Let’s make some edible finger paints today! Kids of all ages will love this simple homemade edible finger paint recipe. It’s perfect for smaller kids like toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners. It’s safe with no harmful chemicals that way even the littlest hands can make beautiful art! This edible finger paint recipe is perfect for at home or in the classroom!

How to make finger paint
Let’s get messy and make art using our edible finger paint recipe!
We had nothing planned today so we decided to make our own finger paint! It was so much fun painting. We put out a big strip of paper to stop any mess getting on the floors and went to town.
Related: How to Make Edible Play Sand Out of Cheerios…Genius!
Edible Finger Paint Recipe
I chose to make our own paints because I know Rory is getting her molars now and so everything is in her mouth. I did just a basic flour, salt, and water mixture so that if she decided to have a mid-morning snack it would be OK. The recipe made a lot, so next time we are going to need to have a play date so we don’t waste any paint!

Ingredients to make our edible finger paint recipe
- 1 cup of flour
- 2 1/2 cups of cold water
- 2 tbs of salt
- food coloring in assorted colors
- saucepan
- wooden spoon
- jars or cups for storing your paint
- spoon or wood sticks for mixing the paint
- paper
Instructions for making Easy Edible finger paint

Step 1
Mixed the flour and water in a saucepan and cook over low heat until itsmooth and then. Add in the salt, mix again, then remove from the heat.

Step 2
Pour your paint base into jars or cups and set aside to cool. Once cooled, add a few drops at a time of food dye and stir. The more dye you add the brighter (or darker) the color will be.

Step 3
It’s time to get messy and start painting. Kids can use their fingers, or a paintbrush.
Our finished homemade edible finger paint recipe
You can use this edible finger paints on regular paper or even construction paper. It’s so vibrant and very similar to water colors I think! Let your little one explore the world, make art, use their imagination, and explore colors with this super awesome edible finger paint recipe!

Edible Finger Paint Recipe

Make homemade edible finger paint for toddlers.
Materials
- 1 cup of flour
- 2 1/2 cups of cold water
- 2 tbs of salt
- food coloring in assorted colors
- paper
Tools
- saucepan
- wooden spoon
- jars or cups for storing your paint
- spoon or wood sticks for mixing the paint
Instructions
- Mix the water and flour in a saucepan over low heat until combined and smooth. Add the salt and stir. Remove from the heat.
- Pour the paint base into the jars or cups and set aside until the paint is cool.
- Add food dye (a little at a time) and stir to combine. The more color you add the brighter and darker the colors will be.
- Start painting.
More finger painting fun from Kids Activities
- Create finger paint from sunscreen
- Did you know you can make finger paint from lotion?
- No-mess finger painting for toddlers
- Non-toxic homemade finger paint for toddlers
- DIY finger paint name art
- Try painting with this exploding paint bombs activity!
- Let’s learn how to make watercolor paint!
Have you made our homemade edible finger paint? What did the kids paint with it?
Finger painting though a great activity is quite messy so inst it easier for a toddler to do this on a small children’s table? When I taught preschool we always did it standing up at the table, so much easier to clean
Thanks for sharing this! Got linked to your site from Inner Child Fun.
We tried this and the paint was very watery… Did I do something wrong? Does the mixture have to get really warm? There was no lumps in mine and it was barely warm so we moved on. Maybe it needs the heat to thicken?
As you mentioned, I would also recommend cutting this recipe in half. My 3 kids didn’t even use half of it .
I cut the recipe down to a quarter batch. I added a lot more flour too. If you want more of a pancake batter consistency. Use 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 C. flour, 1-1/4 C. Water and 1tbs salt.
Do you use a special kind of food coloring so it doesn’t stain?
This is such a cute idea! My kids would LOVE this! I cook with mine all the time and we don’t mind messes. I found you via Bowdabra’s link party! I’m entry #59 and #60. Nice to “meet” you!
Oh my little man loves to paint! He often has more on him than the paper when he is done, though. 🙂
Jen
Homemade paint! Looks like so much fun! Thanks for the recipe!