Ice Cream Play Dough Recipe
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Published: Jul 28, 2023
Updated: Aug 04, 2023
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Ice Cream Play Dough is edible, soft, and it looks exactly like ice cream! Ice Cream Play Dough is perfect for pretend play as well as a kid-friendly craft. It’s fun for playing ice cream shop or sharpening fine motor skills.
Ice Cream Play Dough
Year after year, this has proven to be one of the best homemade playdough recipes ever! It’s a taste-safe activity for toddlers, preschoolers, and even bigger kiddos who want to pretend they’re running an ice cream parlor.
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Ingredients:
- Pre-made frosting
- Powdered sugar
The flavors can be anything you love! Consider strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, and more! The scent and color of each ice cream dough is so fun creating the perfect activity for kids.
Instructions:
Add the powdered sugar to the frosting in slow increments using the dough hook attachment on your mixer, continually scraping the sides of the bowl.
Before you add all of the powdered sugar, touch the play dough and if it feels at all sticky, add the rest of the powdered sugar in (continuing to test the stickiness of the ice cream playdough).
I gave Stella and Mitch an ice cream scoop and some ice cream cones to play with their play dough. Do you think they were happy? Do you know how hard it is to get a 2 and 3-year-old to sit and play for that long? It was lovely……..
Recipe Tip
If you added a little too much powdered sugar and the dough is too dry, don’t worry! Simply sprinkle a little olive oil onto the play dough and BOOM! Problem solved!
Clean Up
It tends to show slight signs of drying out after about an hour or so. No, it doesn’t completely dry out, but little flakes will separate around the table. Blame that on the powdered sugar. If it starts to dry out from so much playing, simply drizzle a little olive oil on top of it and the play dough will return right back to the normal consistency.
But- be aware that, just like all play dough, this recipe will provide its fair share of cleanup. Be sure to clean the play dough off the table when the kids are done playing. Otherwise, that powdered sugar tends to dry up and become hard to remove. A little soapy water will remove it like magic!
Storage
Store your ice cream play dough in a zip-top bag in the refrigerator. When your kids want to play with it again, leave it out for 30 minutes to warm and reach room temperature (it will harden in the fridge). When it is at room temperature, add a little olive oil to the dough if necessary, and get right back to playing! It’s so incredibly fun!
How fun would this idea be for an ice cream theme party? The kids can pretend they are running their own ice cream shop! Playdough ice cream has so many fun uses and all kids love it!
Play Dough Ice Cream Accessories
- Ice cream scoop
- Ice cream cones
- Cookie cutters
- Glitter
- Sprinkles
- Rolling pin
- Bowls
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More Kid-Friendly Crafts
Ice Cream Playdough Recipe
Ice Cream Play Dough
Supplies
- Measuring cups
- Electric stand mixer
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 1 cup pre-made frosting
- 2¾ cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Add the powdered sugar to the frosting in slow increments using the dough hook attachment on your mixer, continually scraping the sides of the bowl.
- Before you add all of the powdered sugar, touch the play dough and, if it feels at all sticky, add the rest of the powered sugar in (just continue to test the “stickyness” and say no to sticky play dough).
- Once you’ve added all of the powdered sugar, the play dough will begin to look just like ice cream in your mixer.
- Roll it into one big ball and make sure it is not crumbly or sticky. If, by chance, you added a little too much powdered sugar, don’t worry! Simply sprinkle a little olive oil onto the play dough and BOOM! Problem solved!
Notes
- If the ice cream play dough begins to get dry, add a little bit of olive oil.
- Clean up with soap and water.
This looks great! Quick question, you said premade frosting? Do you mean like the Betty Crocker cake frosting? I only ask cause it doesn’t look the same consistency as what’s in those little tubs. Thanks !
Yes just like Better Crocker cake frosting (just those pre-made tubs you get in the baking isle). I did not use the “whipped” frosting though. Just the regular kind:)
I to am wondering if there is a way to make this without a stand mixer. Have it on my list of activities for spring break next week, sure hope there is another way.
Oh My How I really Love the way this looks! Unfortunately, I am NO Baker & don’t own a mixer–would it work by hand (if starting at room temp), & or Blender on the slowest? I’m not sure we ‘ll be able to do this one … But it’s lovely none the less!
Jeanine recently posted…Made By Joel
You can get a mixer at Walmart for less than $10
Love this idea! So simple. I shared on my blog today
So cool, Kelly! Totally making this with my kids!
Rachel @ R & R Workshop recently posted…Pom Pom Hair Clips
Kelly, This looks like so much fun. I love how it is so easy to make too. Your kids look adorable in these pictures. See you tomorrow in Parent Participation class.
no wonder they like it its pure sugar!!! ur children will have no teeth silly woman!!!
LOL Denise! I’ll make them glittery dentures if that happens!
Dee! You are not forced to make this. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Didn’t your mother teach you this?
This is SO awesome! My 6-year-old wants a Frozen movie themed birthday and I think I’ll make a couple of batches for the girls to play with as one of our activities. Such a sweet idea and your photos are just beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Jill recently posted…Chili Lime Almond Crusted Salmon with Maple Balsamic Glaze
So so cool! Love it! And as far as accurately measuring the frosting, a plunger style measuring cup works wonders for all sticky, gooey ingredients! 😉
Oh my goodness Kelly! How fun is this?! Can’t wait to play around with it!
Katie @ Made to be a Momma recently posted…7 Finger Food Treats
LOVE this idea! Can’t wait to make it with my kids… and for me:-)
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