This simple and easy salt dough recipe is the perfect rainy day activity… Kids will master valuable kitchen skills while learning how to make salt dough, and then spend hours playing with it!
Salt Dough Recipe for Kids
We encourage our kids to get outside and play as much as possible during the summer, but inevitably there’s going to be those rainy days when outside play isn’t an option — like today…
Rather than turning to video games and television for entertainment though, I gathered up my younger three children for a quick kitchen lesson on how to make salt dough. And it actually turned out to be loads of fun AND educational! #momwin
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Learning How To Make Salt Dough
While my kids think making and playing with this salt dough recipe is all fun and games, they’re actually learning a whole slew of valuable skills — like brushing up on their math, how to measure solids and liquids, and what happens when you mix certain ingredients, just to name a few.
And with only three ingredients — flour, salt, and water — this simple salt dough recipe is the perfect intro to kitchen basics. Luckily, I picked up some inexpensive fresh flour and salt at the grocery store earlier this week in anticipation of a rainy day!
I gave Camden the job of measuring out the flour, showing her how to level it off for a consistent measurement.
Addie measured the salt, again leveling it off using a butter knife.
And I helped Drew measure the water, showing them all how the liquid should be level with the lines on our Pyrex measuring cup.
Then they all took turns mixing the salt dough, and I gave a quick demonstration on how to knead dough, as they were getting quite antsy to start playing by this point.
They had a blast playing with their salt dough. I gave them a rolling pin and some cookie cutters and it kept them busy all afternoon!
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3-Ingredient Salt Dough Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup salt
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour and salt.
- Gradually add water while stirring and mixing to form a dough with a Play-Doh like consistency.
- Form the dough into a ball and knead for approximately 5 minutes, adding a bit more flour if the dough is too sticky or a bit more water if it’s too dry.
Notes
I recommend covering your work/play area with an inexpensive plastic tablecloth to make cleanup easier!
How Long To Bake Salt Dough
If you want to bake your salt dough crafts, place them on a baking sheet in a 200-degree oven. Baking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of your crafts, so just keep a close eye on them.
No Bake Salt Dough Recipe
You can store salt dough in an airtight container for future use. Or you can let your creations dry and paint them with acrylic paints.
If you do want to speed up the drying process by baking them, just place your salt dough crafts on a baking sheet and pop them into a 200-degree oven. Baking time will vary based on the size and thickness of your crafts, so just keep a close eye on them.
I’d love to see how your salt dough crafts turn out… Tag me @Unsophisticook on Instagram or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check them out. Enjoy!
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Danielle says
Would my students be able to build snowmen using this?
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Danielle! Yes, you could build snowmen with it. I’d recommend sticking cut drinking straw down the center to stabilize them while they’re drying. Also, make sure the dough isn’t overly wet to prevent sagging.
samantha says
I am a Montessori teacher and have adapted the recipe to make it an independent work for each child from start to finish. I thought I would share the ratios, if anyone is interested.
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup water
Tara Kuczykowski says
Wonderful — thank you so much for sharing, Samantha!
Lynn Ware says
Thanks for the recipe! I’m an elementary art teacher (268 students, 1st-6th grade). I don’t usually take on ‘big’ projects, as I don’t have an assistant, but I’d love to try and do this as a Christmas project. Do you know about how many ornaments one batch makes? thanks again!
Tara Kuczykowski says
Hi Lynn! That IS a big project, but I was an arts & crafts camp counselor after high school, and I managed to pull it off for our Christmas In July project… What size ornaments are you thinking about making? For example, a handprint-style ornament is going to be larger and use more dough than a cookie-cutter cutout ornament.
Lynn Ware says
I’m thinking probably a cookie cutter size would be more ideal for us. But…. it may be easier doing the handprint so I wouldn’t have any arguing about who has what cookie cutter! lol! I’m just kinda in limbo wondering what would be the more practical of the two! I only have 25 minute weekly classes & at least 5-7 minutes consists of instructions/cleanup so I need o make the best use of what little time I do have. Thank you so much!!!
Tara Kuczykowski says
You’ll definitely be able to stretch the dough further with the cookie cutters. I’d say you could get around 5-6 handprint ornaments per batch, and at least double that with cookie cutters, depending on the size. When I made them at camp, we used the cookie cutter method, and I don’t recall much arguing. I made the dough ahead of time, so I rolled it out and called them up in groups, which probably helped. If you’re air drying them, allow plenty of time and flip them after a couple of days. It was a humid and rainy July that year, so I remember it taking FOREVER!
Ashley F says
The kids love making this with me! Such a fun activity.
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
My son definitely love this!
Kara says
Oh man, this brings back fond memories. My mom used to make salt dough and let us make our own Christmas ornaments. It was so much fun! I need to start the tradition with my daughter!
Tara Kuczykowski says
We always did the same! I remember my dad gave them a coat of varnish so we could reuse them every year.
Liz says
This is such a fun activity for the kids! I love how many different things you can make with it too!
Aimee Shugarman says
This is perfect timing! I am looking to make some homemade ornaments this year!