Scented Gingerbread Slime Recipe

Are we baking cookies or making slime? Whether you love baking gingerbread man cookies, are planning a gingerbread theme lesson, or just love anything scented, our newest gingerbread slime is the answer. Our holiday slimes are really popular! Enjoy the scented science and sensory play that is so easy to make with a homemade slime recipe!

SCENTED GINGERBREAD SLIME FOR A HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS

GINGERBREAD MAN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

I love the smell of gingerbread around Christmas time, don’t you? Why not engage the sense of smell while you play with homemade slime!

Our gingerbread slime is definitely different than gingerbread playdough! I have a kid who loves slime more than playdough, but I still want to have some of the fun of the classic gingerbread man playdough activities. This is it!

Adding any of your cookie cutters, not just the gingerbread man ones is perfect! You can also add buttons, glitter, and whatever else you think the kids will enjoy. Plus, who doesn’t love the smell of gingerbread cookies!

CHECK OUT: 25 Days of Christmas STEM Countdown Calendar

Our scented gingerbread slime is awesome on the senses. My husband and son thought I was baking cookies. Apparently, that’s going to be next on my to-do list this week!

There are so many ideas for exploring a gingerbread theme. Here are a few of our favorite activities…

Also make sure to check out our popular paper gingerbread house craft!

Gingerbread slime with gingerbread cookie cutters!

THE SCIENCE BEHIND HOMEMADE GINGERBREAD SLIME

What’s the science behind the slime? The borate ions in the slime activators (sodium borate, borax powder, or boric acid) mix with the PVA (polyvinyl-acetate) glue and form this cool stretchy substance. This is called cross-linking!

The glue is a polymer and is made up of long, repeating, and identical strands or molecules. These molecules flow past one another keeping the glue in a liquid state. Until…

When you add the borate ions to the mixture, it starts to connect these long strands together. They begin to tangle and mix until the substance is less like the liquid you started with and thicker and rubberier like slime!

Picture the difference between wet spaghetti and leftover spaghetti the next day. As the slime forms, the tangled molecule strands are much like the clump of spaghetti!

Is slime a liquid or solid? We call it a Non-newtonian fluid because it’s a little bit of both! Read more about slime science here!

Gingerbread Slime with Christmas Cookie Cutters

Christmas cinnamon scented gingerbread slime for kids

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE PRINTABLE SLIME RECIPES!

GINGERBREAD SLIME RECIPE

Looking for a taste safe gingerbread slime recipe? Try our edible gingerbread man slime!

SUPPLIES:

1/2 Cup of Washable PVA Clear Glue or White Glue
1/4 Cup of Liquid Starch
1/2 Cup of Water
Powdered spices (Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg, Ginger etc.)

HOW TO MAKE GINGERBREAD SLIME

STEP 1: In a bowl mix together the water and glue.

STEP 2: Add the spices and combine.

TIP: The spices give the slime its wonderful color just like the classic gingerbread playdough recipe! I mixed in 1 1/2 tablespoons of cinnamon and a 1/4 teaspoon of both ground cloves and ginger to the water and glue mixture.

STEP 3: Pour in 1/4 cup of liquid starch. You will see the slime immediately start to form. Keep stirring until you have a gooey blob of slime. The liquid should be gone!

It will take a bit to get it mixed in. If you want you can just pour the starch into the same container, but it’s important to transfer the already made slime to a dry container.

STEP 4: Start kneading your slime! It will appear stringy at first but just work it around with your hands and you will notice the consistency changes. You can also put it in a clean container and set it aside for 3 minutes, and you will also notice the change in consistency!

STEP 5: Enjoy your slime!

Slime has a wonderful stretchable quality. Although the mixing can be messy, the end result is not all that messy on the hands. Store in a plastic container with a lid for up to a month of play {depending on how dirty it might get!}