Snow dough is a fun sensory material to add to small world play and also makes a great play material all on its own. This playdough recipe is perfect for ‘snowy’ play due to its bright white color and somewhat crumbly texture.
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I’m excited to share this super simple snow dough recipe with you! It’s very easy to make, and the kids are always drawn to its texture. It really reminds me of snow because you can form it into shapes (like a snowball or brick) and you can also crumble it like a handful of snow.
This snow dough would be a great addition to any winter-themed small world play (like in place of the salt in our Winter Wonderland Small World), and it’s also fun to use on its own! This post contains affiliate links.
Ingredients for Snow Dough
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon water
Directions for Making Snow Dough
1. Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan. At first it will seem like you don’t have enough liquid in your mixture, but keep stirring. Eventually you will end up with a very soupy liquid.
2. Place the pan over medium heat. Stir continuously. The mixture will remain soupy for about 5 minutes, and then all of a sudden begin to thicken.
3. Continue stirring until your mixture is quite thick.
4. Dump the mixture out onto a sheet of waxed paper or other surface too cool. Be careful! The mixture will be really hot– even hotter than regular homemade playdough right out of the pan. (After a few minutes I break the mixture into chunks so it will cool more quickly.)
5. Once it’s cool enough to touch, knead the dough until it becomes smooth. Store it in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Be sure to check out STEAM Kids book and ebook for even more creative STEM and STEAM ideas!
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Paul says
November 14, 2014 at 8:48 pmSuch a cute idea. I can’t wait to try this with my students!
Ana says
November 20, 2014 at 12:11 pmSo stinking smart! This is awesome stuff!
Annabelle says
December 7, 2014 at 12:06 amHi, how do you shape it into those little bricks?
Chelsey says
December 7, 2014 at 9:28 amWe used an ice cube tray! 🙂
Steph says
December 8, 2014 at 1:47 pmLove it! Does it keep for long? Or it’s a use-then-dump? Might try today with some peppermint oil!
Chelsey says
December 8, 2014 at 1:52 pmThanks, Steph! Ours lasted a few weeks in an airtight container. Love the idea of adding peppermint oil!
Ellen says
December 11, 2014 at 1:28 pmHow much does the recipe make? Thinking of making it as party favours.
Chelsey says
December 11, 2014 at 2:27 pmHi Ellen~ The recipe made a little over a cup and a half of dough. I’d say (depending on the size of your favors) once batch would cover 4-6 favors.
Suzanne Holt says
December 6, 2015 at 8:03 pmWhat a fun activity for littler people. Thanks for the tip about it being even hotter than regular homemade playdough.
Johanna says
January 30, 2019 at 2:53 pmAnother great thing about this dough is that it is gluten free, unlike many homemade dough recipes. That makes it safe for kids with gluten allergies.
Emma says
December 3, 2014 at 2:52 amI’m sorry what does T stand for? Tablespoon, teaspoon or something else?!
Chelsey says
December 3, 2014 at 7:18 amHi Emma- The “T” stands for tablespoon. Sorry for the confusion! I’ll change it in the post!