Thermomix Playdough – Sensory Play

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Thermomix playdough is a childhood favourite. Cheap and easy to make. Now you can take your playdough fun to the next level by adding essential oils. 

White table with Thermomix playdough and cookie cutters and rolling pin

Once upon a time, I used to make play-dough almost weekly. With 5 children homemade dough was so much more affordable than buying the tiny commercially prepared pots, so over the years, I got quite good at making delicious smelly variations and special glitter dough to keep the kids amused.

I started using lavender essential oil when I had my eldest boy, 24 years ago. He was NOT a settled child. He was an absolute screamer!! When he was a baby I used to buy almond oil and add a few drops of lavender to the bottle. Then I would use the mixture as a massage oil. He hated it at first but the calming aroma and the touch eventually settled him.

As he grew I started adding lavender oil to his bathtime for a more relaxing bath and then to his “blanky” for sleep time. Eventually, the lavender oil also found its way into playtime.

Adding essential oils to playdough adds another sensory experience to play. Fine motors skills are employed to shape the playdough. The creative brain is being utilised, as is the sense of touch, sight, and smell. 

Stovetop Essential Oil Playdough Recipe

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 TBS vegetable oil
  • food colouring
  • 2 TBS Glitter *if using
  • ¼ cup salt
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • 2 tablespoon cream of tartar
  • 1/4 tsp lavender essential oil
  1. Place the water, vegetable oil, food colouring in a saucepan. Heat until just below boiling.
  2. Remove from the heat and add salt, flour and cream of tartar.
  3. Stir the mixture until it becomes a ball of dough.
  4. Turn the playdough onto a plate and flatten.
  5. Once cooled enough to handle, add a few drops of lavender essential oil to the dough and kneed.
White table with Thermomix playdough and cookie cutters

Why use Cream of Tartar in Playdough?

Cream of tartar adds elasticity to the playdough. If you omit this ingredient your playdough will be more crumbly and dry and won’t have the same “softness”. The two tablespoons of cream of tartar will yield a firm but springy dough.

Which Essential Oil is best?

I use the DoTerra range of essential oil because they’re pure essential oils and non-toxic. This is particularly important for use with children as they have sensitive skin and are prone to putting things in their mouth.

Whilst my favourite oil is lavender for the calming effect it has on both myself and the children there are other oils that are well suited to playdough.

  • lavender
  • wild orange
  • peppermint

I like to match the colour of the food colouring to the essential oil. 

Lavender = Purple

Wild Orange = Orange

Peppermint = Green

Thermomix Playdough Storage

Your Thermomix playdough can be stored in a  zip-lock bag or airtight container and it will usually last several weeks at room temperature. Lavender oil has antibacterial qualities, so the addition of essential oil will also help keep it safe to use.

Step by Step Thermomix Playdough

3 images showing the stages of making Thermomix playdough

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White table with Thermomix playdough and cookie cutters
Print Recipe
5 from 13 votes

Thermomix Play-dough – Sensory child’s play

This Soft Thermomix playdough has essential oils and glitter to create a complete sensory experience. Instructions for stovetop and Thermomix
Prep Time3 mins
Cook Time6 mins
Total Time9 mins
Keyword: Children, DoTerra, Playdough, Playtime, School holidays, Sensory play
Servings: 1 batch
Author: Julie Carlyle
Cost: $3

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 85 g salt 1/4 cup
  • 250 g water 1 cup
  • 30 g vegetable oil or coconut oil
  • 6 drop food colouring 4 drops red, 2 drops of blue
  • 2 TBS glitter optional
  • 250 g plain flour 1 1/2 cups
  • 2 TBS cream of tartar
  • 2 drops lavender oil

Instructions

  • Add salt to TM Bowl. Blend 10 sec/Speed 8.
  • Add water, vegetable oil, cream of tartar and food colouring to the salt. Cook 5 min/60 degrees/Speed 4.
  • Add glitter, if using and then flour. Combine 1 min/degrees/Speed 3.
  • Use the spatula to help the mixture combine. repeat if necessary.
  • Turn the playdough out onto the benchtop and add a well for the lavender essential oil.
  • Fold the dough over and kneed until combined adding more flour if required.
  • Kneeding actually helps the mixture to become stronger and less sticky.

Video

Notes

STORAGE:
Store the play dough in an airtight container or ziplock bag. The playdough should last for a month or so. 
If using DoTerra lavender or tea tree essential oil the playdough will have strong antibacterial qualities and will be safe to use for a very long time.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I hope you have enjoyed this recipe. If you have made this dish I would love for you to come back and comment.

Leaving a comment and a star rating helps others decide if they should try my recipe. Plus if you hit the social media share buttons, your friends may find a delicious new recipe too!

Thank you for stopping by,

Happy Cooking

j

xx

13 thoughts on “Thermomix Playdough – Sensory Play”

  1. Dannie Latkes says:

    5 stars
    The play dough comes out exactly as you pictured and described. Perfect!

  2. Stephanie Whitmore says:

    5 stars
    My kids adore this play dough 😍

  3. Judy Wells says:

    5 stars
    Love this playdough recipe! The addition of lavender is amazing!

  4. Michelle Kitchener says:

    5 stars
    We make this play dough every few months and just love the smell and feel. Beautiful!

  5. Vicky Georgalis says:

    5 stars
    Holy moly this is good. My children love it and it really does have a calming effect with the lavender

  6. Georgie Smith says:

    5 stars
    Definitely recommend this playdough, it’s amazing

  7. Rachel Morris says:

    5 stars
    The video is so good to watch snd really shows how simple it is. I should have been making this before and jot buying playdough

  8. Stacey Bollinger says:

    5 stars
    The essential oils is an amazing addition, just love it

  9. Lauren Horseman says:

    5 stars
    Why have I not thought of this before, so good!!!

  10. Sylvia Jenkins says:

    5 stars
    Best playdough ever

  11. Jenna Hina says:

    5 stars
    Great recipe for play dough, so simple to make

  12. Lauren Smith says:

    5 stars
    Another perfect recipe, thanks Julie

  13. Erin Franklin says:

    5 stars
    MAKE THIS!!

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