This all natural blackberry play dough recipe takes just minutes to make and lasts for months if stored carefully. Try it with your kids today for a lovely afternoon of play for the end of Summer!
Making homemade play dough recipe variations is a favourite theme here at Imagination Tree HQ!
My original 4 minute, no cook play dough recipe has been pinned and shared multiple millions of times over on Pinterest over the last decade and really is the best one out there. I hope you can try it if you haven’t already!
There are now 50 play dough variations, recipes and activities here on site for you to use at home or in your classrooms. I hope that you find them useful and that the children love them.
Making this blackberry play dough recipe is very similar to the original base recipe, with the addition of just one handful of fresh blackberries to provide that amazing natural colouring!
Materials needed:
2 cups plain flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tbsp coconut oil (or vegetable oil)
2 tbsp cream of tartar
small handful fresh blackberries
1 cup of boiling water
2-3 drops of vegetable glycerine for shine and stretch (optional)
Instructions:
Mix all of the dry ingredients into a bowl. Stir through the oil then slowly add the boiling water, mixing as you go until it is fully combined.
In a separate small bowl, crush the fresh blackberries until they become a thick and pulpy paste. Add this directly to the bowl of play dough and use a spoon to mix it in.
When cool enough remove the dough from the bowl and use your hands to knead it until it becomes soft, stretchy and smooth.
You can add the glycerine at this stage for extra shine and stretchiness.
The blackberry play dough will be naturally coloured a deep pinky-purple and will contain seeds, which gives it such a beautiful, authentic look.
Now it is time to make a simple invitation to play!
You could set out the blackberry play dough alongside a rolling pin, safety scissors and some simple cutters for open-ended exploration and process play.
Try adding paper cupcake cases and candles for making pretend blackberry cupcakes!
Use loose parts such as herb sprigs, sticks, pine cones and pebbles as loose parts to add and remove from the play dough. Wood slices make fantastic pretend plates or bases to build on too.
Why not add some wooden letters or numbers too as a way to incorporate some playful maths and literacy learning?!
Would you like some more fun ways to play with the kids?
Sign up to grab my FREE 101 Things to Do play poster here! ⬅️
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