Snow Dough Recipe
Try this super easy snow dough recipe using corn starch and lotion for a silky smooth feel! Want more snow activities? Try this DIY snowman peg doll too. This post contains affiliate links.
Winter is just ripe with sensory play opportunities, and yes, I am all about sharing those this year!
And all it takes is two ingredients to make the best, softest play dough that you’ll ever play with – because yes, you’re gonna steal this one from the kids.
Since it’s a bright white color, it’s absolutely fabulous to treat as a moldable snow! The main difference between this and play snow is simply that this snow dough has enough of a binder to be fully moldable and have a dough texture – not quite a snow texture.
And the secret to the super soft texture? One of the main ingredients is lotion! So yes, kids will actually be moisturizing their hands, thanks to the dough’s conditioners, as they play. Isn’t that just perfect for those drying winter months?
Unlike fake snow, which is much harsher, this one is great for the skin. The corn starch is much gentler than baking soda, and of course, you can use a kids’ lotion to add a soft touch that you’ll never get with shaving cream.
Play ideas & add-ins for snow dough
This snow dough is so heavenly to squish that it can be simply used as a slime-type sensory activity. Squish it, mold it, have fun with it.
But of course, you can take it a step further with play invitations.
My favorite is a “build a snowman” invitation. Give kids buttons, beads, broken orange craft stick or felt shapes, random sticks and twigs, strips of ribbon (scarves) and more to make their own snowmen.
Lay these out neatly on a tray, or package it in a container like you get slime, as a “deconstructed snowman.”
You can spice this up by adding glitter for a shimmery finish, or even use very small amounts of food color to dye it.
Play around with it as you would any play dough but with a winter theme. You can shape them into the alphabet, use sticks to connect balls of dough into letters or shape, or cut them into shapes using clay cutters.
Tips for making Snow Dough from corn starch and lotion
There is a bit of an art to making this work (or a science I should say, but it’s really the same right?)
Getting the texture right
One thing you might notice about any snow dough recipe you use, whether it’s this corn starch and lotion formula or the corn starch and conditioner version is that they vary wildly. Some call for a 1:1 proportion. Some need a 2:1 corn starch to lotion. Mine needed much less lotion.
The reason for that is simple: lotions vary wildly in density.
So you’re going to need to figure it out with your lotion. Ha! Oh well, here you thought you’d get an exact recipe.
But you see, I’m a crafter, not a recipe developer. So I’m good at developing processes over exact formulas, which is why you need me for this.
The trick to getting your snow dough recipe straight is to start with the cornstarch and add lotion slowly.
I say this is so important because honestly there is no way for me to know which lotion you’re using, and even within a brand it can change from year to year. And I do hope people will still be using this snow dough recipe in a year from now.
So I’ll provide a recipe for the lotion that I used (Babyganics) but I’ll tell you – if using a cheap lotion, you’ll probably need much more.
Storing it properly
To store this snow dough from time to time, use an airtight container and double it up. You can insert a small container into a larger one, or toss it into a Ziploc bag.
The texture is absolutely magical when fresh, but you can reconstitute it as needed with lotion. Dried dough crumbles apart, taking you closer to to the cornstarch stage, so adding bits more lotion will bring you back to the snow dough…
How to make Snow Dough
I’m sharing the process and quantities as I did it, however please be aware that the quantities you may need will vary widely.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cornstarch (have extra handy)
- Lotion (1/2 cup to 2 cups depending on brand)
Equipment
- Mixing bowl or container
- Mixing spoon (you WILL want to start the mixing process with a spoon)
- Measuring cups
- Storage container
Process
1. Measure two cups of cornstarch into a bowl or container.
2. Add half a cup of lotion and mix with a spoon. Ignore the measurements listed on my photos 🙂
2. If you have a very cornstarch-y mixture add half a cup at a time until it starts really combining. When it looks like it’s forming the right texture, revert to mixing with your hands.
Fine tune the texture – if too crumbly, add a squirt or two of lotion at a time. If you overdo it, add a few tablespoons of cornstarch.
Enjoy your snow dough – and don’t forget to share this snow dough recipe with your loved ones!
How to make snow dough
Make this super easy snow dough that is a moldable dough that is ready for pretend play and sensory fun! It's white and heavenly soft, moisturizing your hands as you play with it.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cornstarch (have extra handy)
- Lotion (1/2 cup to 2 cups depending on brand)
Equipment
- Mixing bowl or container
- Mixing spoon (you WILL want to start the mixing process with a spoon)
- Measuring cups
- Storage container
Instructions
- Measure two cups of cornstarch into a bowl or container.
- Add half a cup of lotion and mix with a spoon.
- If you have a very cornstarch-y mixture add half a cup at a time until it starts really combining. When it looks like it’s forming the right texture, revert to mixing with your hands.
- Fine tune the texture – if too crumbly, add a squirt or two of lotion at a time. If you overdo it, add a few tablespoons of cornstarch.
- The final texture should keep your hands clean, feel smooth, and not be sticky at all. It should be totally moldable and playable and hold its shape well.
Notes
The tricky part of this snow dough recipe is that lotions really vary by brand. Some are much denser than others. That means that you'll find that the quantity needed has extreme variations.
I used Babyganics lotion and used about 1/2-2/3 cup for 2 cups of cornstarch. Start with less, add more as needed.
I recommend starting your mixing with a spoon because it's really hard to combine by hand. Once it really starts to fully clump up, use your hands to finish it off.
The snow dough will very much take on the scent of the lotion you use. Choose wisely.
Store snow dough in an airtight container. I recommend double packaging it - you can place it in a zip seal bag too.
To reconstitute dry dough, simply add lotion in small batches.
Use this in play dough invitations to build snowmen - add in beads and buttons, orange craft stick ends, twigs, ribbons, and more.
Or package it up like slime and gift it as is.
Use this as a winter recipe activity or sensory play activity.
