Scented Gingerbread Slime Recipe for Christmas Science

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 holidays slimes are really popular, and this year I challenged us to come up with a gingerbread man series. Enjoy the scented science and sensory play that is so easy to make with our homemade slime recipes.

SCENTED GINGERBREAD SLIME FOR A HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS

HOLIDAY SLIMES

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!

If you have been around with us for a little while, you know how much we love slime. We have tons of Christmas and Holiday theme slimes. I guess you could say we are slime crazy, and that’s because our basic collection of slime recipes are so easy to make.

We are excited to share that you can make this gingerbread man slime recipe with any of our basic slime recipes, and I bet you could even try it with our fluffy slime recipe too. Scroll down to pick your favorite slime recipe to try.

CHECK OUT THE NEW VIDEO!

MAKE SURE TO BOOKMARK ALL OUR HOLIDAY AND CHRISTMAS SLIMES!

This season we are exploring a gingerbread man science theme. We have already checked out dissolving gingerbread men, crystal gingerbread men, salt crystal gingerbread men, gingerbread man cookie chemistry, and now we have gingerbread slime with gingerbread men cookie cutters!

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE HOMEMADE GINGERBREAD SLIME RECIPE

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 forms 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 with 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!

SLIME FOR NGSS: Did you know that slime aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards? It does and you can use slime making to explore states of matter and its interactions. Check out NGSS 2-PS1-1 for more information!

Read more about slime science here!

CHECK OUT OUR PLAY WITH GINGERBREAD SLIME AND LOOK FOR THE RECIPE BELOW!

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

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

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! Slime is an amazing tactile experience with or without the scent.

What else can you do with those cookie cutters, check out this simple gingerbread man pattern art project for the kids to do anytime! Or you can use those cookie cutters for fizzy science!

SLIME SUPPLIES

I always encourage my readers to read through the recommended slime supplies list and troubleshooting guide before making slime. Learn how to stock your pantry with the best slime-gredients.

Where Do I buy Liquid Starch?

We pick up our liquid starch in the grocery store! Check the laundry detergent aisle and look for the bottles marked starch. Ours is Linit Starch (brand). You might also see Sta-flo as a popular option. You can also find it on Amazon, Walmart, Target, and even craft stores.

“But what if I don’t have liquid starch available to me?”

This is a pretty common question from those who live out of the United States, and we do have some alternatives to share with you. Click on the link below to see if any of these will work! Our saline solution slime recipe also works well for Canadian and UK readers.

1/2 Cup of Elmer’s Washable PVA Clear Glue or White Glue 

1/4 Cup of Liquid Starch

1/2 Cup of Water

Food coloring, confetti, glitter, and other fun mix-ins

Grab Your FREE Clickable Slime Supplies Pack Here

GINGERBREAD SLIME INSTRUCTIONS

LIQUID STARCH SLIME STEPS

Make sure to read about the science behind the slime below! NEW! Slime troubleshooting guide (great to read before making slime  too)!

STEP 1:  In a bowl mix 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup of glue (mix well to combine completely).

STEP 2: Now’s the time to add color, glitter, or confetti! Remember when you add color to white glue, the color will be lighter. Use clear glue for jewel toned colors!

You can never add too much glitter! Mix the glitter and color into the glue and water 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!

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!EASY SCENTED SLIME FOR CHRISTMAS

The spices give the slime its wonderful color just like the classic play dough recipes! I mixed in a tablespoon and a half of cinnamon  and a 1/4 teaspoon of both ground cloves and ginger to the water and glue mixture.

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.

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!}

MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT: Crystal Gingerbread Man Science Ornament

MORE SLIME MAKING RESOURCES!

You will find everything you ever wanted to know about making homemade slime right here, and if you have questions, just ask me!

HOW DO I FIX MY SLIME?

OUR TOP SLIME RECIPE IDEAS YOU NEED TO MAKE!

BASIC SLIME SCIENCE KIDS CAN UNDERSTAND!

WATCH OUR AMAZING SLIME VIDEOS

READER QUESTIONS ANSWERED!

BEST INGREDIENTS FOR MAKING SLIME!

THE AMAZING BENEFITS THAT COME OUT OF SLIME MAKING WITH KIDS!

I love trying out a little something different with my son and our gingerbread slime is a great twist on the classic gingerbread play dough you can also make! Slime is excellent play and science!

CHECK IT OUT: Dissolving Gingerbread Man Cookies

Try something a little different for Christmas with gingerbread man themed slime.

CHRISTMAS GINGERBREAD SLIME FOR KIDS TO MAKE TOO!

All the best Christmas science for the season! Click on the photo to find some really cool ideas.