You’ve probably made regular oobleck before – cornflour and water, that weird substance that’s solid when you press it and liquid when you let it go. It’s a classic messy and sensory play material which kids love. This whipped oobleck version takes it up a notch.
This version adds hand soap or dish liquid to the mix, then you whip it with a beater. The result is something else entirely – foamy, silky, and completely irresistible to little hands. It’s got that same satisfying oobleck behaviour but with a softer, silkier feel and it smells great too.
What You’ll Need
- 4 Cups cornflour
- 1 Cup water
- 2 Cups hand soap or dish liquid (any will do – a nice scented one makes it even more fun)
- Food colouring (optional)
- An electric hand beater or stand mixer
- A large mixing bowl
- Trays or a sensory bin for play
Important note: This recipe contains hand soap or dish liquid and is not taste-safe. Best suited to children who are past the stage of putting everything in their mouths. Always supervise play.
How to Make Whipped Oobleck
Step 1: Combine Your Ingredients
Add the cornflour, water and hand soap to a large mixing bowl. If you’re adding food colouring, pop that in now too. Give everything a quick stir to start bringing it together.
Step 2: Whip It
Use an electric hand beater to whip the mixture until it becomes foamy and silky. This is the fun part – watch it transform from a lumpy mess into something smooth and satisfying. It shouldn’t take long.
Step 3: Play!
Pour it into trays or a sensory bin and let them go for it.

What Makes This Different to Regular Oobleck
Regular oobleck is cornflour and water – it’s brilliant. This whipped version adds hand soap to the mix, and whipping it with a beater gives it a silkier, softer texture that kids find really satisfying.
It still behaves like oobleck – press it and it firms up, let it go and it runs like liquid. But it feels more luxurious. (Yes, I just described oobleck as luxurious. It actually really is!)
Ideas for Whipped Oobleck Play
- Pour it between containers and watch it flow
- Press toy animals or dinosaurs into it
- Add shells, gems or loose parts for small world play
- Try poking it fast vs touching it slowly – great for a simple science chat about non-Newtonian fluids (or just “why is it doing that?!”)
- Set up alongside a mud kitchen with scoops and cups
Tips for the Best Results
- Choose a nice scented soap – it makes the whole sensory experience better. Coconut or fruity works well.
- Play outside if you can – whipped oobleck pours and drips, and cornflour on carpet is a bad time.
- Pop a coverall or craft apron on before you start – even with the soap it can stain lighter coloured clothes, especially if you’ve added food colouring.
- Clean up is easy – the soap does most of the work. Rinse hands and surfaces with warm water and it comes straight off.
The easy way to say yes to messy play
Our Coveralls are made for exactly this kind of play.
Pop them on over your child’s clothes before the fun starts and let kids get as messy as they like – no extra washing required.
Looking for more messy and sensory play ideas? Take a look at our Messy Play & Sensory Play posts for more simple, fun activities to do with kids.
For more screen-free activity ideas and messy play inspiration, join our community here.

