This easy homemade lemon playdough recipe is just the ticket when you want a fun and frugal way to add some sunshine to your learning and play. It’s bright, cheerful, and smells absolutely amazing.
This lemon-scented playdough is fantastic for an activity tray, pretend play, fine motor skills practice, and more. We love using it for summer themes and whenever we need a energy boost.
I’m sharing step-by-step instructions plus by best tips for making and using the dough. And I have creative ideas to help you squeeze the day and dive into some lemony fun!
A Delightful Way to Brighten Your Day with Playdough
Want a sweet activity that’s scentsational for sensory fun and more? Maybe you’re working on Letter of the Week (Ll) and want to add a hands-on activity? Perhaps you’d like to add to your collection of learning fun activities for screen-free and quiet time?
Well, I think you’re going to love this easy lemon playdough recipe!
After sharing our free lemon printables and lemonade stamping craft, I couldn’t help but think back to this amazing (and super easy!) lemon playdough recipe that my boys and I used for summer homeschool fun. It’s one of those simple things that became sweet memories.
We’ve tried different versions over the years (like this Kool-Aid one for color and scent and another with lemon essential oil for a more natural feel). Both are wonderfully uplifting and totally energizing!
The boys used the playdough for all sorts of creative, hands-on fun. They set up pretend lemonade stands, “baked” citrusy treats, and even crafted silly lemon creatures with googly eyes and straws.
I loved that it was budget-friendly, easy to make, and something we could use over and over again. This playdough lasts for quite a while when stored properly which made it a total win.
If you’re looking for a way to keep those summer vibes going strong with hands-on fun that sparks creativity and smells amazing, this lemon playdough is it.
Suggested Supplies for This Easy Lemon Playdough Recipe
This simple lemon playdough recipe uses easy-to-find kitchen staples plus a few special touches to really bring that bright and zesty vibe to life! You can stick with the basics or add in a couple fun extras to boost the scent and color. Here’s what you’ll want to gather before you get started:
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup salt
- 2 tbsp cream of tartar
- 1 packet Lemonade Kool-Aid (for scent and base color) OR lemon essential oil (my favorite is from Eden’s Garden)
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 tbsp oil
- Lemon zest
- Optional: Yellow food coloring
- Extra flour for adjusting consistency
How to Make Your Lemon Playdough
Prepare dry mix, boil water, and combine.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and cream of tartar. Stir until evenly mixed. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Once boiling, carefully pour it into a glass or heat-safe container and stir in the oil. Slowly pour the hot water and oil mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients. Add lemonade Kool-Aid packet and stir with a spoon until it begins to come together.
Mix in Kool-Aid packet and lemon zest.
Add lemonade Kool-Aid packet and stir with a spoon until it begins to come together. Once the dough is cool enough to handle, knead in the fresh lemon zest. For a brighter yellow color, add a few drops of yellow food coloring. Knead until everything is evenly mixed and the dough is soft and fragrant.
Adjust texture.
If the dough feels sticky after mixing, knead in extra flour a little at a time (about ⅓ cup) until the dough becomes soft and smooth. Let cool for 5–10 minutes.
Creative Ideas for Enjoying Your Lemon-Scented Playdough
Ready to turn that playdough into a whole bunch of fun? Once your lemon playdough is mixed up, you’ll be all set to jump into some hand-on activities. Here are some easy ways to enjoy it:
- Lemonade Stand Pretend Play: Your kids can make their own lemonade cups and treats with their DIY dough. You can add some props, too.
- Lemon Bakery Creations: Use cookie cutters, rolling pins, and silicone cupcake liners to create “lemon” pies, cookies, and cakes. My boys like to use pom poms, buttons, and pieces of pipe cleaners for sprinkles and extra decorations.
- Silly Lemon Creatures: Add googly eyes, straws, buttons, or pipe cleaners and invite kids to design their own citrusy critters.
- Letter, Number, and Shape Practice: Use cookie cutters, playdough mats, or have your kids shape letters, shapes, and numbers.
- Enjoy for a Special Fun Day: Lemon Day is July 23. Lemon Juice Day is August 29. And Lemonade Day is the first Sunday in May!
- Make a Lemon-Themed Playdough Tray: Set up a playful, lemon-themed playdough invitation with this lemon-scented yellow playdough, plastic or foam lemons, yellow and white paper straws (cut into small sections), mini-plastic ice cubes or clear acrylic gems, small tongs, lemon juicer, or cups for pretend lemonade-making.
Store in an airtight container or zip-top bag to keep your playdough fresh and ready for the next round of lemony adventures!
Frequently Asked Questions About Making Lemon Playdough
When stored properly in an airtight container or zip-top bag, this playdough can last up to 2–3 weeks or more! If it starts to feel dry, try kneading in a tiny bit of oil or water.
Absolutely! While lemonade Kool-Aid gives it that lemon vibe, you can swap it out for any scent or color combo you like. Orange or pink lemonade are fun twists!
No problem! You can still make a lightly lemon-scented dough with just the lemon zest (and a bit of lemon juice). It won’t be as strong, but still smells fresh and fun.
Totally! The lemonade Kool-Aid and lemon zest give a natural yellow tint. Food coloring just boosts the brightness. Please feel free to leave it out if you prefer.
It’s non-toxic, but the salt content means it’s not meant for eating. Always supervise younger children and remind them it’s for play, not snacks.
No worries! Just sprinkle in a little extra flour (about a tablespoon at a time) and knead until it reaches your desired consistency.
Enjoy This Simple Lemon Fun for Kids
I hope this easy lemon playdough recipe adds a whole lot of fun to your summer and beyond. It’s such a simple way to engage kids in hands-on fun that can spark their imaginations plus sneak in a little sensory play along the way.
Be sure to get our free lemon printables and lemonade stamping craft for even more fun-focused ideas! And if you give this playdough recipe a try, I’d love to hear how it goes or see your creations.
