Conductive Play Dough - Salt Dough Recipe

Conductive Play Dough - Salt Dough Recipe

Squishy Circuits is an easy science experiment to do at home. So, why not also make the dough in your kitchen?! It's an easy and fun activity. Use this step-by-step guild to learn how to make dough yourself. Many people think that conductive dough has a metal in it... it's actually salt! Salt and water is a good conductor of electricity - read all about the chemistry.

Step 1

Gather Ingredients

    • 1½ Cup (355 mL) Flour
    • 1 Cup (237 mL) Water
    • ¼ Cup (59 mL) Salt
    • 3 Tbsp. (44 mL) Cream of Tartar*
    • 1 Tbsp. (15 mL) Vegetable Oil
    • Optional: food coloring
    • * 9 Tbsp. (133 mL) of Lemon Juice may be substituted

Step 2:
Mixing Ingredients for Salt Dough

Mix water, 1 cup of flour, salt, cream of tartar, vegetable oil and food coloring (if using) in a medium-sized saucepan.

A non-stick pan works best.

Cook the salt dough over medium heat, stirring continuously. The mixture will thicken, and lumps will begin to form.
Stirring Homemade Play Dough

Step 3:

Continue heating and stirring until the mixture forms a ball. When stirring, scrape the bottom of the pan and flip the dough so that it does not burn. Continue to mix until the dough pulls away cleanly from the sides of the saucepan.
Removing Homemade Conductive Dough From Heat

Step 4:
Finished Homemade Play Doh Recipe

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Use caution, as it is very hot at this point.

Using additional flour, knead the dough until the desired consistency is reached and any sticky-ness is removed.

Step 5:

You're ready to start making Squishy Circuits! Check out our sample projects or let your imagination flow and create your own!

Completed Conductive Dough 

Did you know that Play Doh is also salt based and conductive? How does this salt dough recipe compare? We did the research! Check out our article comparing the two.