Homemade Pumpkin Spice Playdough

If you’re looking for a fun fall activity, this homemade pumpkin spice playdough is the perfect place to start. The warm scent of pumpkin spice fills the air while little hands get busy squishing, rolling, and shaping their own creations.

Whether you’re planning a preschool pumpkin theme for the classroom or just want to bring some seasonal magic into your kitchen, this simple pumpkin spice playdough recipe is a hit every time.

The best part? You don’t need any fancy supplies or special skills. With just a few pantry staples, you’ll have a soft, scented dough ready in minutes. It’s budget-friendly, kid-approved, and makes playtime feel extra festive.

Keep reading for the full recipe, plus ideas for extending the fun with pumpkin playdough activities that tie into sensory learning, fine motor practice, and imaginative fall play.

Pumpkin Spice Playdough Recipe

This easy recipe comes together in minutes and makes the softest, best-smelling playdough for fall fun.

What You’ll Need

• Flour
• Salt
• Cream of tartar
• Pumpkin pie spice (or a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves)
• Water
• Vegetable oil
• Optional: orange food coloring

 

What You’ll Do

1. In a large saucepan, whisk together the dry ingredients.
2. Stir in the water, oil, and food coloring if you’d like a brighter pumpkin look.
3. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and starts to form a ball.
4. Remove from heat and let the dough cool slightly.
5. Knead until smooth and soft.

Keep the playdough stored in an airtight container or zip-top bag, and it will stay fresh for weeks.

How to Use the Playdough

Once your pumpkin spice playdough is ready, the fun really begins! Kids can dive right in with open-ended play or you can set up a few simple invitations to play:

• Cookie cutters and stamps: Provide leaf, pumpkin, or fall-themed cutters to press into the dough.
• Rolling fun: Let little ones roll out the dough with a small rolling pin and cut it into shapes.
• Pretend baking: Pair the dough with toy pans, spoons, and muffin tins for a make-believe pumpkin pie bakery.
• Loose parts play: Add buttons, beads, googly eyes, or small sticks to encourage creativity and storytelling.
• Themed play mats: Place the dough on fall play mats (pumpkin patches, leaf outlines) for guided fun.

The warm scent and soft texture make this playdough engaging on its own, but adding simple tools turns it into hours of fall-themed sensory play.

Learning Connections

Pumpkin spice playdough isn’t just fun to play with — it’s packed with opportunities for hands-on learning:

• Sensory play: The warm scent and soft texture make this a full sensory experience.
• Fine motor skills: Rolling, pinching, cutting, and shaping strengthen little hands and fingers.
• Early math: Measuring ingredients, counting cookie cutter shapes, or making patterns with playdough pieces.
• Language development: Encourage kids to describe what they smell, feel, or build to build vocabulary.
• Creativity and imagination: Open-ended play lets children pretend, invent, and explore freely.

Simple activities like this can sneak in essential preschool skills while still keeping playtime relaxed and fun.

Tips & Variations

Want to make your pumpkin spice playdough last longer or fit your child’s preferences? Try these simple tweaks:

• Storage: Keep the playdough in an airtight container or zip-top bag when not in use. Stored properly, it should stay soft for weeks.
• Color options: Orange food coloring gives it a classic pumpkin look, but you can skip the coloring or experiment with fall shades like brown or green.
• Spice blends: Pumpkin pie spice works beautifully, but cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves can be used on their own for a gentler scent.
• Add-ins: Mix in a little glitter for sparkle or tiny leaf confetti for a seasonal twist.
• Batch play: Make multiple small batches and let kids customize their own colors or scents.

These little adjustments make the recipe easy to tailor for your classroom or home.

Pumpkin Activities for Kids

If your kids loved making pumpkin spice playdough, they’ll enjoy these other hands-on ideas too:

• Pumpkin Seed Sensory Bin – scoop, pour, and explore with colorful seeds.
• Pumpkin Color by Number Worksheets – practice number recognition with a fall twist.
• Apple Volcano Science Experiment – watch apples bubble over in a fizzy STEM activity.
• Pumpkin Life Cycle Printables – teach science concepts with engaging visuals.
• Pumpkin Crafts for Preschoolers – simple art projects perfect for little hands.

Each of these activities ties into seasonal learning and keeps the pumpkin theme going strong.

Homemade pumpkin spice playdough is a simple way to bring the cozy feel of fall into your home or classroom. With just a few pantry staples, you can create a soft, scented dough that invites kids to roll, cut, and imagine for hours. It’s a low-prep activity that feels special, and it ties beautifully into a preschool pumpkin theme.

Whether you’re looking for a rainy-day project, a classroom sensory activity, or just a way to make fall a little more hands-on, this recipe delivers. Pair it with other pumpkin activities and you’ll have a full lineup of seasonal fun ready to go.

Want more fall inspiration? Be sure to check out the pumpkin printables and activities linked above—you’ll have everything you need for a season filled with learning and play.