How to Create Salt Dough

Salt dough is fun and inexpensive to make in the kitchen with readily available ingredients. While salt dough tastes no better than library paste, it is non-toxic and safe for the little ones as well as pets who happen by hoping for crumbs on the floor. Make beads, small figurines or Christmas ornaments. Salt dough art is the perfect way to pass a rainy weekend.

Things You'll Need

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup table salt
• 1 cup hot tap water
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• Food coloring
• Large bowl
• Airtight container(s)

Instructions

1. Measure the unsifted flour and salt and combine them in a large bowl. Create a well in the center of the dry mixture and add about 1/2 cup of water.

2. Stir the dry mixture with a fork down into the pool of water. Add more water and a little oil as the water is absorbed. Continue working the dough until it is smooth and elastic.

3. Color the dough by tinting the water before mixing it into the dry ingredients. Vary the number of drops of food coloring, depending on the depth of color desired in the dough.

4. Roll the dough out with a rolling pin and create shapes with cookie cutters. Poke a hole into the top of the shape with a skewer or chopstick to add a ribbon or string to create a hanging ornament after the dough is baked.

5. Fashion dough-art creations by hand. Bake the finished shapes in a 200 degree F oven until the dough is completely dry. Bake like-sized objects in the same batch.

6. Let the finish dough cool completely. Paint with tempera colors and add details with markers, beads, ribbon or other embellishments.

7. Store unused dough in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Use the dough within the week.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish