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Cinnamon Playdough Recipe: How To Make & Fun Ideas for Play

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This simple cinnamon playdough recipe smells amazing and only takes a few minutes to make.

With only three steps, your kids (and you!) will be able to quickly enjoy hands-on activities that are perfect for sensory play in the fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any time of year. It's a frugal DIY way to help your kids have fun while building important skills.

We've used this homemade playdough recipe for years to take creative play and learning to the next level. It stores very well and adds a festive aroma to your room when in use.

Related: If you like this idea, you'll love this easy pumpkin playdough recipe!

Example of cinnamon playdough recipe with cinnamon sticks and the letters C I N N A M O N.

Scentsational Way to Enjoy Hands-On Sensory Fun

Want some fun ways to help your kids enjoy sensory play? Or maybe you need some frugal activities for boosting your holiday celebration with your students? Perhaps you'd like to inspire creativity and imagination?

Well, this simple cinnamon playdough recipe is delightful for all of those things and many more!

I'm so excited to share one of my favorite tricks for keeping my boys engaged with screen-free activities. I love that this hack is easy and super affordable. DIY playdough is the way to go!

When my oldest was still a baby, my mom (a retired preschool and Kindergarten teacher) shared her beloved cinnamon playdough recipe with me. This recipe was a big hit with her students. They loved being able to play with a delicious smelling batch at a math center, indoor recess, or just because.

My oldest and I had so many amazing experiences with this playdough. And, of course, I used it with his younger brothers with similar success.

Learn how to make this incredible DIY playdough plus get my tips for creative ways to customize below. Make a batch or two soon and enjoy throughout autumn and the holidays!

Cinnamon playdough with letters of C I N N A M O N, cinnamon sticks, and plastic playdough tools.

Ingredients for This Homemade Cinnamon Playdough Recipe

To make this recipe on your own or with your kids, I recommend that you gather all the ingredients prior to starting. If you have extra supplies, I encourage you to make extra - especially if you're working with a group of children.

Here is what you'll need to make your cinnamon playdough:

1 cup

all-purpose flour

½ cup

salt

1 tablespoon

corn starch

2 tablespoons

cream of tartar

1 tablespoon

pumpkin pie spice

3 teaspoons

ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons

vegetable oil

1 ½ cups

water

optional

brown food coloring

Clabber Girl Non-GMO Corn Starch, Gluten Free, 6.5 OunceClabber Girl Non-GMO Corn Starch, Gluten Free, 6.5 OunceAmazon Brand - Happy Belly Cinnamon Ground, 2.5 ounce (Pack of 1)Amazon Brand - Happy Belly Cinnamon Ground, 2.5 ounce (Pack of 1)Amazon Brand - Happy Belly Cream of Tartar, 5 ounce (Pack of 1)Amazon Brand - Happy Belly Cream of Tartar, 5 ounce (Pack of 1)Food Coloring Liquid Set,12 Colors x 10ml Cake Food Coloring Set for Baking Cake Decorating Edible Food Grade Food Color Dye for Fondant,Macaron,Icing,Slime Making DIY Supplies Kit-0.35 Fl. oz/BottlesFood Coloring Liquid Set,12 Colors x 10ml Cake Food Coloring Set for Baking Cake Decorating Edible Food Grade Food Color Dye for Fondant,Macaron,Icing,Slime Making DIY Supplies Kit-0.35 Fl. oz/Bottles

 

Glass bowls with flour, ground cinnamon, cornstarch, cream of tartar, vegetable oil, and glass measuring cup with water, and brown food coloring.

How to Make This DIY Cinnamon Playdough Recipe

Have you made homemade playdough before? If not, you're in for a fun time. It's awesome to watch the transformation from sticky, gooey mess to smooth ball of color to play with your hands!

It should only take a few minutes to gather the suggested ingredients (see above) and materials:

  • large cooking pot (or saucepan)
  • spoon (I prefer using a wood spoon. I've found it to be more sturdy and less likely to have the playdough stick to it while I'm stirring.)
  • wax paper or parchment paper
  • sealable plastic sandwich bags (or other containers that can be sealed) for safe storage and to extend the life of your DIY playdough

Cook time for this playdough recipe is approximately 4-5 minutes. That's less than 10 minutes until you have playdough to enjoy with your kids!

Easy Steps for Making This Playdough Recipe

Mixing bowl with red spatula and salt, flour, cornstarch, cream of tartar, and ground cinnamon.
01

Add dry ingredients.

In a medium saucepan, add all the dry ingredients. Stir to combine.

02

Add wet ingredients and mix.

Add the water and oil to the dry mixture. Place saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently for 4-5 minutes to combine until a dough ball forms.

03

Let cool and add color.

Remove from heat and place on parchment paper to begin cooling.

Add 8-10 drops of food coloring when the playdough is completely cool. Knead the dough to combine.

Example of cinnamon playdough with 2 cinnamon sticks.

Tips for Using Your Playdough for A Bunch of Fun

I've had years of experience making and using playdough with my boys. I'm thrilled to share some of the things that we've tried and learned from our experiences.

If you choose to use the brown food coloring (or other color) or have multiple students using the playdough, I suggest that you divide the dough into 6 portions. OR make a double batch!

Wait until the dough is completely cooled off before storing. This step can help prevent condensation from building up in the plastic bag (or other storage container).

Use one bag (or containter) per color of playdough and/or per child.

Oh, and canola oil can be used in place of vegetable oil in a 1:1 ratio.

⭐ Easily add some sparkle to your playdough with glitter. My boys and I have a blast mixing in some glitter. It makes the coolest effects and can add a neat holiday or seasonal touch.

Boost Holiday Fun and More with Cinnamon Playdough

When enjoying an activity with material like playdough with children, I think it's super smart to set clear rules and expectations. Also, consider having kid-safe tools made for using with playdough, as well as small plastic toys.

Printable playdough mats (like our free fall set, emotions, and number playdough mats) are simple ways to add learning fun and provide a specific area for students to use their playdough.

After you make and use this cinnamon playdough, I'd love to hear about your experiences! What did you do to customize it? And what type of playdough activities did you and your kids enjoy? Let me know in the comments area at the bottom of this post!

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4 Comments

  1. Cream of Tartar is not on the ingredients list. Is it supposed to be? Just making sure as many of the other recipes do use the cream of tartar. Thanks!

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