Looking for a fun taste-safe activity to set up for your little one? This easy oatmeal play dough recipe is perfect for babies and toddlers, and it’s made from 3 edible ingredients that you probably already have at home!
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Homemade play dough has been a staple in our house ever since my eldest was a toddler. Not only is it cheap and easy to make, but it has a much better texture and lasts way longer than the store-bought kind.
Making my own play dough also means that I am in control of the ingredients—which allows me to make taste-safe versions that are appropriate for my younger kids, too.
There are lots of ways to make taste-safe play dough, but this simple recipe is one of my favorites. It only requires 3 ingredients, and because it doesn’t contain any salt, it is perfect for children who have sensitive skin.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients: You’ll only need 3 simple ingredients to make this recipe, and they are all common pantry staples that you probably already have at home.
- Taste-safe, but not tasty: While all the ingredients used to make this play dough are safe to eat, the final result isn’t very tasty. I personally prefer taste-safe recipes that don’t taste good, because it makes my kids less likely to want to eat sensory materials!
- Easy to make: This recipe is super simple to make, and the whole process only takes 15 minutes from start to finish (most of which is hands-off because you’ll be simply allowing the oatmeal to cool).
- Soft on sensitive skin: Because this play dough is made without salt and contains both oatmeal and cornstarch, it is softer on skin than traditional play dough and won’t dry out your child’s hands.
Looking for more fun ways to play with oats? Check out these Rainbow Dyed Oats or this Oatmeal Sensory Bin!
Required Ingredients
- Quick oats: For best results, I highly recommend using quick oats rather than rolled oats for this recipe. If all you have at home is rolled oats, you can turn them into quick oats by breaking them down in the food processor.
- Water: I used regular tap water. If your child is likely to try to eat the play dough, make sure the water you use if safe to drink.
- Cornstarch: You may know this as “corn flour” if you live in the U.K. Cornstarch is extremely versatile and can be used in a large number of activities, so I highly recommend buying it in bulk if you do a lot of sensory play. (We buy ours at Costco.)
- Coloring (optional): If you want the play dough to be colorful, you can add food coloring or a natural dye of your choice. I decided to skip this and let the color of the oats shine through.
The full ingredient list, quantities and instructions can be found in the recipe card.
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How to Make Oatmeal Play Dough (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Combine water and oats. Pour the quick oats into a microwave-safe bowl and add the water. (If you want the dough to be colored, add a few drops of food coloring—or a natural alternative—to the water before you stir it into the oats.)
Step 2: Cook oats. Cook the oatmeal in the microwave on high for 60 seconds—it will be very hot. Allow the oatmeal to cool for 5 to 10 minutes, until it still feels warm to the touch, but is cool enough to handle with your hands.
Step 3: Add cornstarch. Add ¼ cup of cornstarch to the cooled oatmeal and work it in with your hands. (Oatmeal is pretty compact, so you won’t be able to use a spoon.)
Step 4: Knead play dough. Keep kneading the mixture with your hands until the ingredients are fully combined and you end up with a smooth, elastic dough that feels slightly sticky. Add another tablespoon of cornstarch and work it into the dough to make it soft and remove the stickiness. If needed, continue adding small quantities of cornstarch until the dough no longer feels sticky.
Once you’re satisfied with the texture of the dough, it’s time to play! Give the dough to your child and feel free to offer them a rolling pin, some cookie cutters or any other toys that they like to use with play dough. This recipe is perfect for babies and toddler who like to put everything in their mouths!
Helpful Tips
- Keep an eye on the microwave: When cooking the oats in the microwave, make sure you keep an eye on things—if the oatmeal is puffing up too much, you’ll want to stop cooking it early to prevent it from spilling over.
- Try boiling the water: Don’t have a microwave on hand, or prefer not to use it? Simply boil the water before you add it to the oats, and allow them to soak it up for a couple minutes.
- Help the oatmeal cool faster: If needed, you can speed up the cooling process by placing the bowl in the freezer for a few minutes. Just make sure you don’t leave them in for too long or the play dough may lose its elasticity!
- Add enough cornstarch: Feel free to play around with the amount of cornstarch until you achieve the perfect consistency. I have found that adding 1 tablespoon during step 4 is usually enough to get rid of the stickiness, but you can always add more if needed until you are happy with the texture. You may also need to add more during play, especially if it’s hot and humid out.
Storage Instructions
If the play dough is still usable after your child is done playing with it, you can store it for future use by placing it in a sealed sandwich bag or airtight container and keeping it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
I found that the play dough got a little sticky due to condensation, but when I added some extra cornstarch and kneaded it into the dough, it felt good as new. Just keep adding small amounts and kneading them in until you’re satisfied with how the play dough feels.
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 Edible Play Dough Recipes
If you have tried this Oatmeal Play Dough 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!
Edible Oatmeal Play Dough
Ingredients
- ½ cup quick oats
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup + 1 tbsp cornstarch more as needed
Instructions
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the oats and water. (You can add a bit of coloring to the water if desired.)
- Cook in the microwave for 60 seconds on high. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes, until it still feels warm to the touch, but is cool enough to handle with your hands.
- Add ¼ cup of cornstarch to the cooled oatmeal and work it in with your hands. Once the ingredients are fully combined, add an additional tablespoon of cornstarch and knead that in as well. If the dough still feels sticky, keep working in small quantities of cornstarch until you are satisfied with the texture.
Video
Notes
- Keep an eye on the microwave: Watch the oats while they cook, and if you see them puffing up too much, turn off the microwave early to prevent them from spilling over.
- Make it without a microwave: To make this recipe without a microwave, boil the water before adding it to the oats and allow them to soak it up for a couple minutes.
- Speed down the cooling process: You can speed up the cooling process by placing the oatmeal in the microwave for a few minutes, but make sure it’s still a bit warm when you add the cornstarch and start kneading the dough.
- Get the perfect consistency: Adjust the amount of cornstarch as needed to remove any stickiness and achieve the perfect consistency. You may also need to add more during play, especially if the weather is hot and humid.
Nutrition
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