Gingerbread Playdough Recipe

Whether you love baking gingerbread man cookies, are planning a gingerbread theme lesson, or just love anything scented, our newest gingerbread playdough recipe is the answer. This is such a pliable, soft, and easy playdough recipe to use for Christmas play. Plus, it smells amazing! Enjoy the scented sensory play of gingerbread this holiday season!

Gingerbread Playdough Recipe

If you want to make gingerbread playdough without cooking, check out our no cook playdough recipe!

Ingredients:

1 cup salt
2 cups water
4 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1 tablespoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 cups flour

Instructions:

STEP 1. Combine the salt, water, oil, cream of tartar, ginger, and cinnamon in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until boiling begins.

STEP 2. Add the flour and lower the heat, stirring vigorously until the dough pulls away from the sides of the saucepan and begins to form a ball.

There might appear to be small lumps of flour not blending in but these will blend during kneading. (We think the dough looks like refried beans!)

STEP 3. Remove from the heat and turn out onto parchment paper or wax paper. Allow to cool briefly.

STEP 4. Knead well, having fun by rolling and punching. This will blend in the small lumps of flour.

TIP: Store the gingerbread playdough in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Allow to come to room temperature before playing.

STEP 5. Put out some gingerbread man cookie cutters, buttons or beads and googly eyes to make gingerbread men!

TIP: Print out the gingerbread math worksheets below to use as playdough mats!

Or simply allow kids to engage in free play, exploring the texture and scent of the gingerbread playdough. Add in some other scented items like cinnamon sticks and cloves for a fun Christmas sensory activity.