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

What ingredients do you use for oobleck? ›

Materials
  • 1 cup of cornstarch.
  • 3/4 cup water.
  • Food coloring (optional)
  • Plastic bowl or bin.
Apr 15, 2019

What is the ratio of water to cornstarch in 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.

Can I use baking soda instead of cornstarch to make oobleck? ›

Can you make oobleck with baking soda? You sure can! Although it is usually made with cornstarch, you can also use baking soda.

What can you use to make oobleck instead of cornstarch? ›

Arrowroot powder and tapioca powder are both popular substitutes for cornstarch when it comes to cooking. When it comes to oobleck, you can use them in the exact same way as cornstarch without any modifications.

What happens when you add baking soda to oobleck? ›

Start adding the cornstarch to it a bit at a time. Follow all of the instructions for the regular oobleck until you have a good consistency. Now sprinkle 1 tablespoons of baking soda on top of your oobleck and mix it in, within around 30 seconds your oobleck should start to fizz and bubble.

What causes oobleck to harden? ›

When cornstarch mixes with water, the starch does not dissolve, but remains in suspension. Move the mixture slowly, and the particles slide past each other. Move it quickly, and the particles tangle with each other so that the mixture hardens.

How much cornstarch does it take to thicken 1 cup of juice? ›

For each cup of liquid, you want to thicken, start with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a small bowl. Add an equal amount of cold liquid and stir until smooth paste forms. This is your slurry. Whisk the slurry into the hot, simmering liquid that you want to thicken.

How much cornstarch does it take to thicken 1 cup of liquid? ›

If you're cooking hot liquids like sauces, stock or broth, 1 tablespoon of corn starch per cup of liquid will give you a thin to medium consistency that's appropriate for soups or very thin sauces. 2 tablespoons per cup will give you a thicker, more gravy-like consistency.

Is oobleck and slime the same? ›

Although many people call oobleck slime, oobleck is actually different from slime. Slime is made up of borax or sodium borate, which is a mineral and a salt of boric acid. You can find borate in liquid starch or contact solution. When mixed with glue, it creates a stretchy-like substance.

Can I use magic baking powder instead of cornstarch? ›

Let's cut to the chase. Cornstarch is not baking powder, and you shouldn't use cornstarch instead of baking powder or vice versa because they react differently and serve distinct roles.

What can oobleck be used for in the real world? ›

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.

What makes oobleck unique? ›

Oobleck is an example of a fluid whose viscosity is not constant; it's viscosity changes depending on the stress or forces applied to it. If you poke it with your finger and apply a large force, it becomes very viscous and stays in place. If you gently pour it, applying little force, it will flow like water.

How do you make Oblack? ›

Easy oobleck recipe

Tip the cornflour into a bowl and slowly stir in the water. If the mixture seems too dry, add a few drops more water. If it's too liquid, add some more cornflour. The oobleck is ready when the mixture is thick and fluid, but starts to tear if stirred fast.

How do you make cornstarch? ›

Cheese cloth bag
  1. Soak dry corn kernels in water overnight.
  2. Drain and blend the kernels until smooth in a Vitamix, or strong blender.
  3. Pour the liquid in a cheese cloth bag, tie, and hang over a bowl overnight. ...
  4. Pour the clear liquid off and the cornstarch (is what will) remain in the bottom of the bowl.
Jul 16, 2023

Is corn flour and corn starch the same thing? ›

While both are derived from corn, cornstarch and corn flour have different appearances, textures, and purposes. Cornstarchis a white, chalky powder used as a thickener for sauces and stews. Unlike corn flour, which is made from whole kernels, cornstarch is made from the endosperm of the corn kernel.

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