This Forest Putty is more than just play dough—it’s an invitation to explore, imagine, and get your hands a little messy in the best way. Kids love it because it’s soft, squishy, and endlessly moldable, but what really makes it fun is the sensory magic:
- The earthy scents of herbs
- The natural colors
- The feeling of creating something that looks like it came straight from the forest
It sparks creativity, encourages open-ended play, and turns a simple activity into a tiny adventure. Sticks become towers, leaves become treasures, and imagination leads the way!
The earthy scents of herbs, the natural colors, and the feeling of creating something that looks like it came straight from the forest.
Let’s get mixing!
Makes enough for 6 baseball-sized balls
Mix it up: Combine all dry ingredients, then add the wet ingredients. Stir until everything is well blended.
Cook with confidence: Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the dough pulls together and becomes slightly clearer in color.
Knead & cool: Knead the dough a few times, then set it aside to cool.
Store it smart: Once completely cool, pack the dough into a zip-top bag or airtight container. Store in the fridge if you’re not using it right away.
Helpful Tips & Magical Know-How
Making for a crowd? Double the recipe for about 10 people. I like everyone to have plenty to play with.
Trust the process: When the mixture is cooking, it will look very wet and you might think it’s failing. It’s not!
- Keep stirring (a wooden spoon works best).
- Watch for it to start sticking to the spoon… Then to itself… Until it forms a soft, ball-ish mass
- Handling: Rubber gloves are a good idea when start kneading the batch for everyone. Be sure to let the dough cool a bit before handling.
- Scent > color: I usually use herbs and spices more for scent than color.
– Turmeric works nicely for color
– Beet juice gives a bold, beautiful hue
Forest vibes: Add sprigs of rosemary or other dried herbs from your cabinet.
- It looks gorgeous
- Smells amazing
- And the natural tan color of the flour really lets the leaves shine
Timing matters: Add coloring or herbs while the dough is cooling, not while it’s cooking. This keeps scents and colors stronger.
Go natural if you can: Natural colorings look softer and more magical. Food coloring works, but can look a bit unnatural.
A Sweet Finishing Touch
Include a little note with the dough that says something like this:
“Dear Explorers, Enjoy using this Forest Putty to play and make things.
Your friends, The Forest Fairies”
Homemade Play Dough Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 4 tsp cream of tarter
- 1 cup salt
- 2 cups cold water
- 4 tbsp oil
- coloring e.g. turmeric powder mixed with a tiny bit of water.
- Cinnamon splash of vanilla extract or other scented spice
Instructions
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Mix dry ingredients add wet ingredients. Mix them well.
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Cook over medium-low heat, stirring continuously, until the dought holds together and is slightly clearer in the color.
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Once the mix is cooking in the pan, keep stirring, and use a wooden spoon. It is very wet, and you will feel like it's failing. Keep stirring. You'll see it start to stick to the spoon. Keep stirring until it starts to stick to itself and take on a ball form.
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Let the dough cool for a while and start kneading. Put on rubber gloves at this point because it is very hot.
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Add color if desired. Turmeric or beet juice always lends strong color. Use natural coloring if you can. Food coloring is okay, but often looks pretty unnatural.
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Use herbs and spices for scent if desired. Adding coloring or herbs when it's cooling keeps colors and scents stronger rather than while it's in the pot. You can add sprigs of rosemary and other dried herbs you have in your cabinet. The herbs look really pretty and smell great.
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Knead a few times, then let it cool.
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Once cool, pack in a ziploc bag or airtight container. Keep it in the fridge if not using for a while.
Recipe Notes
For gluten-free version, use gluten-free flour and add-ins.
