Homemade playdough has been a Pinterest craze over the last year or so, and for good reason. It's cheap to make, it's natural, and it's OK if it's eaten. Or is it? Some recent consumer reports have parents concerned and many are wondering how to make playdough without flour so they can avoid any health issues with their kids.
I know. Flour seems pretty harmless, right? But it turns out, it could be dangerous when ingested. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), raw flour can contain bacteria that causes diseases, including E. coli. In fact, that's the reason why experts advise against eating raw cookie dough or cake batter; it's not so much the raw eggs as it is the raw flour. The FDA has taken this so seriously that it actually recommended that parents avoid flour crafts as the flour isn't cooked, baked, or processed in order to kill the bacteria.
So what's the parent of a playdough-loving kid to do? You can always buy playdough from a store, but if your fear has been giving your kid non-natural products to play with, you may still want to try your hand at some homemade playdough. Luckily, there's a way to make the irresistible craft without flour, and if your kid decides to give it a taste test, you don't have to worry about any bacteria. I'll be honest — some of these sound pretty damn yummy to spread on a cookie.
1Marshmallow Peeps Playdough
No, but seriously. Playdough from Peeps sounds pretty delicious. YouTube user BunnieClaire has created a marshmallow playdough recipe that needs only three ingredients — Peeps, coconut oil, and powdered sugar. Basically, it's a great way to get rid of all those Peeps no one will eat and let your kid have a playdough you can be happy about.
2Edible Playdough
Looking for another recipe that can be eaten? YouTube user Rachel Ballinger has an edible playdough recipe that requires a little bit more work than your standard DIY craft. With cornstarch, applesauce, rice cereal, oil, and food coloring, you can have a fun, malleable dough that's safe if ingested. (It probably won't taste great though.)
3Super Soft Playdough
OK, this one shouldn't be eaten either, but there's no flour in the super soft playdough recipe from Boom Bacon DIY. All you need is cornstarch and lotion to make a soft, silky playdough. It will smell great and hey, maybe it will keep your kids' hands moisturized.
