Snow Clay Recipe

November 07, 2019
A little ball of white clay, a few snowflake cutters, and suddenly the kitchen table is covered in winter creations.

This homemade snow clay is wonderfully smooth, bright white, and soft enough for little hands to roll, squish, and shape. Chill it before play for an extra icy touch, or let the finished creations dry into snowmen, ornaments, and keepsakes.

And the best part? You can make it even when there isn't a snowflake in sight.


A little ball of white clay, a few snowflake cutters, and suddenly the kitchen table is covered in winter creations. This homemade snow clay is wonderfully smooth, bright white, and soft enough for little hands to roll, squish, and shape. Chill it before play for an extra icy touch, or let the finished creations dry into snowmen, ornaments, and keepsakes. And the best part? You can make it even when there isn't a snowflake in sight. Hands shaping a smooth ball of homemade white snow clay on a flour-dusted surface For more snowy inspiration, explore our snow play activities and Winter Activities collection. How to Make Snow Clay You only need three simple ingredients to make this soft, moldable clay. Add a few drops of peppermint extract if you'd like a fresh winter scent. What You'll Need 2 cups baking soda 1 cup cornstarch 1½ cups cold water 3 to 5 drops peppermint extract (optional) You'll also need a saucepan, a sturdy spoon, and a bowl for cooling. Let's Make Snow Clay! Combine the baking soda, cornstarch, and cold water in a saucepan. Add the peppermint extract if using, and stir until everything is well mixed. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. The mixture will begin to bubble and gradually thicken. Cornstarch, baking soda, and water being mixed to make homemade snow clay Keep stirring until the mixture pulls together into a thick, soft dough resembling mashed potatoes. Thick homemade snow clay forming a soft white dough inside a saucepan Remove the pan from the heat. Transfer the clay to a bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it cool for approximately 20 to 30 minutes, or until completely cool to the touch. Homemade snow clay cooling in a glass bowl covered with a striped kitchen towel Once cooled, knead the clay with clean hands until smooth. If it feels sticky, work in a small sprinkle of cornstarch. Hands kneading a smooth ball of homemade white snow clay on a powder-dusted surface The finished clay should feel soft and pliable, ready for rolling, shaping, and all sorts of winter creations. Let's Play With Snow Clay! Set out a rolling pin, a few cookie cutters, and some simple craft supplies. The clay is lovely to work with, and there are so many ways to turn a little white dough into something special. Make Snow Clay Ornaments Roll the clay flat and cut out snowflakes, stars, trees, hearts, or whatever shapes your kids love. Use a straw to make a hole near the top of each ornament before drying. Once hardened, add ribbons for hanging or decorate them with paint. andmade white snow clay ornaments shaped like stars, Christmas trees, angels, and hearts with colorful hanging ribbons These make sweet handmade gifts and lovely decorations for the Christmas tree. For more ideas, browse our ornament crafts for kids. Create Little Snowmen Roll the clay into balls and stack them into snowmen, or shape a little snowman by hand. Once dry, kids can bring their creations to life with paint. Small handmade snow clay snowman being painted with a fine brush while resting in a hand Tiny carrot noses, colorful scarves, and funny expressions give every snowman a personality of its own. Make a Snowman Handprint Keepsake This is one of my favorite ways to use snow clay. Flatten a generous piece of clay into a thick oval, then gently press your child's hand into the surface. Lift their hand carefully to reveal the impression. Let the keepsake dry completely before decorating each finger as a little snowman. Before-and-after snow clay handprint keepsake showing a child's hand impression transformed into five painted snowmen A few little hats, carrot noses, and painted faces turn an ordinary handprint into a whole family of snowmen. And years from now, you'll still have that tiny hand to look back on. Make It Icy Cold! Want to add another layer of sensory fun? Place the finished clay in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few hours before play. It becomes wonderfully cool to the touch, making the experience feel a little more like playing with real snow. Kids can squish it, roll it between their palms, press it into shapes, and explore the smooth, chilly texture. Just remember to chill the clay after it has cooled completely from cooking. How to Dry Snow Clay If you'd like to keep your creations, place them on a flat surface and allow them to air-dry thoroughly. Thin ornaments may dry within a few days, while thicker snowmen and handprint keepsakes can take longer. Turn pieces gently once they're firm enough so both sides can dry evenly. Allow everything to harden completely before painting, hanging, or handling frequently. Avoid rushing the process, especially with thicker creations. Helpful Snow Clay Tips Clay too sticky? Knead in a small sprinkle of cornstarch until it becomes easier to handle. Making several ornaments? Keep unused clay covered while everyone works so it stays soft. Want to save some for later? Place leftover clay in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use it promptly. Discard it if you notice changes in smell, color, or texture. Making keepsakes? Avoid rolling the clay too thin, especially when pressing handprints or creating ornaments with delicate edges. Child making hand prints out of homemade salt dough An adult should handle the stove and hot mixture. Allow the clay to cool completely before children touch it. This is a craft material, not food, and small decorations should be used with supervision. More Snow Recipes to Try Frosty Flubber: Stretch, squish, and watch this snowy slime ooze between little fingers. Snow Dough: Icy-cold, feels like fresh fallen powder; moldable Glowing Snow Paint: Turn down the lights and bring winter artwork to life with glowing colors. Snow Play Activities: From snowballs to icy discoveries, find more ways to explore the real thing. Looking for even more ways to play? Explore our Winter Activities collection for snowy science experiments, sensory play recipes, and winter crafts. Child adding an orange nose to a homemade white snow clay snowman with a crooked smile, twig arms, and uneven buttons

For more snowy inspiration, explore our snow play activities and Winter Activities collection.


How to Make Snow Clay

You only need three simple ingredients to make this soft, moldable clay. Add a few drops of peppermint extract if you'd like a fresh winter scent.

What You'll Need

  • 2 cups baking soda

  • 1 cup cornstarch

  • 1½ cups cold water

  • 3 to 5 drops peppermint extract (optional)

You'll also need a saucepan, a sturdy spoon, and a bowl for cooling.


Let's Make Snow Clay!

  • Combine the baking soda, cornstarch, and cold water in a saucepan. Add the peppermint extract if using, and stir until everything is well mixed.
  • Place the saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. The mixture will begin to bubble and gradually thicken.

Cornstarch, baking soda, and water being mixed to make homemade snow clay

  • Keep stirring until the mixture pulls together into a thick, soft dough resembling mashed potatoes. 

Thick homemade snow clay forming a soft white dough inside a saucepan

  • Remove the pan from the heat.

  • Transfer the clay to a bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it cool for approximately 20 to 30 minutes, or until completely cool to the touch.

Homemade snow clay cooling in a glass bowl covered with a striped kitchen towel

  • Once cooled, knead the clay with clean hands until smooth. If it feels sticky, work in a small sprinkle of cornstarch.

Hands kneading a smooth ball of homemade white snow clay on a powder-dusted surface

The finished clay should feel soft and pliable, ready for rolling, shaping, and all sorts of winter creations.

Let's Play With Snow Clay!

Set out a rolling pin, a few cookie cutters, and some simple craft supplies. The clay is lovely to work with, and there are so many ways to turn a little white dough into something special.



Make Snow Clay Ornaments

  • Roll the clay flat and cut out snowflakes, stars, trees, hearts, or whatever shapes your kids love. Use a straw to make a hole near the top of each ornament before drying.
  • Once hardened, add ribbons for hanging or decorate them with paint.


    andmade white snow clay ornaments shaped like stars, Christmas trees, angels, and hearts with colorful hanging ribbons

    These make sweet handmade gifts and lovely decorations for the Christmas tree.

    For more ideas, browse our ornament crafts for kids.


    Create Little Snowmen

    Roll the clay into balls and stack them into snowmen, or shape a little snowman by hand. Once dry, kids can bring their creations to life with paint.


    Small handmade snow clay snowman being painted with a fine brush while resting in a hand


    Tiny carrot noses, colorful scarves, and funny expressions give every snowman a personality of its own.

    Make a Snowman Handprint Keepsake

    This is one of my favorite ways to use snow clay.

    • Flatten a generous piece of clay into a thick oval, then gently press your child's hand into the surface. Lift their hand carefully to reveal the impression.
    • Let the keepsake dry completely before decorating each finger as a little snowman.


    Before-and-after snow clay handprint keepsake showing a child's hand impression transformed into five painted snowmen


    A few little hats, carrot noses, and painted faces turn an ordinary handprint into a whole family of snowmen.

    And years from now, you'll still have that tiny hand to look back on.

    Make It Icy Cold!

    Want to add another layer of sensory fun?

    Place the finished clay in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a few hours before play. It becomes wonderfully cool to the touch, making the experience feel a little more like playing with real snow.

    Kids can squish it, roll it between their palms, press it into shapes, and explore the smooth, chilly texture. Just remember to chill the clay after it has cooled completely from cooking.


    How to Dry Snow Clay

    If you'd like to keep your creations, place them on a flat surface and allow them to air-dry thoroughly.

    Thin ornaments may dry within a few days, while thicker snowmen and handprint keepsakes can take longer. Turn pieces gently once they're firm enough so both sides can dry evenly.

    Allow everything to harden completely before painting, hanging, or handling frequently. Avoid rushing the process, especially with thicker creations.


    Helpful Snow Clay Tips

    Clay too sticky? Knead in a small sprinkle of cornstarch until it becomes easier to handle.

    Making several ornaments? Keep unused clay covered while everyone works so it stays soft.

    Want to save some for later? Place leftover clay in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use it promptly. Discard it if you notice changes in smell, color, or texture.

    Making keepsakes? Avoid rolling the clay too thin, especially when pressing handprints or creating ornaments with delicate edges.


    Child making hand prints out of homemade salt dough

    An adult should handle the stove and hot mixture. Allow the clay to cool completely before children touch it. This is a craft material, not food, and small decorations should be used with supervision.

    More Snow Recipes to Try

    • Frosty Flubber: Stretch, squish, and watch this snowy slime ooze between little fingers.

    • Snow Dough: Icy-cold, feels like fresh fallen powder; moldable

    • Glowing Snow Paint: Turn down the lights and bring winter artwork to life with glowing colors.

    • Snow Play Activities: From snowballs to icy discoveries, find more ways to explore the real thing.


    Looking for even more ways to play? Explore our Winter Activities collection for snowy science experiments, sensory play recipes, and winter crafts.


    Child adding an orange nose to a homemade white snow clay snowman with a crooked smile, twig arms, and uneven buttons
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