If December had a smell, it would be gingerbread. This gingerbread playdough is soft, squishy, warm brown, and smells just like a tray of cookies fresh out of the oven, without the sugar rush or the oven-full of crumbs.
It uses the same classic cooked base as our apple-scented playdough, with cinnamon, ginger and a little cocoa for that gingerbread color. It takes about 10 minutes to make, keeps for weeks, and turns into a whole bakery of pretend play with a few cookie cutters.
At a glance
- Time: about 10 minutes
- Makes: one softball-sized ball (enough for 1 to 2 kids)
- Best for: ages 2 and up
- Keeps: 2 to 3 weeks in an airtight container
- Not edible: it smells like cookies, but it is very salty. See the taste-safe option below for babies and mouthers.
🍪 Gingerbread Playdough Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup salt
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 tablespoon vegetable or coconut oil
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg or cloves (optional, for a stronger scent)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder or a few drops of brown food coloring, for color
Instructions
- Mix the dry ingredients. In a medium saucepan, whisk the flour, salt, cream of tartar, spices and cocoa powder until the color is even.
- Add the wet ingredients. Pour in the water and oil and stir until mostly smooth. It will look like thin brown batter, and that is exactly right.
- Cook over medium-low heat. Stir constantly. After 2 to 4 minutes, the mixture will thicken, then suddenly pull together into a ball that comes away from the sides of the pan.
- Cool slightly. Turn the dough out onto a clean counter or plate and let it cool until it is comfortable to touch.
- Knead. Knead for a minute or two until it is smooth and soft. Hand it over and let the baking begin!
Toddler job: let your little one dump the pre-measured spices into the pan and give it a stir before it goes on the heat. Measuring and pouring is part of the fun (and the learning).
Gingerbread Playdough
Notes
Not edible: this playdough is very salty. For babies and toddlers who still mouth, use the no-salt playdough recipe with a pinch of cinnamon. Store in an airtight container for 2 to 3 weeks. Too sticky? Knead in a little flour. Too dry? Knead in a few drops of oil or water.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup salt
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 tablespoon vegetable or coconut oil
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg or cloves (optional)
- 1 to 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder or a few drops of brown food coloring
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, whisk the flour, salt, cream of tartar, spices and cocoa powder until the color is even.
- Pour in the water and oil and stir until mostly smooth. It will look like a thin brown batter.
- Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. After 2 to 4 minutes the mixture will thicken and pull together into a ball that comes away from the sides of the pan.
- Turn the dough out onto a clean counter and let it cool until it is comfortable to touch.
- Knead for a minute or two until smooth and soft, then play!
No-Cook Gingerbread Playdough
No stove? Mix 2 cups flour, ½ cup salt, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar, 2 tablespoons oil and the same spices and cocoa in a bowl. Carefully pour in 1 to 1½ cups of boiling water (a grown-up job) and stir with a spoon until it comes together. Once it is cool enough to handle, knead until smooth. The texture is slightly softer than the cooked version, but it smells just as good.
Taste-Safe Option for Babies and Mouthers
Regular playdough is high in salt, which is not safe for little ones who are still mouthing everything. For babies and young toddlers, start with our no-salt playdough recipe and knead in a pinch of cinnamon. You will get the cozy smell without the salt. Always supervise, and keep the strong spices to a pinch.
🎄 10 Gingerbread Playdough Activities for Toddlers
Once the dough is made, the real fun starts. Here are my favorite ways to set it up. Pick one, and save the rest for another day.
1. Gingerbread cookie bakery
Set out gingerbread cookie cutters, a small rolling pin, a baking tray and cupcake liners. Your toddler can roll, cut and “bake” a whole batch, then serve them to you or their stuffed animals.
2. Decorate the gingerbread people
Add buttons, sequins, small beads or dried beans for eyes and buttons (for kids who no longer mouth). Pressing small pieces into the dough is fantastic fine motor practice.
3. Build a gingerbread house
Press the dough flat into squares and stand them up to make walls, or use the dough as “mortar” to stick craft sticks together into a little house.
4. Count the buttons
Roll out a gingerbread person and call out a number: “Can you give him three buttons?” Use pom-poms or buttons. It is an easy, hands-on counting game.
5. Gingerbread name practice
Use letter cookie cutters or letter stamps to press your child’s name into the dough. Even young toddlers enjoy finding the first letter of their name.
6. Rolling snakes and candy canes
Show your toddler how to roll the dough into long snakes. Twist one brown snake with white dough (from our snow dough recipe) to make candy canes.
7. Peppermint and gingerbread smell test
Make a small batch of peppermint dough to go with the gingerbread. Ask, “Which one smells like cookies? Which one smells like candy canes?” It is a simple sensory comparison game.
8. Gingerbread story time
Read a gingerbread story, then act it out with dough gingerbread people that “run, run, as fast as you can” across the table.
9. Playdough ornaments (for pretend)
Cut circles and stars, poke holes with a straw and thread them onto a pipe cleaner. They are for play, not for keeping, since playdough does not harden well.
10. Gingerbread playdough sensory bin
Put the dough in a bin with cookie cutters, rolling pins, cinnamon sticks and a few pinecones for a cozy holiday invitation to play. Find more ideas in our Christmas sensory bins for toddlers.
🧠 What Toddlers Learn From Playdough Play
- Fine motor strength: squeezing, rolling, pinching and pressing build the hand muscles toddlers will later use to hold a crayon and pencil.
- Sensory processing: the warm spice smell and squishy texture give a calm, focused kind of sensory input.
- Language: talk about what they are making: “roll,” “flat,” “bumpy,” “more,” “cookie.”
- Early math: counting buttons, comparing big and small cookies, and cutting shapes.
- Pretend play: baking, serving and “selling” cookies builds imagination and social skills.
🛠️ Troubleshooting Your Gingerbread Playdough
- Too sticky? It probably needs another minute on the stove. Knead in a little flour, one teaspoon at a time.
- Too dry or crumbly? Knead in a few drops of oil or water until it softens.
- Color too pale? Knead in a little more cocoa powder or a drop of brown food coloring.
- Scent too faint? Knead in a pinch more cinnamon. Spices fade over time, so fresh ones smell strongest.
For more fixes, see our guide to playdough that is too sticky or too dry.
How to Store Gingerbread Playdough
Store it in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature. It should stay soft for 2 to 3 weeks. If it starts to dry out, knead in a few drops of water. If it ever smells sour or grows spots, throw it out and make a fresh batch.
A Quick Safety Note
- This playdough is not edible. It is very salty, so keep it away from babies and pets and supervise toddlers.
- Ground spices can sting if they get into eyes. Remind little ones to keep their hands away from their faces, and wash hands after play.
- Cooking is a grown-up job. Let toddlers help with the mixing before the pan goes on the heat.
❓ Gingerbread Playdough FAQ
Is gingerbread playdough edible?
No. Even though it smells like cookies, it is very salty and not meant to be eaten. For little ones who mouth everything, use our no-salt playdough with a pinch of cinnamon.
Can I make gingerbread playdough without cream of tartar?
Yes. Swap the 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar for 2 teaspoons of lemon juice, or leave it out. Without it, the dough will be a little less stretchy and will not last quite as long.
How do I make playdough brown without food coloring?
Cocoa powder works beautifully and adds to the cozy smell. Start with 1 tablespoon and add more until you like the color. Extra cinnamon also deepens the brown.
What age is gingerbread playdough for?
This salt-based recipe is best for ages 2 and up, or once your child has stopped putting things in their mouth. Younger toddlers can use the no-salt option.
How long does homemade gingerbread playdough last?
About 2 to 3 weeks in an airtight container, sometimes longer. Long enough for a whole December of baking!