How to make Cloud Dough
Cloud dough is a fantastic sensory play material that’s soft, moldable, and easy to make with just a few ingredients! This no-cook recipe is perfect for preschoolers and young children, providing a fun, hands-on activity that supports fine motor skills and creativity. The original recipe would call for baby oil, but we have changed it up a little to make it taste safe.
Heads up: this post may include affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more in my disclosure.
Safety Note:
This cloud dough recipe contains raw flour and is intended for sensory play only. It should not be eaten. Raw flour may contain bacteria, so adult supervision is important, especially with younger children who may still explore materials by putting them in their mouths. Please ensure children wash their hands after play.
Cloud Dough Recipe
Learn how to make a colorful cloud dough recipe to enjoy with your toddler. With only 3 ingredients, our cloud dough recipe is just what you are looking for! Great for sensory play! Cloud dough is also known as fairy dough!
Remember, this recipe is to make 1 color. So if you’re going to make 4 colors like I did, you will need to do this 4 times, and you will be just changing the color.
- bowl for mixing
- sensory tub for playing in
- 2 Cups All-purpose flour
- 1/4 Cup Vegetable oil (canola / olive oil)
- 5-10 drops of oil-based food coloring
- Make at least 4 colors. Use your kitchen measuring cups and don’t guess, or else your cloud dough recipe will be too wet.
- Premix coloring in the oil before adding it to the flour.
- Mix your ingredients in a sealable plastic bag. Knead and shake around until mixed as much as possible.
- Before you play you will have to get your hands into the mix to pinch the flour to distribute the remaining oils and coloring. At this point, it should be mixed well enough that your hands will not stain.
- Empty out into a sensory tub for playing.
- If you do this activity indoors, a large bedsheet or shower curtain is recommended for under the sensory tub to catch little messes.
How to color cloud dough?
For the coloring, you have two options. You can use powdered coloring and mix it in the flour before adding the oil, or you can use oil-based food coloring and premix it in the oil before adding it to the flour.
I had oil-based food coloring on hand so I premixed it into the vegetable oil. I used the tip of a teaspoon’s worth; the more you add, the deeper and darker the color.
Now, mix your ingredients in a bowl. You will have to get your hands into the mix to pinch the flour to distribute the oils and coloring.
Once mixed, line the colors up in your sensory bin and provide various items to play with. I let the kids use my kitchen measuring set.
Then the tea set got added by my preschooler when he joined in. (Using cloud dough for preschool is also a great idea.)
And my 3-year-old also came along to inspect. He loves sensory things and, um, things that he could potentially use to cause a lovely mess! If you do this activity indoors, a large bedsheet is recommended for under the sensory tub to catch those little messes.
Oh, how he loved the feel of this cloud dough stuff! I love how the colors turned out too, although in hindsight I might not have made the green, as it turned the entire bin grey-washed purple when everything was mixed together.
I also think I need a bigger sensory tub! When all 3 kids come to play, which they very often do, it gets a bit crowded. Or perhaps I need a second tub and I can stick my 3-year-old in it. haha. 😉
As usual, the younger two did try to eat the cloud dough. Which is no surprise.
Other items brought to the cloud dough sensory bin included a wooden train set, various cars, some animals, and the teaspoons from the tea set, which resulted in my toddler offering me a bite of the cloud dough.
I hope you enjoyed this little how-to-make-cloud-dough post and that your cloud dough adventure is as much fun as ours was!
Looking for more hands-on activities to spark creativity and learning? Explore our collection of easy, low-prep ideas for sensory play, arts & crafts, and more!
📌 Discover More Activities Here
📩 Stay in the Loop!
Join our community of parents & educators and get free printables, fun activities, and exclusive learning tips sent straight to your inbox!
If you enjoyed this, be sure to explore our other printables and activities and follow our social media for more delightful learning experiences.
