# Edible Scented Play Sand
> Mix cornmeal with unsweetened Kool-Aid and a splash of water to make brightly colored, scented play sand that is taste-safe if accidentally mouthed. Keep it dry for scooping and pouring, or add a bit more water to make it moldable like damp beach sand.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/edible-sand-recipe/
- Ages: 2–5 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: high
- Time: prep 15 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class
- Skills: sensory-exploration, color-mixing, fine-motor, pretend-play
- Cautions: corn, food-dye, ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- 0.5 cup Cornmeal
- 2 envelope Kool-Aid unsweetened drink mix
- 0.25 tbsp Water (household)
- 1 piece Spoons or forks for mixing (household)
- 1 piece Container or bowl (household)
- 1 piece Big shallow plastic tub (household)
- Toy sand shovels or scoops (optional)
- Clear plastic cups or bowls (optional)

## Substitutions
- Instead of kool aid: Food color mixed with a bit of water (The author's suggestion for an unscented sand, for people sensitive to smell.)
- Instead of kool aid: Liquid watercolors (The author says these work for color too, but they are not food-grade, so the sand is no longer taste-safe.)
- Instead of cornmeal: Polenta (outside the US) (A reader notes cornmeal is what polenta is made from, so it may have a different name in other countries.)
- Instead of kool aid: Cordial powder (outside the US) (A reader compares Kool-Aid to cordial powder ('kinda'). Results not confirmed.)

## Safety
- Taste-safe, not a snack: the sand is made from pantry ingredients, so an accidental taste is no cause for panic, but don't let kids eat it.
- Supervise sensory play at all times, especially with toddlers who mouth materials.
- Contains cornmeal. Skip or substitute for children with a corn allergy.
- Kool-Aid stains hands a bit. The adult mixing the sand can use forks or spoons to avoid it, and stains wash off with warm water and soap.
- Keep the drink-mix powder and sand away from eyes, and wash hands after play.
- If you swap in liquid watercolors for color, the sand is no longer taste-safe. Don't use that version with kids who mouth materials.

## Before you start
- Choose your colors and remember the yellow cornmeal changes them. Blue Kool-Aid gives green, and grape gives a dark purple that looks almost black.
- Decide whether you want loose dry sand for scooping and pouring or damp, moldable sand, which needs a little extra water.

## Steps
1. Put 1/2 cup of cornmeal in a container.
2. Add 2 envelopes of unsweetened Kool-Aid.
3. Add about 1/4 tbsp of water.
4. Mix thoroughly with a spoon or fork until the color spreads evenly.
5. For moldable sand, add a little more water and mix again.
6. Repeat with a new Kool-Aid flavor in a new container for each color.
7. Set the containers in a big shallow plastic tub with scoops.
8. Let the kids enjoy the colors, then scoop, pour and mix.
9. Layer the colors into a clear cup to make sand art.

## Tips
- Use 2 envelopes of Kool-Aid for every 1/2 cup of cornmeal for the best color and scent.
- The person making the sand gets the stained hands, so mix with forks or spoons. The children will be fine because the color settles into the cornmeal.
- Cornmeal is yellow, so the color you add mixes in and gives you a secondary color. The green sand you see is actually cornmeal and blue Kool-Aid.
- For 'black' sand I used grape Kool-Aid. It's dark purple rather than black.
- The children can enjoy the colors first, and then we all know what happens! They enjoy the mixing process even more.
- Ours made multiple cakes, rainbow cupcakes and real, red hot lava cakes. That chance sand art led them to make more intentional sand art in a cup.
- Outside the US, cornmeal is what polenta is made from, and Kool-Aid is a powdered drink mix a bit like cordial powder. (from readers)

## FAQ
**Does it stain hands?** A little, because of the Kool-Aid. The person mixing gets stained hands, which wash clean with warm water and soap. Kids playing usually don't, since the color has settled into the cornmeal and they use scoops. Mix with forks or spoons to avoid stains.
**Can I make it without the scent?** The author suggests food color mixed with a bit of water. Liquid watercolors also work, but then the sand isn't taste-safe.
**How did you make the black sand?** With grape Kool-Aid. It's dark purple rather than black.
**What can I use outside the US, like in Australia?** A reader explains that cornmeal is what polenta is made from, and Kool-Aid is a powdered drink mix similar to cordial powder.
**Why is my blue sand green?** Cornmeal is yellow, so the color you add mixes with it into a secondary color. Blue Kool-Aid gives green.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2014)

Easy homemade play sand made using pantry ingredients. Ah! summer is here and the children love playing in the sand. Couple of years ago they had a ball making an [**island in our sandbox**](https://www.funlittles.com/build-an-island-in-a-sandbox/) ( time to do that again!) They also loved making [**beach creatures**](https://www.funlittles.com/summer-sensory-activity-beach-dough-creatures/). This season, we want to kick off summer fun with this simple "edible sand" recipe using basic pantry ingredients.  You can keep this scented play sand as loose dry sand which is great for scooping and pouring or with a bit of extra water you can keep them moldable as real damp beach sand.  The scent and the colors turn out gorgeous.  and honestly the preparation is so simple.  This below is NOT a carefully created sand art. The children were absolutely mesmerized playing with the sand that they strictly said " no camera when we are playing" hahahah. So I respected their wishes ( commands?) and waited until they were done. But right in the middle of their play time I hear " mom, come over here! You have to take a picture! This cupcake we made is gorgeous" Of course it is.. They did a lot of scooping and pourning and realized that they created a wonderful piece of sand art during their play time.  They were multiple cakes and rainbow cupcakes.  and lava cakes. ( I mean real, red hot lava cakes.)  Their chance creation of sand art led them to create a more intentional sand art in a cup.  Now on to the simple recipe for edible sand. Materials

- 1/2 cup **[Corn Meal](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0029K5CUM/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- 2 envelopes of **[Kool Aid](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019MMQXM/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- Spoons

Place 1/2 cup of cornmeal in a container. Add 2 envelopes of Kool-Aid (unsweetened drink mix) for every 1/2 cup for the best color and scent. Add about 1/4 tbsp of water. Water is added for the drink mix to give out its vibrant color and scent. Mix thoroughly with hands or a spoon until the color spreads evenly. If you want a more moldable sand, add more water.. Place them in separate containers and place the lot in a big shallow plastic tub. The children can enjoy the colors first and then we all know what happens! They enjoy the mixing process even more. Cornmeal in itself is a fantastic sensory material. We first used it in our **[alphabet sensory bin.](https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids/)** Then in our [**desert sensory bin**](https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-desert-sensory-bin/) and in our [**fall activities for math post.**](https://www.funlittles.com/fall-themed-math-activities-for-kids/) Note: remember the cornmeal is yellow and the color you add with mix in and give you a secondary color. The green sand you see is actually cornmeal and blue Kool-Aid.

Thanks for reading 

**We went ahead and tried making a dough with the play sand and it turned out so good.**

**How to make sand dough** [](https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-kids-edible-sand-dough-recipe/)