How to Make Gingerbread Scented Play Dough

I don’t know about you, but the smell of gingerbread reminds me of cozy winter days spent baking and decorating with family. Making gingerbread scented play dough is a fun way to bring that warm holiday feeling into your home and create happy memories through play – and it’s easier than you might think!

Plus, of course, gingerbread scented play dough is a wonderful sensory activity – and you know what a big fan of sensory play I am! My former teacher self can’t stop raving about all of the benefits of sensory play, which you can read about here.

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You probably have most of the ingredients you’ll need in your pantry!  To make gingerbread scented play dough, you will need…

• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup salt
• 2 tsp cream of tartar
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp allspice
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 cup water 
• Mixing bowl
• Saucepan
• Spoon
• Airtight container for storage

You can make your play dough ahead of time and have it ready for your little ones to play with, or if you’re brave, involve them in making the play dough with you!  This doubles as a whole extra activity!  Here’s how to make your play dough:

1. Mix Dry Ingredients:
   • Combine flour, salt, cream of tartar, and spices in a mixing bowl.
   • Stir until the mixture is evenly distributed.
2. Combine Wet Ingredients:
   • In a saucepan, mix water and oil.
   • Heat over medium heat until warm.
3. Cook the Dough:
   • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in the saucepan.
   • Stir constantly until the mixture thickens and begins to pull away from the sides of the pan.
   • Once it forms a ball, remove from heat.
4. Knead the Dough:
   • Allow the dough to cool slightly.
   • Knead the dough on a clean surface until it’s smooth and pliable.
5. Store Properly:
   • Place the play dough in an airtight container to keep it fresh.
   • Mention how long it typically lasts when stored properly.

Now comes the fun part… it’s time to PLAY!  There are so many fun ways you and your little ones can play with this gingerbread scented play dough.

My then-3-year-old daughter, Ella, loved making gingerbread people and decorating them with pipe cleaners, googly eyes, buttons, and other loose parts I provided for her.

She also “baked cookies” and decorated her “cookies” with “chocolate chips”.

It’s so fun to get creative with this activity!  Feel free to build a gingerbread house, use a variety of cookie cutters… or anything else you can dream up!

Not only is playing with scented play dough a fantastic sensory experience, this activity also enhances fine motor skills, creativity, and can be a calming, stress-relieving experience. 

You know the holiday season is a fun time for memory making, seasonal learning, cute crafts, and more!  If you’re looking for even more fun and easy Christmas crafts and activities, be sure to check these out:

• Printable A-Z Christmas Ornament Craft
• “Dear Santa” Letter Writing Printables
• Christmas Bible Lesson with Wheel Craft & Activities
• Preschool Christmas Activities Bundle

And you won’t want to miss this hot cocoa sensory bin (with printable recipe cards)!

Want to learn to make regular homemade play dough?  Find my recipe here!

Finally, check out some of our favorite gingerbread-themed books:

• The Gingerbread Man by Gail Yerrill
• How to Catch a Gingerbread Man by Adam Wallace
• The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst
• The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray
• The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Kladstrup

Will you try making this delicious-smelling gingerbread scented play dough?  If you do, I’d LOVE to hear about it!  Comment below or message me on Instagram to tell me about it!