If there is one thing I know (and some days around here, I feel like it might be the only thing I truly know), it is how to make a mean batch of playdough.

From my incredibly frugal beginnings making homemade playdough with my firstborn because I wouldn’t dare spend money on something I could make, to my Kindergarten teacher days, and now as a homeschooling Mama, making playdough has been a staple in my life for almost twenty years! 

If I were a sleepwalker, making playdough would probably be what I did while I sleptwalked. 

Sometimes we mix things up a little and add some scent, or some herbs or flowers. My little Norah loves to play in the dirt right now, so I thought it time to come up with a Dirt Playdough Recipe. And guess what?

It didn’t work!!

At least not my first batch. I can tell you, that really knocked me off my playdough high horse.

I mean… if I don’t know playdough… who even am I?

But don’t worry, I sorted it all out. Turns out you need MORE flour when you add dirt to your playdough. Who would have thought it?

The Dirt Playdough Recipe is exactly like my “Ultimate No-Cook Playdough Recipe” except, of course, with dirt (and more flour).

And do you know what goes so perfectly with this playdough? My FREE Printable Alphabet and Numbers Playdough Mats!

How to Make Dirt Playdough

You will need:

• 1.5 cups flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tsp cream of tartar
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 cup boiling water

Pour all ingredients together and stir. If it is too dry, add more water, too wet/sticky, add more flour. 

Then, spoon in some dirt until you are satisfied. You can add a ton of dirt before it gets crumbly. It is really quite baffling. 

That’s all there is to it! You can use dirt from outside or purchase some play sand if you want “clean dirt.” We just used outside dirt, trying to rescue any little bugs we saw as we spooned it into our dough. 

Little Norah then set to making some cookies, donuts, and cakes out of this Dirt Playdough. We gathered some little twigs, pebbles, leaves, grass, and flowers in a muffin tin to decorate her yummy creations. 

It is amazing to me how changing one little thing—like adding dirt to playdough—can rekindle a complete love for an activity! I mean, this activity was a hit even with my older children on Saturday morning.

Oh, and speaking of older children… if you are thinking this playdough resembles poop, you are in good company. My older two boys thought this was beyond hilarious. I glanced at my husband (you know, one of those, gosh, they are so immature looks), and he was laughing every bit as hard as those little boys. I suppose some people really do keep that childhood heart.

I hope you and yours love this dirt playdough recipe as much as we do! If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or shoot me an email,

Thank you so much for reading, sweet friend!

xo
Sarah