Here’s how to make candy cane Christmas playdough that looks and smells amazing! Our favorite homemade playdough recipe and how to turn this play material into fun holiday gifts.
Updated December 2024
If you are looking for an easy and inexpensive holiday gift for friends and family, candy cane Christmas playdough is just what you need!
Even better, it’s a gift that your kids can participate in making. It’s easy and fun to make, inexpensive, and once given, encourages creative play.
We LOVE this cooked playdough recipe the best, but if you are looking for other options, we also have a great no-cook recipe!
Christmas Playdough for Holiday Gifts
MATERIALS
- One batch of homemade playdough
- Red food coloring or liquid watercolors
- Peppermint essential oil
- Glitter (optional)
- Plastic containers (or Mason jars)
- holiday fabric cut into squares
- Baker’s twine (yarn works too!)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Make your playdough
Use our recipe (found below), or your favorite playdough recipe, to make a batch of playdough. Then, divide it in half. Dye one batch red and leave the other one white.
- Knead in the extras
After cooling the dough, knead in some glitter for holiday glitz and glamour.
Add peppermint essential oil (about 10 drops per batch) for the yummy candy cane smell.
- Roll out and twist your playdough
Cut up playdough into individual portions – divide each batch into 12 or so – and roll each color into snakes and then twist one red and one white one together like a candy cane.
- Package up your gifts
Once you have your candy cane twisted, put each playdough twist into a jar.
Then add the fabric, lids, and labels to turn the canning jar into the perfect holiday present!
Here’s the recipe for our cooked playdough, if you want to save and print it!
Recipe for Playdough
Recipe for Playdough (Cooked)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
Description
This recipe for playdough is guaranteed to make a huge batch of homemade playdough perfect for hours of imaginative play!
Ingredients
- 5 cups water
- 2 1/2 cups salt
- 2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
- 8 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- Food coloring or liquid watercolors
- 5 cups flour
- Glitter and/or essential oils (optional)
Instructions
1. Mix the water, salt, cream of tartar, and food coloring in a large pot.
2. Cook the mixture on medium-low heat, stirring regularly until it is hot.
3. Add the oil and mix.
4. Stir in the flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing between each addition with a wooden or other strong spoon.
5. Continue to mix until the playdough pulls away from the pan and is no longer sticky. Pinch it between your fingers to test it (but be careful because it’s hot!).
6. Place the dough on the counter, let it cool a bit, and then knead.
Note :: This is the time to add glitter or essential oils, if desired. Simply place the additions in a well in the center of the playdough, then knead the dough thoroughly to mix.
7. Store the dough in an airtight bag or other container at room temperature. It will keep for months.
More Christmas Activities for Kids
- 12 Christmas Sensory Bins for Kids
- How to Make a Homemade Advent Calendar
- 11 Christmas Craft Ideas for Kids
- How To Make A Christmas Coffee Filter Garland
- 11 Easy Christmas Crafts for Toddlers
- 5 Natural Christmas Decorations for Kids
Want even more creative ideas?
Check out our Holiday Creativity pack!
Let’s celebrate the holidays with all things crafty! Here are 53 pages full of our favorite drawing prompts, creative play ideas, art activities, and more!
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2 Responses
How long will this playdough last once in the jars? Does it need to refrigerated? Just thinking how long before Christmas can we batch process some gifts to later have at the ready ☺️
Hi Elizabeth,
Our no cook playdough recipe lasts for 1-3 months or so in a jar (without refrigeration). If you’d like something that’s longer lasting you might try our cooked playdough recipe, which pretty much lasts forever! I’ve included the links for you below:
https://artfulparent.com/no-cook-versus-cooked-homemade-playdough-recipe/
https://artfulparent.com/the-best-cooked-playdough-recipe-for-kids/