Chocolate Playdoh

Last week, I shared the fun we had with the scented KoolAid playdoh.  Well this stuff smells even better and is lots of fun for the kids.  It's a perfect little activity around Valentine's Day.  My kids had a great time making all sorts of "goodies" for their pretend chocolate shops and bakeries!  Really young kids might have a tough time resisting the urge to eat the playdoh, because it really does smell chocolate-y, but most kids preschool age and up would be fine.  (NOTE:  The playdoh isn't toxic or anything, but if you ate a mouthful of this salty stuff, you'd probably feel a bit sick.)

Looks like playdoh, smells like chocolate!

INGREDIENTS:

* 2 cups water

* 1/2 cup salt

* 1 cup cocoa powder (the unsweetened baking kind, not hot chocolate mix)

* 2 cups flour

* 2 tbsp. vegetable oil

* 2 tbsp. cream of tartar (in the spices section)

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Bring the water and salt to a boil and pour in a medium sized bowl.  (At first, I wasn't sure why my recipe called for boiling the water and salt, but doing so seems to help dissolve the salt for a better dough consistency).  Add the oil, then the dry ingredients to the bowl.  Stir together with a large spoon until cool enough to knead by hand.  Knead the dough until everything is well incorporated, adding a little bit more flour if it seems too sticky.

Mix together with a large spoon at first.

Once cool enough to handle,  knead until well mixed.

2.  Have fun in your pretend chocolate shop.  Use cookie cutters, baking cups, molds, etc. to make a whole variety of goodies.

3.  Store your chocolate playdoh in a sealed plastic bag or container.

Yummy treats!

A whole bunch of chocolate treats!