Homemade dough · Sensory
Cloud dough: flour and oil
Cloud dough, soft as powder and moldable like wet sand: 5 parts flour to 1 part oil. The recipe, variations, and safety tips for little ones.
- DifficultyVery easy
- Time5 minutes
- Makes1 big bin
- Recommended ageAges 2 to 3 and up, with an adult
Cloud dough looks like flour, but when you squeeze it, it holds its shape like wet sand, then crumbles into soft powder. Two ingredients, five minutes: it’s the perfect sensory activity for little ones, best done in a big bin.
Ingredients
- 5 parts all-purpose flour (for example, 5 cups, about 600 g)
- 1 part neutral cooking oil, such as vegetable oil (1 cup, 240 ml)
- Food coloring (optional, mixed into the oil)
Supplies: a big bin or a mixing bowl, molds, spoons.
Steps
- Pour the flour into the bin.
- Mix the food coloring into the oil if you want color.
- Pour in the oil and mix by hand, squishing out any lumps.
- Adjust: a little oil if it won’t hold a shape, a little flour if it feels greasy.
- Play with molds, cups, and small toys.
How do you know it worked?
It’s ready when it looks like soft flour, but a tightly squeezed handful keeps the shape of your hand and then crumbles when you rub it. Try the cup test: fill a cup, pack it down and turn it over. If the mound holds, it’s done. If it collapses, add oil one spoonful at a time; if it leaves greasy marks on your fingers, add flour. Use a big bin or a tablecloth: cloud dough spreads easily, and it’s easier to sweep up dry with a small brush than to wipe with a wet sponge.
The most common slime fails
- It won’t hold a shape
- Not enough oil: add a spoonful at a time.
- It feels greasy
- Add flour.
Variations and ideas
- For a more “sandy” texture, try moon sand or magic sand.
How to store it
Airtight container, up to a month. If it dries out, add a drizzle of oil.
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