Looking for a fun Easter activity to set up for your kids? Turn your leftover Easter candy into edible Peeps play dough with this easy recipe! You’ll only need a few minutes and a few simple ingredients to set up this toddler-safe activity at home.
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If you have any leftover Peeps at home, this Easter play dough recipe is the perfect way to use them up! It only requires three simple ingredients, and it is perfect for kids of all ages.
Because it is made from edible ingredients, this recipe is safe for little ones who like to put everything in their mouths. My children all had a blast playing with it, and my toddler loved being able to participate!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make: This play dough takes under 5 minutes to make from start to finish, which makes it perfect for busy parents.
- Simple ingredients: You’ll only need 3 ingredients to make this recipe. It is such a fun way to repurpose any uneaten Easter candy that you may have lying around!
- Taste-safe: If you have young kids at home who have a tendency to put everything in their mouths, this taste-safe recipe made from edible ingredients is a great way to allow them to feel included. (And older kids love it, too!)
- Fun for kids: This homemade play dough is lots of fun for both younger and older kids! It has a cool elastic texture, and my kids loved sneaking a bite as they played.
Looking for more edible play dough recipes? Check out this Baby Cereal Play Dough, this Peanut Butter Play Dough or this big list of Edible Play Dough Recipes!
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Required Ingredients
- Marshmallow Peeps: You can use either marshmallow bunnies or marshmallow chicks for this recipe.
- Oil: I recommend using coconut oil, which is what I used. (You’ll need to melt it if it has hardened due to the cold.) If you don’t have any, you may be able to use a different type of cooking oil, such as vegetable oil.
- Cornstarch: You may know this as “corn flour” if you live in the U.K. We like to buy ours in bulk because we use it for lots of sensory activities.
The full ingredient list, quantities and instructions can be found in the recipe card.
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How to Make Peeps Play Dough (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Heat marshmallow Peeps. Place 4 bunny Peeps or 5 chick Peeps in a microwave-safe bowl, along with ½ teaspoon of coconut oil, and heat them for 30 seconds at full power. They should increase in size and become puffy and cracked.
Step 2: Stir marshmallows. Stir the melted marshmallows with a spoon.
Step 3: Add cornstarch and coconut oil. Add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, and stir them together with a spoon. (You can also use your hands if you’re having trouble with the spoon, but be warned—the mixture will feel quite sticky.)
Step 4: Knead and adjust consistency. Once the ingredients have been fully combined, add another tablespoon of cornstarch and another ½ teaspoon of coconut oil. Knead the ingredients together until they form a smooth dough that feels stretchy and elastic. Adjust the consistency as needed by working in some more cornstarch or coconut oil with your hands.
Achieving the Perfect Consistency
When you’re done kneading the ball of dough, you’ll need to test its consistency by stretching it between your fingers and pressing it down onto a flat surface. Here’s how you can fix each issue you may encounter:
- Dough that feels too stiff: Add a bit more coconut oil and work it in with your hands.
- Dough that feels too sticky: Add a bit more cornstarch.
- Dough that feels sticky, but has the right amount of stretch: Add coconut oil—cornstarch will make it too stiff.
Once the play dough has reached the desired consistency, it’s time to play! Give the play dough to your kids and let them flatten it with rolling pins or cut out shapes using cookie cutters. My kids loved this activity and were really excited to play with the dough.
Helpful Tips
- Divide the coconut oil: Make sure you only add ½ teaspoon of coconut oil to start with and knead the rest in later. If you add it all to the marshmallows, you’ll have trouble stirring them.
- Don’t overcook the Peeps: Overcooking the marshmallows will cause the play dough to become tough and stringy. If you have any doubts, you’re better off undercooking them and then putting them back in the microwave for a few seconds to finish melting.
- Don’t add too much cornstarch: Adding too much cornstarch can make the play dough stiff. If it feels sticky but has the right amount of stretch, add coconut oil instead.
- Make the color brighter: I liked the pastel tones and found them appropriate for Easter, but if you would like the color to be more vibrant, you can stir some food coloring (or a natural dye of your choice) into the melted marshmallows.
- Keep adjusting the texture: If the play dough gets too sticky during play, you can keep adjusting its consistency by adding more cornstarch or coconut oil.
- Turn it into slime: Looking for a fun twist on Peeps play dough? Try making Peeps Slime by tweaking the proportions.
Looking for more fun things to do with Peeps? Try this Easter Peeps Painting or download these Peeps Pattern Worksheets!
Storage Instructions
Because this play dough is made from edible ingredients, it has a limited shelf life.
That being said, if the dough is still in good condition after your kids are done playing with it, you can wrap it in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight zip-top bag and leave it in the fridge for a couple of days.
You’ll need to bring it back to room temperature before play time, either by leaving it out or by gently reheating it in the microwave.
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 Edible Peeps 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 Peeps Play Dough
Materials
- 4 marshmallow bunny Peeps or 5 marshmallow chicks
- 2 – 2½ tsp melted coconut oil or vegetable oil divided, as needed
- 3 – 3½ tbsp cornstarch as needed
Instructions
- Place marshmallow Peeps in a bowl with ½ teaspoon of coconut oil. Heat in the microwave at full power for about 30 seconds, until the Peeps look nice and puffy. Use a spoon to stir the melted Peeps.
- Add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, and stir the mixture with a spoon. When the mixture becomes too difficult to stir, add another tablespoon of cornstarch and ½ teaspoon of coconut oil, and knead the dough with your hands until smooth.
- Adjust the consistency of the play dough by adding small quantities of coconut oil (if the play dough is too stiff) or cornstarch (if it is too sticky). If the dough is sticky but has the right amount of stretch, add a bit more coconut oil to avoid making it stiff. Once it feels stretchy but not sticky, the play dough is ready to play with.
Video
Notes
- Divide the coconut oil: Adding too much coconut oil to the marshmallows will make them difficult to stir.
- Don’t overcook the Peeps: Overcooking the marshmallows will cause the play dough to become tough and stringy. When in doubt, you’re better off undercooking them and increasing the cooking time as needed.
- Don’t add too much cornstarch: Cornstarch will make the play dough stiff if too much is added. Try coconut oil first.
- Brighten the color: For a more vibrant color, you can add food coloring or a natural alternative.
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Great post!