Chocolate Moon Sand
If your child enjoys playing with moon sand, they’ll love this fun twist on the classic! This chocolate moon sand is super simple to make, taste-safe and only requires a few common pantry ingredients that you probably already have at home.
Servings: 1 sensory bin
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup mild-scented cooking oil (e.g. vegetable, canola or refined coconut oil)
Instructions
- To make your moon sand taste-safe, spread the flour on a baking sheet and bake it in the oven at 350°F for 5 minutes to kill any harmful bacteria. (Alternatively, buy heat treated flour at the store, or simply skip this step if you don't need the moon sand to be taste-safe.)
- Pour the cocoa powder and flour into a medium mixing bowl and stir them together using a whisk or spoon.
- Pour the oil into the dry ingredients and stir it in with a spoon. Once you’ve gotten as far as you can with the spoon, keep kneading the ingredients with your hands until they have been fully combined and have turned into a smooth, powdery sand that holds its shape when pressed into a ball.
Video
Notes
1. Storage instructions: Place any leftover moon sand in an air-tight container or zip-top bag and store at room temperature for 2-4 weeks (possibly more). Make sure your child’s hands are clean during play, and keep an eye out for signs of spoilage.
2. Limiting the mess: Keep your moon sand contained inside a bin during play, cover your table with a plastic tablecloth, play inside a bathtub or kiddy pool, or play with the moon sand outdoors, weather permitting.
3. Helpful tips:
- Mix with your hands: After stirring with a spoon, use your hands to fully combine the ingredients and help the moon sand come together.
- Follow a 7:1:1 ratio: Make smaller or larger batches by sticking to a 7:1:1 ratio of flour to cocoa powder to oil.