If you want great scented playdough, that smells like an actual, natural food scent, try this one out! It’s probably my favorite scented playdough, in large part because it makes your whole room smell like a bakery! In fact, you’ll have to remind your children that in spite of the great scent, it is still not for eating!
Incorporating scented playdough engages the sense of smell along with the tactile experience of traditional playdough, making it a multi-sensory activity. The added scent also enhances the dramatic play themes that often work their way into playdough activities, as children may begin making apple pie, cinnamon rolls, or their favorite cake. Additionally, playdough enhances creative and small motor skills.
Cinnamon Spice Playdough
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tsp cream of tartar or alum
5 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
2 cups water
2 Tbsp. oil
(Food coloring if desired. I like to leave it a natural cinnamon color.)
Combine the dry ingredients in a saucepan. Add the water and oil and mix well. Cook over medium high heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture begins to thicken and form a stiff ball. Remove from heat and knead when cooled enough to handle. Store in a ziplock bag when cooled to keep from drying.
Feel free to play with this recipe and make it your own! In fact, please let us know here how you were able to make it better!
For more food-themed activities, click here!
Here are other playdough posts you may be interested in:
Photo courtesy of YappsCotta.
Jill says
Hi Mandy, love all the holiday crafts! I know where to go to for ideas for our family party this year… I tried a new dough recipe with my kids this year.
1 cup cinnamon (I bought cheap cinnamon at dollar store)
3/4 cup applesauce
mix with finger tips till a soft dough forms… add more cinnamon if too sticky… we played with it a while then shaped into oranaments for my kids teachers. We pressed a hole in the top of the shape then tied a pretty ribbon. This is not edible, maybe better for older kids, it smells wonderful!
notjustcute says
Thanks, Jill! That’s a great recipe!
Stefanie says
Hi Jill,
How long does the recipe take to dry? I want to use it for the Jewish Holiday of Sukkot, cut into various shapes and then hang from the ceiling.
Thank you for the great idea!
Stefanie
Laura says
My kids are having an absolute ball with this play dough. It’s really provoking imagination and ideas as end they create pretend biscuits and cakes. And the kitchen smells lovely too!
notjustcute says
It is one of my absolute favorites! I’m glad you’re enjoying it, Laura!
Catherine says
Made this today, and we are loving it! It got pretty sticky, but I think I just left it over the heat too long. But now it’s great – the kids can’t keep their hands off it! Thanks!
Jen says
Amanda,
Thanks so much for this recipe! I made it tonight and it was so simple and so far has come out beautifully. I seriously enjoyed kneading it and the smell is just fantastic. My kids, 7,5 and 3 saw me putting the ingredients together but I wouldn’t tell them what I was making, just that it was a treat for them, non edible:-) They will be happy tomorrow and I am sure spend plenty of time doing creative things with it. I love the color too.
This is my first try at making my own playdoh. Sometimes recipes don’t go so well, but this one has worked out great so far.
Jen says
Just wanted to let you know that it has been over a week and my kids are still loving the play doh. They probably spend about an hour a day doing all sorts of creative things with it. Thanks so much. It still feels as nice as the day I made it. I am going to make it for a fall activity for our Children’s Ministry at church too.
notjustcute says
I’m so glad to hear that! It’s one of my favorites too!
lisa says
I just made three batches for my son. We were given some from a friend at church and he played with it for weeks till there was none left lol.
I will say this. I tried to color it, since we are learning about mixing primary colors into new colors. But I didnt account for how brown the dough comes out. So we have a very muddy blue, yellow and red lol.
He doesn’t care though, he is stoked to have some more.
Beauty Full!!!!! says
Great idea! Amazing play dough!