Fall is definitely a season for the senses! Crunchy leaves, cool breezes, vibrant colors, and delicious harvest treats! Why not add to the fun with an easy play dough recipe that is a sensory feast?! This play dough recipe is a must-have for preschool teachers to celebrate fall and provide sensory play for students.
The Easy No-Cook Apple Cinnamon Play Dough Recipe truly encompasses all that autumn has to offer! It absolutely smells delicious and technically it’s also edible for those curious kiddos that can’t resist a nibble.
I think the best play dough recipes are no-cook! It requires a few simple ingredients (flour, salt, cream of tartar, cinnamon, oil, and food coloring). Bring it all together with little hands and noses safely standing by!
Benefits of Homemade Play Dough
I think many would agree that a simple play dough recipe beats store bought playdough any day of the week! For me, the smell alone of store playdough is enough. Here are a few more reasons you might consider a homemade playdough recipe in lieu of brand name dough.
As long as you store homemade playdough in an airtight container, it will last up to 3 months. If it begins to dry out, you can “revive” it with a bit of water or oil.
More Apple Inspiration:
Create a Full Apple Theme with these awesome Activities!
Keep your craft supplies stocked and these apple resources on hand for that moment when inspiration hits!
Tulamama Wooden Educational Toys for 3 Year Olds – Perfect for Learning Colors, Counting & Sorting Toys. Quality Crafted & Made with All Natural Products. Excellent Learning Gift for Boys & Girls.Learning Resources Attribute Apples
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US Toy – Miniature 3/4
Keilin Montessori Toy Set For 1 Year Old Toddlers, Carrots Harvest Sorting&Stacking Game, Bird Catching Worms, Apple Tree Picking, Fine Motor Skills, Preschool Learning Wooden Toy for Boys Girls
Materials needed for KEYWORD:
Get the Supplies Here:
Don’t worry about making a special trip to the store. You can get all the supplies for this activity right here.
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup salt
- 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon oil (vegetable oil, olive, or coconut)
- 2 teaspoons apple-scented fragrance oil (NOT an essential oil)
- 1 cup boiling water
- Red food coloring (gel food coloring or Kool-Aid gives a more vibrant color)
Apple Premium Grade Fragrance Oil – Scented Oil – 30mlApple Cider Fragrance Oil – Premium Grade Scented Oil – 30ml
Wilton Icing Colors, 8-Count Icing Colors, (Packaging May vary)
McCormick Culinary Cream of Tartar, 25 oz – One 25 Ounce Container of Cream of Tartar Powdered Thickening Agent for Egg Whites, Meringues, Angel Food Cake, Cookies, and More
Amazon Brand – Happy Belly Cinnamon, Ground, 2.5 Ounces
King Arthur All Purpose Flour 5 Lb (2.27 Kg) Unbleached
How to Make the Apple Play Dough Recipe
This recipe truly is super simple. Young hands can help with almost every step. The boiling water should be added by an adult or older child while others stand back to avoid scalding.
Consider how you will designate ingredients and steps to each child to help them take ownership.
Steps to Make this Great Recipe
1. In a bowl, combine the flour, salt, cream of tartar, and cinnamon
2. Combine the oils and food coloring with boiling water. Stir the oily water into the dry ingredients. Mix well.
3. Remove the dough and knead until it is no longer sticky.
*NOTE* Kids can help knead with a blob of dough on top of wax paper to work with their hands. Also, substitute lemon juice for cream of tartar as desired.
More Apple Themed Ideas to Pair with the Homemade Play Dough Recipe
Now that the apple pie spices are in the air, you might be inspired to run with this fall/apple theme! Here are a few more ideas to try:
Math Activities
Use the best no-cook play dough recipe ever for math, too! Give kids small apple beads/buttons/pipe cleaners to press and count into the dough.
Play a game
Use real apples as game markers! Place apples at the bottom of a large grid. Students roll a die and move that many spaces. The first one to top wins!
Science Experiments
Experiment with apples! Pose questions, like, “Will it float?” or “What will happen if we cut it in half and leave it out until tomorrow?” Work together to draw hypotheses and results.
Apple Books
Share themed books, like, “Ten Apples Up on Top,” by Dr. Seuss.
Play Dough Shapes
Press shape cutters into the dough and make patterns with the shapes.
Apple Tree Craft
Craft paper apple trees. Then, give kids apple shapes with the letters of their names to add to their tree.
Our Favorite Apple Books:
We can’t live without these!
Once your child’s creativity is sparked with this fun activity, take it a step further with these engaging resources:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
ApplesHello, World! How Do Apples Grow?
Pinkalicious: Apples, Apples, Apples!
Applesauce Day
Let’s Go Apple Picking! (Little Golden Book)
Apple Picking Day! (Step into Reading)
Amelia Bedelia’s First Apple Pie
Apples and Pumpkins
How Do Apples Grow?
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World (Dragonfly Books)
More from our Shop
Find even more engaging activities in the Life Over C’s shop!