Healthy (ish) Edible Play Dough

As part of our 5 Senses theme, we worked quite a bit with play dough.  We got a surprise for our eyes with our Color Surprise Play Dough; we had fun with touch with our Silly Textures Play Dough; we used our noses for our Aromatherapy Play Dough with Essential Oils and we finished out the month with edible play dough - every child's favorite!!!

In preparation for the week, I researched tons of edible play dough recipes, but most were full of sugar in a variety of forms.  My little Bear is a child who doesn't really understand the meaning of 'just a small taste' and I knew I didn't want him eating a giant glob of sugar as the first activity of our day, so I thought about other recipes I could use to make a somewhat healthier version of a classroom favorite.

Before I share my recipes, I would like to advise AGAINST eating an entire ball of play dough.  What I told my students was, "Tiny tastes are ok, but the play dough is still for playing."  Of course, as predicted, Bear ate his ball of play dough about three minutes after I gave it to him, but I didn't feel too terrible about it since it wasn't made entirely of horrible ingredients. :)

We started with a recipe I've been using for years, Peanut Butter Play Dough.

1/3 c. Honey

1/2 c. Dry Milk Powder

1/2 c. Peanut Butter

 

This recipe makes enough for three children.  I divided it and placed it in plastic baggies in the fridge overnight.

Next up, I tried my hand at a Strawberry Coconut Play Dough.

 I'm pretty sure I just lucked out on this one since I was making it up as I went along.

1 pkg. Strawberry Jello Mix

(next time I'd only use 1/2 the pkg or less)

1/2 c. Honey

2 c. Coconut

(I used dried coconut chunks that I pulverized in my Vitamix, but if you try this one, you might want to just try coconut flour or some other form of coconut - flakes, shredded, etc - which may also result in a different texture)

1/4-1/2 c. All Purpose Flour

(to help with stickiness)

This one made enough for 5 kiddos.

Finally, I made Peppermint Play Dough

1 c. Dry Milk Powder

1/2 c. Honey

1 c. All Purpose Flour

1/2 c. Coconut Oil, melted

A few drops of Peppermint Extract

Peppermint Candy Pieces

This recipes made enough for 6 children.

And on our final day of edible play dough, I finally managed to get a picture BEFORE Bear ate all of it!