I’ve made many a batch of playdough in my time, but I’ve never been excited enough by a recipe to write it down, and I’ve never actually kept a batch in the fridge for more than a day or two, until I recently discovered a very simple recipe that is silky soft and fantastic.
It’s also the first time I’ve actually ‘cooked’ a playdough, but it won’t be the last. I’ve adapted this recipe from Imagination Tree, largely because I didn’t have enough salt or any cream of tartar, but I’m also hoping the exposure to Epsom salts will make sure my little people don’t run out of the magnesium and other benefits that come from Epsom salts.
Since we’re working on Matilda right now, I decided to go for a chocolate playdough so that we could make the chocolates Miss Honey remembers her father having after dinner – the same ones Miss Trunchbull now keeps to herself.
- 2 cups plain flour (all purpose)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup Epsom salts (you can use normal salt)
- Up to 1.5 cups boiling water – added a little at a time
- 2 tablespoons cocoa
- teaspoon glycerine for that silky shine
- On a steady heat, add the flour, salt, and oil in a large mixing bowl
- Add the cocoa
- Add the boiling water then into the dry ingredients
- Stir continuously until it becomes a sticky, combined dough
- Add the glycerine
- Remove from heat
- Allow it to cool down then take it out of the bowl and knead it vigorously for a couple of minutes until all of the stickiness has gone.
- If it remains a little sticky then add a more flour a little at a time until it’s right.

For more Matilda themed activities, click on the image below:
Matilda’s Chocolate Playdough – Fantastic Playdough Recipe! http://t.co/2lOU9wmRKU @Luschkavo
Matilda’s Chocolate Playdough – Fantastic Playdough Recipe! http://t.co/2lOU9wmRKU @Luschkavo
#Matilda’s #Chocolate #Playdough – Fantastic Playdough Recipe! http://t.co/UsPn0kiTkh #34years #56years #byage