjoy it longer when they have something fun to use with it! Try a rolling pin and cookie cutter, or small animal figures or cars (my kids favorite!! We found dinosaur figures and small dump trucks at Dollar Tree). 
2. This playdough is made entirely of food ingredients so you don't need to worry if someone sneaks a taste (although I'm sure it won't taste good). 
3. The spices and vanilla give this playdough a pleasant Christmas scent, but you are welcome to omit them if you prefer an unscented dough! You could also try swapping a couple drops of peppermint flavoring to make a peppermint dough instead. 

You can find the rest of my easy Christmas craft & recipe posts here. 

I hope you enjoy this first Christmas craft with your kids (or grandkids!).