Apple picking season is here again! One of my favorite things on our fall bucket list each year is to go apple picking. I love being outside in the fresh, crisp fall air and coming home with a heap of apples. Once home, I get right to work, making homemade applesauce, apple pie and apple crumble. This year, Hannah is big enough to “help” me with the baking. Meaning she likes to make a mess while I’m trying to dig out ingredients and wants to taste EVERYTHING (especially butter, so much butter). Instead of driving myself crazy cleaning up after her (but not faster than she can make more messes!), I gave her her own play dough apple pie to make.
I gave Hannah her own apple pie to bake, but this time, out of scented play dough. She loved making balls into apples, and rolling out dough with her own rolling pin. It kept her busy and happy while I was baking. That’s a win-win in my books!
Here’s how you can make your own invitation to create apple pie.
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You will need:
- cinnamon scented crust play dough
- apple scented playdough
- mini pie tin
- play dough tools (rolling pin, crust cutter, etc.)
Play Dough Recipe
Although there are lots of no-bake play dough recipes out there, I find the best recipes are the ones that are cooked. Also key is the cream of tartar, which keeps the play dough nice and elastic, so you can use it again and again.
Amp up your play dough by adding a delicious apple scent. I find the most effective way is to buy some scented apple body wash to give it a nice smell. I’ve tried several natural options, but nothing really gives off a good scent. Be sure not to give this play dough to toddlers who still like to put things in their mouths!
Ingredients for Apple Play Dough:
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 Tbsp oil
- Food colouring
- Apple scented body wash (several squirts, depending on the desired intensity of smell
- 1 cup flour
- 1 Tbsp cream of tartar
Mix water, salt, oil and food colouring together over heat. Mix flour and cream of tartar together and slowly add to wet ingredients while stirring constantly. When play dough forms a ball and pulls away from the side, remove from pot. Kneed for several minutes until desired texture is achieved.
Play Dough Crust
Follow the same recipe, but swap out the apple body wash. Instead, mix in 1 Tbsp cinnamon, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp cloves to the flour and cream of tartar mix.
Store play dough in an air tight container or Ziploc bag, until you are ready to play.
Apple Pie Play Dough Storybook
My favorite book to pair with this activity is Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall. This sweet book is all about two sisters who watch their apple tree blossom and grow apples. They pick the apples and bake their own apple pie.
This is a great way to keep your child busy and engaged while you are doing your fall baking. What other creative activities do your kids like to do in the fall?
Scented play dough! My mind is blown!
What a cute idea!!!! As a child my mom used to make me a play dogh this way and it was the best thing ever!!!!!!!!!!!