How To Make Ocean Edible Playdough

Make soft, fluffy, and completely edible ocean-themed playdough for summer sensory fun with just 2 simple ingredients—frosting and powdered sugar! No cooking required!

If you’re looking for a summer sensory play activity that’s fun, simple, and totally taste-safe for toddlers and preschoolers, this ocean edible playdough is perfect! Made with only frosting and powdered sugar, you can whip up a batch of soft, squishy playdough that’s ready for molding, rolling, and maybe even a tiny nibble or two.

The best part? The dough is not sticky or messy! This is our favorite playdough recipe. Whether you’re heading into a summer break, planning an ocean-themed week, or just need a quick indoor activity to cool off, this ocean edible playdough is a total win.

Why Summer-Themed Activities Are Awesome For Kids

Ocean edible playdough is a fantastic summer sensory activity for kids! With its soft, squishy texture, this homemade edible playdough is ideal for little hands to explore while stimulating touch, sight, and even smell.

Plus, summer sensory activities like this edible playdough is perfect for sparking creativity. Your child can roll out waves, mold sea creatures with cookie cutters, or decorate their ocean dough with shells, gems, and toy seacreatures.

And when it’s way too hot to go to the beach, this ocean edible playdough is the perfect indoor substitute to bring the ocean magic home. Because it’s completely taste-safe (although not meant for snacking), it’s safe even for toddlers who love to taste everything!

The Best Ocean Edible Playdough Recipe

This ocean playdough is a twist on our edible play dough recipe, which is a hit all year long! Here’s what you’ll need:

What You’ll Need

• 1 cup of store-bought frosting: We used Funfetti Vanilla Frosting
• 2-2 ½ cups of Powdered Sugar
• Food coloring
• Mixing bowl and spoon
• Optional: playdough tools, letter stamps, toy sea creatures, rocks, or gems

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 ½ 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 playdough. 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 colored hands!

5. Play and enjoy!

That’s it! Your ocean edible playdough is ready for rolling, squishing, and sculpting. Bring out your cookie cutters and playdough tools or simply let the kids get creative with their hands.

Tips for the Perfect Edible Playdough

• 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 playdough.

• 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.

Why We Love This 4th Of July Edible Playdough Recipe

This edible playdough is a summer hit! It’s easy, endlessly entertaining, affordable, and perfect for those moments when you need an instant indoor activity. With just frosting and powdered sugar, you can create an imaginative underwater sensory experience your kids will love.

Try it out and let me know how your ocean creations turn out in the comments!