Love oobleck? This cranberry sauce slime is a fun way to repurpose leftover cranberry sauce for sensory play, and because it’s made with edible ingredients, it is safe for both younger and older kids.
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If you have some leftover cranberry sauce at home that you’re not sure what to do with, you have to try this simple sensory play idea! It only requires a few simple ingredients, and it is perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Whether you have young children or older kids at home, this taste-safe cranberry slime is sure to be a hit.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make: This simple slime recipe only takes a few minutes to make, and because it doesn’t involve any cooking or heating, your kids should be able to help with every step of the process.
- Taste-safe: Cranberry sauce oobleck is made using edible ingredients, which makes it perfect for younger kids who still like to put everything in their mouths.
- Simple ingredients: You’ll only need a couple ingredients to make this recipe, and it’s a great way to use up that leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving or Christmas that is cluttering up your fridge.
- Naturally dyed: This slime gets its pink hue from the cranberry sauce itself! If your family only uses natural dyes, just make sure to use cranberry sauce that doesn’t contain any artificial coloring and you’ll be good to go.
Looking for more taste-safe sensory recipes (with no artificial colors)? Check out this Edible Cranberry Play Dough, this Edible Pumpkin Play Dough or this big list of Taste-Safe Sensory Play Ideas!
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Required Ingredients
- Cranberry sauce: I used canned cranberry sauce because I didn’t want to waste our homemade one, but if you have some homemade cranberry sauce that no one is eating, you can use that instead. I used whole berry cranberry sauce, but the FAQ section talks about using jellied cranberry sauce instead.
- Cornstarch: You may know this as “corn flour” if you live in the U.K. If you don’t have any, you can substitute another type of starch like potato starch, tapioca powder or arrowroot powder (but not all-purpose flour).
- Water (optional): I didn’t end up using any, but depending on how thick your cranberry sauce is, you may need to thin it out with water in order to achieve the right texture, so I recommend keeping some on hand!
The full ingredient list, quantities and instructions can be found in the recipe card.
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How to Make Cranberry Sauce Oobleck (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Combine cranberry sauce and cornstarch. Pour ½ cup of cranberry sauce into a medium mixing bowl, and stir in ½ cup of cornstarch, mixing with a spoon until fully combined.
Step 2: Adjust consistency. Slowly stir in a bit more cornstarch, one tablespoon at a time, until the mixture gets more difficult to stir and has a consistency that is solid when you apply pressure with a spoon, but oozes back into place like a liquid when you stop. If it becomes too stiff, you can add a bit of water to thin it out and achieve the right consistency.
This activity was such a fun Thanksgiving twist on traditional oobleck! It had a cool texture that my older kids loved playing with, and I loved the fact that it was safe for my toddler as well.
Helpful Tips
- Slowly add the cornstarch: Once you’ve added the first ½ cup of cornstarch, I recommend only adding a little at a time (no more than 1 tablespoon). This will allow you to stop as soon as you reach the right consistency instead of adding too much and needing to compensate with water.
- Stir gently: The mixture will get thicker and harder to mix as you add more cornstarch—this is normal, because oobleck behaves like a solid when pressure is applied to it. Just make sure to stir slowly and gently, without applying too much pressure, or you’ll have trouble combining the ingredients.
P.S. Love finding creative ways to play with oobleck-style slime? Try making Frozen Oobleck or Edible Jell-O Slime!
Storage Instructions
You’ll likely only get one use out of this activity, but if it’s still in good condition after play and you want to try saving it for later, you can cover it in plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You’ll probably need to add some water to restore its consistency, as it tends to dry out over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question that wasn’t answered here? Let me know in the comments and I’ll be happy to help!
More Thanksgiving Ideas for Kids
If you have tried this Cranberry Sauce Oobleck or any other project on my website, please let me know how it went in the comments below. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Cranberry Sauce Slime
Materials
- ½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce canned or homemade
- ½ cup + 3 tbsp cornstarch more as needed
- water optional, as needed
Instructions
- Pour ½ cup of cranberry sauce into a medium mixing bowl, and stir in ½ cup of cornstarch, mixing with a spoon until fully combined.
- Gently stir in a bit more cornstarch, one tablespoon at a time, until the mixture gets more difficult to stir and has a consistency that is solid when you apply pressure with a spoon, but oozes back into place like a liquid when you stop. If it becomes too stiff, add a small amount of water to help it reach the right consistency.
Video
Notes
- Add cornstarch slowly: After you add the initial ½ cup of cornstarch, create the perfect consistency by adding no more than 1 tablespoon at a time and stirring it in completely before adding more.
- Stir gently: Combine the ingredients by stirring slowly and gently as the mixture thickens and starts to put up a resistance.
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