Creative, Edible Sculpting Material: Coconut Play Dough
Summer is the perfect time for creative play, and one such activity that stands out is making your own coconut play dough. This recipe, inspired by an out-of-date coconut flour found at the back of the cupboard, offers a soft, aromatic, and versatile play experience.
The basic ingredients for this recipe include all-purpose flour, coconut flour, salt, cream of tartar, and water. You can experiment with different types of flour to achieve diverse textures, such as using gluten-free or buckwheat flour.
Initially, the recipe called for coconut oil, but it was found that it made the play dough too slimy. Instead, you can substitute coconut oil with other edible oils like cooking oil or baby oil (not taste-safe unless specified) to create the dough, as in cloud dough recipes where the type of oil affects texture and safety.
Once you've combined the dry ingredients in a saucepan, add three-quarters of a cup of water and stir well. If necessary, add more water to reach the desired consistency, which should resemble a thick "sludge," similar to porridge.
Place the saucepan over low-medium heat and stir frequently until the play dough clumps together in a ball. Once it does, remove it from the heat and let it cool fully before wrapping it in wax paper. Knead the cooled play dough for a minute or two until smooth.
Wrap the cooled and kneaded play dough in wax paper and store it in an airtight bag until required. This super soft coconut play dough recipe smells wonderful and is a sensory activity suitable for summer.
For visual variation, you can add white acrylic paint mixed with water to provide colour and a smooth appearance. Sprinkles or food-safe colorants can also be kneaded in to decorate or add sensory interest.
In addition, instead of or in addition to coconut scent, you can add natural scents like vanilla essential oil or vanilla extract to add a pleasant fragrance. Some recipes even use unsweetened cocoa powder or pumpkin pie spice for different scents and colours, though these are usually for cloud dough rather than coconut play dough.
Experimenting with your coconut play dough recipe can be a fun and creative way to customise it to your preference. Whether you're a parent looking for a new summer activity or a child seeking a sensory adventure, this coconut play dough recipe is sure to bring hours of enjoyment.
This homemade coconut play dough recipe, ideal for summer lifestyle, can be enhanced with a variety of ingredients to cater to diverse preferences. For example, home-and-garden enthusiasts might find delight in experimenting with different types of flour, like gluten-free or buckwheat, to achieve unique textures. Additionally, play recipes can be jazzed up with the addition of essential oils, such as vanilla or coconut, to create a personalized aroma for an engaging sensory experience.
