This Kool-aid playdough recipe makes for a colorful change from traditional or store bought playdough. There are quite a few advantages to making homemade playdough with kool-aid. It smells good and has a nice bright color, making it very appealing as a playdough recipe for kids. You make a rainbow set of playdough really easily just by using a few different kinds of kool-aid mix to create a spectrum of colors. It doesn’t need to be cooked and so is easy to do with kids and very safe. And it also keeps very well so you can store it in your fridge and use it again and again!
Kool Aid Playdough Recipe
Ingredients for this kool-aid playdough recipe:
- flour – 1 (up to 2 if you feel it is thin) cups
- boiling water – 1 cups
- corn oil – 3 tbsp
- salt – 0.5 cups
- Koolaid – 1 package
Directions for this kool-aid playdough recipe:
- Mix each ingredient in with the flour
- Add boiling water
- Mix throughly
- Knead the flour and other ingredients until very well mixed
- Add more flour if necessary for texture to create a soft dough
- Start playing!
This Kool-Aid based recipe for playdough makes a great craft project with kids and keeps very well. If you find it is not thick enough just make sure to add some flour to the playdough recipe to achieve the texture and thickness you would like. The playdough this recipe makes smells great and kids will love it. Plus you can make some Kool-Aid at the same time which is always popular with kids!
If this is a recipe using Kool Aid, why is it not listed in the list of ingredients? How much do we use?
Hi there Melanie,
Thanks for catching that for us! We’ve updated the recipe. I wouldn’t recommend keeping it in the fridge for more than 2 weeks.
Thanks!
What kind of flour so you suggest- whole wheat or all purpose?
I would recommend all purpose flour, I’ve never tried whole wheat, but I imagine it might change the consistency significantly. Hope you enjoy!
This smells so good. But you really need alot more flour then 1 cup to get the right consistency! thanks for the recipe.
Thanks for the feedback! We’ll adjust the recipe a bit. Glad it worked out for you.
Did you ever make peanut butter playdough? 1 c. peanut butter, 1 c. flour & 1 c. powdered sugar. Mix it all together. The kids can eat it when they finish playing with it.
As a Mom of a 2 year old and a teacher of 5th graders, I am excited to try this! I’m curious though about the color staining skin..? I know people use Kool-Aid to color/stain their hair… and I’ve seen Kool-Aid powder stain fingers. Will the playdough stain skin and/or clothes? Thank you.
@Kimberly, I used orange kool-aid and it didn’t stain my hands or my two year old’s. I did put a big on her just in case though to protect her clothes.
How much does this recipe make? I’m going to make it for 12 girls, how many times should I double this recipe? Thanks! This is great!
@Lane, I would think you would want 4-5 batches depending on what you are planning to do with it.
You should really change the recipe back to 1 cup of flour it works perfect!! And for everyone who was wondering (including myself before I made it) it doesn’t stain your hands at all!
best bright colored playdough out there!
@psgalaskagirl Thanks! Glad it worked for you. Recipe adjusted!
Hi I’m a teacher for a summer program and I saw this idea and I wanted to know how much would I need for large groups such as 22 -26 kids and Does it have to be corn oil or can we use any kind?
Yes i cup of flour worked! This was beter than our recipe! Thx!
Glad it work for you Jennifer! Thanks!
Hi Rhyan. I’m really not sure how much you would need exactly, it would depend on what you were planning to do with it? Perhaps one batch for every 2-4 children depending on your plans? Pretty much any kind of oil would work I imagine, though I’m not making any promises!
I have made koolaid playdough, I used 2 C Flour, 1 C boiling water, 1 C salt, 2 T Oil (any kind of cooking oil works – it keeps it from getting sticky), 2 Teaspoons of cream of tartar, and one package of unsweetened playdough. The oil makes the dough less sticky so if its sticking to the counter I will add a little more and work it in. It’s also fun to put dry rice or coconut flakes into it for a fun texture!
oops I meant to write “kool – aid” where I typed “playdough”! It should be one package of unsweetened kool aid.
I love the play dough, BUT…mine has been getting moldy!! Any one know why?
Wow – So far this is the easiest and quickest recipe I have found… It smells great and I had all the ingredients unlike some recipes that call for tarter or alum… Thanks so much, my three yr old and I are having a good time indoors…
Kay, I don’t understand why exactly mold forms but the wikipedia page on Play-Doh says that Borax can keep the mold from forming. It’s under the ingredients section.
I’ve used a similar recipe for years with no mold & it keeps in ziplock bag for MONTHS!
2 cup flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water, 2 TBS oil, 2 TBS cream of tartar, 2 pkg unsweetened Kool Aid. Mix koolaid & water, then add oil. Mix wet & remaining dry ingredients in sauce pan. Stir over medium heat until the mixture forms a ball in the center. Allow to cool, then knead until smooth.
You can always substitute cinnamon, vanilla, peppermint oil, etc. to vary the color and/or scent. I like add in to vary the texture.
I used Olive Oil and it worked fine! My 3 year old love it and it’s not a huge deal if my 1 year old steals a bite.