Edible Play Dough: um or should I say Fun Dough?: A Tutorial

In my quest to find make at home play dough ( or as we call it "Fun Dough" as Playskool has that name on lock) I have accumulated several recipes that I think are good ...because as well all know all "Fun Dough" isn't equal!
Edible fun dough is great because anyone who deals with kids knows that it toys will eventually end up in a child's mouth and now with it being edible you will not have to worry about calling poison control or having child protective services making a "visit" to talk about your unfit parenting skills. Also , if you are making this for yourself ( which is fine, we don't judge...and I play with it as well) then these are great for a variety of craft projects and smell great. Just note that some of these recipes contain peanut butter, so if you or the person that you are making this for is allergic to nuts, then please do not use.

The following are a variety of recipes that are my fav's :

{Kool-Aid Play Dough}
1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
3 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
1 package Kool-Aid Mix (any flavor of unsweetened)
1 tablespoon cooking oil

Mix dry ingredients together in a lare saucepan. Slowly add water mixed with oil and stir over medium heat until mixture thickens to dough. Turn out onto a heatproof bread board or counter top and knead until cool enough for children to handle. Dough will be the color of the Kool-Aid mix and will smell like the Kool-Aid mix. (Can be stored in a tightly covered container for up to six months)

{Jell-O Play Dough}
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
1 tablespoon oil
2 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
1 (3-1/2 oz.) package "unsweetened" Jell-O

Mix all ingredients together and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until consistency of mashed potatoes. Let cool and knead with floured hands until dry.
Storage: This recipe needs to cool completely "before" storing it in an airtight container!
Note: The items made from this play dough recipe can be painted when they are dry.

{Oatmeal Play Dough}
1 part flour
2 parts oatmeal
1 part water

Mix ingredients together and form into shapes.
Note: The items made from this play dough recipe can be painted when they are dry.

{Peanut Butter/Graham Cracker Play Dough}
Use equal amounts of Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Cream Graham Crackers Crumble up Graham Crackers into crumbs, then set these aside.Mix the peanut butter and Marshmallow Cream together . Cover surface area with wax paper or use a breadboard, let children make into shapes. Roll shapes in Graham Cracker crumbs, then eat! Storage: When not using, MUST be stored in an airtight container. Note: This is more of an interactive dessert for kids more so than play dough, but great fun

{Peanut Butter Play Dough}
one 18-oz. jar creamy peanut butter
6 tablespoons honey
3/4 cup non-fat dry milk

Mix ingredients together, using varying amounts of dry milk for desired consistencies. Knead it with fingers, forming into desired shapes, adding other foods like M&M's or peanuts for eyes, mouths, etc. Great fun!
Storage: When not using, MUST be stored in an airtight container.

{Yummy Edible Play Dough Recipe}
1 1/4 Cup confectioners' sugar 1 1/4 Cup powdered milk 1 Cup corn syrup 1 Cup peanut butter Mix ingredients together in bowl. Kids can mold, create and eat when finished.





{Girl Scout Peanut Butter Play Dough}
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
2 cups powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, using your hands. Dough should feel soft and pliable. Form shapes and be creative!
Storage: When not using, MUST be stored in an airtight container.

{Smooth Peanut Butter Play Dough}
2 cups smooth peanut butter
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups dried milk
2/3 cups honey

Mix all ingredients until thoroughly combined.
Storage: When not using, MUST be stored in an airtight container

{Frosting Play Dough}
1 can frosting (any flavor)
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter

Mix together until dough reaches desired consistency
Storage: When not using, MUST be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated. Next time you want to use it, let it come to room temperature for pliable dough.

{Chocolate Play Dough}
8 oz. semisweet chocolate
1/4 cup plus one tablespoon light corn syrup

Melt the chocolate in a metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water (a double boiler). Stir the chocolate with a spoon until smooth, then stir in the corn syrup. The chocolate will stiffen almost immediately but stir completely combined. Transfer the chocolate to a sturdy plastic bag and refrigerate until firm; the consistency will be that of Play Dough.
When firm, the dough can be worked by kneading. If it is too hard, cut off small pieces and knead until pliable. If the dough sticks to the counter when rolling, lightly spray counter or breadboard with vegetable spray or lightly grease with vegetable oil.
Hand shape the dough into a rope or braid, making two or three long ropes and twist or braid them together -- can be used as the outside edge on top of a cake or around the base.
Make ribbons to cover the cake. To do this, pat your dough into a disk shape and roll dough out to desired thickness using a rolling pin or else use a manual pasta machine.
Storage: When not using, MUST be stored in an airtight container and refrigerate.

I find that using a wooden spoon works best when mixing play dough and also a spatula. Also some of these doughs need to be refrigerated ..as they are made with edible items. Of course it will firm up in the fridge so once you remove, you can let sit for a couple of minutes and/or knead in your hands with a little canola oil( not much, just lightly coat your hands). If you can't find an air tight container or if you don't have a "vacuum saver" bags, you can just put in zip lock back and press out the air.

photos & receipes courtesy of Karen H Ilagan , Jek in the Box & Family Corner