Gingerbread Activities: Playdough

Hi Friends! Long time, no blogging.  But we have had so much fun with our gingerbread playdough that I wanted to pop in and say hi and share this fun {little project} with you.  

These photos were actually taken last year, not long after baby M was born.  He's one now!  It's been a big year for us with a lot of change and a cross country move too!
We had so much fun with our Gingerbread playdough last year, that I made it again this year.  It's a hit again, of course!
Here's the recipe for this yummy smelling playdough:  (but don't eat it-it doesn't taste good!)

Gingerbread Playdough

Ingredients

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp. ground cloves
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp orange extract {optional}

Instructions:

1. In a medium saucepan whisk together dry ingredients. Next mix in the water, oil, and orange extract and stir until a thick batter is formed. Cook the mixture over low/medium heat until a thick dough forms. Turn out onto parchment paper and knead until smooth. Makes about 2 cups of dough.

I love having a dollar store cookie sheet (or two!) on hand.  They are the perfect size for little ones and they loved putting their gingerbread "cookies" out on them.

My kids even started a "bakery" to sell their "cookies" and we had all kinds of math fun figuring out what the cost and what the change should be.  Playing is a great way to learn :)

Enjoy!

P.S. If you want the secret to EASY gingerbread houses, click here!