Sand Play Dough
This easy sand play dough recipe is no-cook, super soft, and made with real sand! Add some seashells and loose parts, and watch where your child's imagination leads them.
Servings: 1 large ball
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup play sand or beach sand
- ½ cup salt
- 4 tsp cream of tartar
- ¾ cup + 1 tbsp boiling water
- 2 tbsp oil (vegetable, coconut, etc.)
Instructions
- Pour the flour, sand, salt and cream of tartar into a large heatproof bowl, and stir them together with a spoon.
- Add the oil and boiling water, and use a wooden spoon to stir them into the dry ingredients, combining them as thoroughly as you can.
- Once you’ve gotten as far as you can with the spoon, finish kneading with your hands until the dough feels super stretchy and smooth. (It will feel a bit grainy from the sand, but as long as it is soft and stretchy, a bit of graininess is normal.)
Video
Notes
1. Adjusting the texture: To make stiff play dough feel more elastic, wet your hands and knead the dough to incorporate the water, repeating as needed. If you add too much water, work in a little more flour and knead it in until the dough no longer feels sticky.
2. Storage instructions: Place leftover play dough in a sealed zip-top bag with all the air removed, and store it at room temperature. It should last several months if properly stored and not left out for extended periods of time.
3. Helpful tips:
- Sift the sand: For a not-too-grainy texture, use a colander or strainer to sift the sand and remove large rocks or debris.
- Mind the temperature: If the mixture feels too hot after the boiling water has been added, let it cool at room temperature for a few minutes before kneading. Don’t place it in the fridge or freezer to speed things up, as this will cause the dough to lose its elasticity.
- Keep it no-cook: Don't try to make this recipe on the stovetop—the small rocks present in the sand will likely damage your cookware.