How To Make Edible St. Patrick’s Day Play Dough

Make soft, fluffy edible St. Patrick’s Day play dough for holiday sensory play with just 2 simple ingredients—frosting and powdered sugar! No cooking required!

If you’re looking for a sensory play activity that’s easy, fun, and totally safe for little ones to taste, this edible St. Patrick’s Day 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 super sticky or messy! This is our favorite play dough recipe. Whether it’s a rainy day or you just need a quick, mess-free activity, this edible St. Patrick’s Day play dough is a winner.

Why Holiday-Themed Activities Rock for Kids

Edible St. Patrick’s Day play dough is a fantastic sensory play activity for kids! With its soft, squishy texture, this homemade edible dough invites children to explore their senses in a safe and engaging way.

Plus, holiday-themed sensory play is perfect for sparking creativity. Your kids can roll it into balls to make shamrocks, cut shapes with cookie cutters, or create a leprechaun treasure scene with gold coins, pom-poms, or rainbow toys.

And when the weather outside isn’t ideal for outdoor adventures, edible St. Patrick’s Day play dough is the ultimate indoor activity to keep little hands busy and happy. Because it’s completely edible (although not meant for snacking), even little ones who tend to put things in their mouths can join in.

How to Make Edible St. Patrick’s Day Play Dough

This play dough uses our original edible play dough recipe, but with a St. Patrick’s Day twist. Here’s what you’ll need:

What You’ll Need

• 1 cup of store-bought frosting: We used Funfetti Vanilla Frosting
• 2 cups of Powdered Sugar
• Food coloring
• Mixing bowl and spoon
• Optional: Shamrock cookie cutters and play dough tools

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 colored hands!

5. Play and enjoy!

That’s it! Your edible St. Patrick’s Day 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.

The kids wanted to make a rainbow so we took a small amount of the play dough and made rainbow colors.

We also added some sprinkles to decorate our shamrocks.

Tips for the Perfect Edible St. Patrick’s Day 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.

Why We Love This Edible St. Patrick’s Day Play Dough Recipe

This play dough is a St. Patrick’s Day hit! It’s easy, endlessly entertaining, affordable, and perfect for those moments when you need an instant indoor activity. With just two ingredients, frosting and powdered sugar, you can create a St. Patrick’s Day sensory wonderland right in your living room.

Give it a try and let me know how your play dough creations turned out in the comments.