How to Create Salt Dough

Salt dough is an excellent medium for making small figures and pieces of jewelry. You can create many things with salt dough, or just play with it. Be careful around small children as they easily get tempted to eat it.

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup salt
• 3/4 cup water
• food coloring (optional - see "Tips" for suggestions)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1. Mix flour, salt, water, and oil in a deep bowl.
   
   
2. Knead the salt dough mixture until it turns doughy.
   
   
3. Add coloring or glitter if wished. See "Tips" for suggestions.
   
   
4. Mold shapes by hand or with cookie cutters. It is easiest as a beginner to start with flat objects before advancing to 3D figures with details. Layering details over the initial figure should only be attempted when you feel confident about making the initial shape.
   
   
5. Dry the objects. You can dry salt dough figures as follows:
   
   
   • Air dry. Choose a warm, dry place to let the figures dry. Place figures on a grill to permit air circulation. This method will take about one week and is only suitable for small, flat and thin figures.
   • Air dry and oven. Allow for a little drying by air and then bake the figure in the oven for half an hour at 50ºC. You can increase to 100ºC after the initial half hour if more time is needed.
   • Place the figure straight into the oven. Place in the oven at 180ºF - 200ºF for about 10 minutes.
6. Check the figure continuously if you oven dry. You do not want to brown or burn the figure.
   
   
7. Tap the cooked figure. If it sounds hollow, it is ready. If not, dry it some more (at a low temperature or air dry, to avoid browning it). Try to avoid doing this, however, as returning it to the oven after removal will increase the risk of cracking.
   
   
8. Decorate the figures. They can be painted once dry.
   
   
9. Finished.
   
   

• Troubleshoot:If the dough is too crumbly, add more water. If it's too sticky, add a little more flour.
• Storage: This dough can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about a week.
• Additional drying tip: If drying in the oven, dry directly on the oven rack to ensure even drying over the entire figure. Check on it every once in awhile to make sure it looks OK and doesn't turn brown. Also, drying time may vary depending on what size you creation is.
• Painting: You can add paint to the dough before and after you bake it. It is important to ensure that the paint is suitable for baking if you choose to paint before you bake.
• Coloring: Make several batches in different colors. Color can be obtained easily using food coloring available in cake decorating supplies. Edible colors include chocolate powder, coffee, spices, beetroot water, carrot juice etc. Glitter adds a lot of pizazz to the dough.

• This dough can be toxic to animals due its high sodium content. Keep pets away from it.
• Making salt dough is a messy process. Wear old clothes or an apron. Cover the areas that you are working on to protect the surfaces.
• Only use edible ingredients when toddlers are helping you to make it (i.e. no glitter or paint). Supervise the whole process to prevent attempts to eat the dough.

• glitter (optional)
• paint (optional)
• aroma (optional)