How to Make The BEST 2 Ingredient Edible Play Dough
Make edible play dough with just two ingredients—frosting and powdered sugar! The perfect sensory activity for babies, toddlers and preschoolers to squish, mold, and explore safely.
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If you’re looking for a sensory play activity that’s easy, fun, and totally safe for little ones to taste, this edible play dough is perfect! With only two ingredients—frosting and powdered sugar—you can whip up a batch of soft, colorful play dough that’s ready for squishing, shaping, and even nibbling.
The best part? The dough is not sticky or messy! This is our favorite edible play dough recipe. Whether it’s a rainy day or you just need a quick, mess-free activity, this edible play dough is a winner.
Why Edible Play Dough?
Edible play dough isn’t just fun—it’s a fantastic sensory play activity for kids! With its soft, squishy texture and colorful, hands-on appeal, this homemade edible play dough invites children to explore their senses in a safe, engaging way.
Play dough activities lets kids experience multiple sensory experiences at once. They can feel the smooth, moldable texture, see bright colors, smell delicious scents, and even taste-test if they’re curious! Sensory activities like this one are great for developing fine motor skills, improving hand-eye coordination, and helping kids explore different textures and sensations.
Plus, it’s so simple to make that kids can help with the measuring, mixing, and even coloring, turning this recipe into a fun learning moment. Because it’s completely edible, even little ones who tend to put things in their mouths can join in.
How to Make Edible Play Dough
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup of store-bought frosting – Vanilla is classic, but feel free to try any color or flavor.
- 2 cups of powdered sugar – This turns the frosting into dough and gives it that soft, pliable texture we all love.
- Food coloring and some food-safe gloves – Optional if you’re adding food coloring (and want to avoid colorful hands).
- Mixing bowl and spoon
Instructions
1. Scoop frosting into a large mixing bowl
Start with adding 1 cup of frosting into your mixing bowl.
2. Gradually add powdered sugar
Slowly add in 2 cups of powdered sugar. Mix it in with a spoon. The dough will look sticky at first, but that’s okay! Keep adding powdered sugar about 1/2 cup at a time until the dough starts to come together and feels soft and smooth. You’ll use about 2–2 ½ cups of powdered sugar in total, depending on the frosting’s consistency.
3. Knead the dough by hand
Once the dough becomes too thick to stir, it’s time to get your hands in there. Knead the dough with your fingers, gradually adding more powdered sugar if it feels sticky. You’ll know it’s ready when it feels like soft play dough—smooth, moldable, and not too sticky.
4. Add food coloring (optional)
If you want to make different colors, divide the dough into small balls and add a few drops of food coloring to each. Knead the color in until it’s evenly distributed.
Pro tip: Wearing gloves will save you from having rainbow-colored hands!
5. Play and enjoy!
That’s it! Your edible play dough is ready for rolling, squishing, and sculpting. Bring out your cookie cutters and play dough tools or simply let the kids get creative with their hands. And when they’re done? It’s safe to taste-test!
The kids loved squeezing and squishing the dough, using cookie cutters to make shapes, rolling it out and making a rainbow, and of couse tasting the yummy play dough! When they were almost done playing with it, I covered the dough in sprinkles and they had a blast mixing it all together.
Tips for the Perfect Edible Play Dough
- Adjust as needed: If the dough is too sticky, add a little more powdered sugar. If it’s too dry, add a tiny bit more frosting. You want it soft and smooth, just like regular play dough.
- Storage: Store any leftover play dough in an airtight container or ziplock bag, and it should stay soft for about 3–4 days. If it starts to dry out, knead in a drop of water to bring back the softness.
- Safety reminder: Although this dough is safe to eat, it’s pretty much pure sugar! Try to limit how much the kids eat, as too much can cause a sugar tummy ache.
Add-Ons and Variations
Feeling a little extra? Here are some fun twists you can try:
- Sprinkles: Mix in sprinkles for a fun, colorful twist. Kids love the added texture and color!
- Flavors: Try different frosting flavors to give each dough a unique scent. Chocolate, strawberry, or lemon frosting work well.
- Color mix-up: Blend colors together for a fun “tie-dye” or “unicorn” effect. Kids will have a blast watching colors merge!
Why We Love This Edible Play Dough Recipe
Not only is this edible play dough super easy to make, but it’s also a fantastic sensory play activity. Kids can explore different textures, practice motor skills by rolling and cutting shapes, and even satisfy their curiosity about taste.
Plus, it’s quick to clean up, affordable, and perfect for those moments when you need an instant indoor activity. This two-ingredient recipe is sure to become a go to favorite for rainy days, playdates, or anytime fun.
