Step 1
Add a spoonful of coconut oil into each cavity of a muffin tin or into individual cups. Virgin coconut oil or refined coconut oil both will work the same here, so use whatever type you have on hand. You want to make sure the coconut oil is soft enough to scoop easily (and later stir) but not so soft that’s it’s completely melted and in liquid form. If you keep your oil in the cupboard, it’s likely the right texture as-is but this will depend on the season. If needed, chill in the fridge or warm in the microwave until the oil is the right consistency.
Step 2
Add a drop of food coloring into each cup or cavity in the muffin tin. Use a jumbo popsicle stick or spoon to stir the color into the oil until well blended.
Note: Using a muffin tin is a great option because the oil won’t soak through at all to your work surface underneath. The benefit of using paper cups like these though is that you have easy clean up later and the white paper allows you and your kids to really see the true color of the finger paints – the darker metal finish of the muffin tin can make this trickier if you go that route.
Step 3
Get creative! Encourage kids to stick their fingers into the coconut oil paint and draw whatever they like on a piece of paper. We like using thicker watercolor style paper, or even recycled cardboard so that you have a nice sturdy surface. The coconut oil paint has some thickness and texture to it, so using a lighter paper can make it a little trickier. Make sure to have kids wear aprons, smocks, or messy clothes that can be stained to avoid any accidental stains from the food coloring!

You can even grab a paper plate and turn it into a quick paint palette with a pair of scissors!

Happy painting!