Applesauce Oobleck Recipe - Little Bins for Little Hands (2024)

Let’s make awesome applesauce oobleck for fall learning! Fall is an excellent time of the year to put a little twist on classic sensory science activities.That’s how we decided to try this fun applesauce oobleck recipe. Is it solid or is it liquid? Find out how to make apple theme oobleck for an easy apple science experiment.

Applesauce Oobleck Recipe - Little Bins for Little Hands (1)Pin

Make Oobleck For Fall Science

Learning how to make oobleck has to be one of the easiest science experiments you can do on a small budget with kids of all ages, and in a classroom or at home. I love how versatile our main Dr Seuss oobleck recipetruly is, and it provides a neat science lesson along with great tactile sensory play!

This applesauce oobleck recipe below adds to the senses with the smell of cinnamon and apples. Perfect for your fall activities with kids, fall lesson plans, or a preschool fall theme! We’ve got you covered with this oobleck activity, or rather you will be covered with oobleck!

I really wanted to show him the science behind apple oobleck since it is so cool that it can act like a liquid and a solid. I was hoping that if I showed him all about it and experimented with it so he could see it, he might be interested enough to touch it and I was right!

Oobleck is a fantastic activity for the 5 senses. Go ahead and explore the sense of touch, smell, and sight! Can you hear oobleck? Although this oobleck recipe is non-toxic and borax-free, it won’t be tasty to eat.

What Is Oobleck?

Oobleck is a fun substance made from a mixture of cornstarch and water. It’s a bit messy too!

A mixture is a material made up of two or more substances to form a new material which is our oobleck! Kids can also explore liquids and solids, which are states of matter.

Learn more about states of matter.

Here you combine a liquid (water) and a solid (cornstarch), but the mixture doesn’t become one or the other. Hmmm…

What do the kids think?

A solid has its own shape, whereas a liquid will take the form of the container it is put into. Oobleck is a bit of both! That’s why oobleck is called a non-Newtonian fluid.

A non-Newtonian fluid is neither a liquid nor a solid but a bit of both! You can pick up a clump of the substance like a solid and then watch it ooze back into the bowl like a liquid.

Make sure to try this! You can form it into a ball even! Touch the surface of the oobleck in the bowl lightly. It will feel firm and solid. If you apply more pressure, your fingers will sink into it like a liquid.

More Fun Oobleck Recipes To Try

  • Real Pumpkin Oobleck
  • Candy Cane Peppermint Oobleck
  • Red Hots Oobleck
  • Rainbow Oobleck
  • Oobleck Treasure Hunt
  • Halloween Oobleck

Get your FREE printable Apple STEM guide!

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Is Oobleck Edible?

Although obleck is completely borax-free, unlike our slime recipes, it is NOT edible. However, it is non-toxic which makes it suitable for toddlers and preschoolers. While it might smell yummy and contain applesauce, please do NOT eat this oobleck.

Oobleck is taste-safe just in case someone sneaks in a nibble, but it is NOT edible. Adult supervision is recommended.

Oobleck is truly fun for kids to help make too! Below you will see my young son helping make the oobleck. He’s now turning 14 years old!

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Applesauce Oobleck Recipe

Note: I kept our oobleck a bit firmer with extra cornstarch. This made it a bit less slimy though it still illustrated the properties of a non-Newtonian fluid!

Ingredients:

  • 1+ cups of apple sauce
  • 2+ cups of cornstarch
  • bowl and spoon for mixing
  • cookie tray or pie plate for experimenting
  • cinnamon spice if desired

Instructions:

STEP 1: Start by adding cornstarch to the bowl. I always recommend having extra cornstarch on hand for experimentation with ratios of cornstarch to liquid or if the kids accidentally add too much liquid.

Oobleck is very forgiving! You will just end up with a larger amount in the end!

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STEP 2: Next, add the applesauce and get ready to mix. This can be messy and your hands may be easier than a spoon. Start with 1 cup of applesauce first and then add more water as needed.

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STEP 3: (optional) Add a sprinkle of cinnamon for an apple pie theme!

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TIP: If you add too much cornstarch, go ahead and add back in some water and vice versa. I highly suggest making small changes at a time. A little can go a long way once you start incorporating it into the mixture.

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Your oobleck should be neither soupy and runny or too stiff and dry!

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Can you pick up a clump but then it oozes back into the bowl? Yes? Then you have a good oobleck on your hands!

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More Fun Sensory Apple Activities

  • Explore the parts of an apple.
  • Learn about how an apple grows.
  • Set up this apple sensory bin.
  • Play and learn with apple oobleck.
  • Enjoy an apple pie sensory bin.
  • Make apple squeeze balls for little hands.
  • Explore apples with playdough.

Printable Preschool Apple Theme Pack

Get ready to explore this year with our growing Preschool STEM Bundle!

What’s Included:

There are 5 fun preschool themes to get you started. This is an ” I can explore” series!

Each unit contains approximately 15 activities, with instructions and templatesas needed. Hands-on activities are provided to keep it fun and exciting. This includes sensory bins, experiments, games, and more! Easy supplies keep it low cost, and book suggestions add the learning time.

Applesauce Oobleck Recipe - Little Bins for Little Hands (2024)

FAQs

Applesauce Oobleck Recipe - Little Bins for Little Hands? ›

Ingredients: 1+ cups of apple sauce. 2+ cups of cornstarch. bowl and spoon for mixing.

How to make a small batch of oobleck? ›

Directions
  1. Help your child measure 3/4 cup of water in a plastic measuring cup.
  2. If you have food coloring, have your child add a couple of drops to the water.
  3. Help your child measure 1 cup of cornstarch. ...
  4. Slowly add the water and food coloring.
  5. Let your child mix the mixture.
Apr 15, 2019

What is the perfect ratio for oobleck? ›

Making Oobleck is really easy– simply mix cornstarch and water in a bowl. Be sure to measure a 2:1 ratio of ingredients. For example, 2 cups of cornstarch and 1 cup of water.

What can replace cornstarch in oobleck? ›

Arrowroot Powder: Arrowroot powder, extracted from the rhizomes of the arrowroot plant, can also be used as a cornstarch alternative. Mix arrowroot powder with water, gradually adjusting the proportions until you attain the consistency reminiscent of traditional Oobleck.

What is the problem with oobleck? ›

Oobleck doesn't quite follow the rules, this suspension only behaves as a fluid some of the time. For this reason oobleck is known as a non-Newtonian Fluid. If you apply a force to it by smacking or squeezing it this fluid will become a solid.

How to make oobleck busy toddler? ›

Generally, it's a 2 to 1 ratio of cornstarch to water (so 1 cup of cornstarch + 1/2 cup of water). Add in food coloring to your water, but that's totally optional and your preference. Stir to combine and like magic: the oobleck will form before your eyes.

Does oobleck go bad? ›

If you keep the oobleck for more than a day, it will start to go bad and will not be able to retain the properties that it has. In order to dispose of the oobleck, all you have to do is let it dry properly by keeping it aside overnight. Then you can smash the oobleck with a spoon and throw it away easily.

How to make oobleck thicker? ›

Oobleck is, specifically, a shear thickening non-Newtonian fluid. This means that it thickens, or becomes more viscous or solid, when force is applied to it. Applying quick pressure (such as hitting it or squeezing it) increases the oobleck's viscosity as it forces the cornstarch particles together rapidly.

What age is oobleck appropriate for? ›

From ages 12 months old to 12 years old, oobleck is a crowd pleaser. And since it's taste safe, even our tabies can play too! Mix, mix, mix and oh my goodness: you've got oobleck.

How to make oobleck into slime? ›

If you have a large group of kids, pour oobleck liquid into a large tub. Then have each child push both of their hands deep into the liquid until it hardens. Once the slime has turned into a solid, have the children slowly lift their hands and watch as the tub hovers!

Who invented oobleck? ›

Oobleck gets its name from the Dr. Seuss book Bartholomew and the Oobleck where a gooey green substance, Oobleck, fell from the sky and wreaked havoc in the kingdom.

What is oobleck used for in real life? ›

Non-Newtonian fluids like Oobleck (a cornstarch and water suspension) have some interesting and useful applications: Dampening forces and shock absorption. Their viscoelastic properties can help dampen impacts and vibrations. This is useful for things like crowbar grips, gloves, etc.

How to dispose of oobleck? ›

Do not dispose of the oobleck in the sink! We place the oobleck mixture into plastic trash bags and carry to the dumpster. If indoors, we have found that allowing the area to air dry first makes it easier to sweep up the cornstarch. If outside and a garden hose is available, hose down the area sufficiently with water.

What is the ratio of cornstarch to water? ›

To make a slurry, start with 1 to 2 ratio of cornstarch to water. For example, prepare 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water. Then whisk together really well. When you add more water, it just takes more time to thicken the sauce or soup.

How to make oobleck in a ziploc bag? ›

How to make oobleck
  1. Pour one cup of cornstarch into the ziplock bag.
  2. Measure out 1/2 cup of water.
  3. Add four to six drops of food coloring (any color) into the water.
  4. Pour a small portion of the water and food coloring mixture (about 1/2 or 1/4 of the bowl) into the ziplock bag with the cornstarch.

What is the ratio of cornstarch to water for non-Newtonian fluid? ›

Mix the box of cornstarch with 7/8 cup water (ratio = 1/2 cup of cornstarch to 1/8 cup of water). b. Add four to five drops of green food coloring if desired. Mix well (it is easiest to mix with your hands).

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