With the Holidays right around the corner, my mind is already racing with gift ideas! Of course, there are the endless hours of clicking online shopping carts and dodging other frazzled gift-seekers at the mall, but even a fuzzy scarf wrapped in Macy’s tissue can hardly compare with a handmade gift.
And the only thing better than a handmade gift is a handmade gift made out of COFFEE!
So, if you’re looking for a way to wow those on your Christmas list this year, consider a few of these ideas… or maybe all of them!
Double Chocolate Soap Bars
So delicious smelling, you’ll want to eat them! But don’t. (Although, you may get a sudden desire to say a few unsavory words so you can wash your mouth out.
Ingredients:
- Rebatch Soap Base
- Milk
- Fragrance Oil
- Optional Spices (Cinnamon, Pumpkin Pie Spice, etc.)
- Coffee Grounds (The great thing is you can use any flavored coffee you like! I’ll be using Double Chocolate, but there are many other delicious flavors to choose from; Cinnamon Swirl, Mariposa Honey, and Holiday Spice, just to name a few. Go wild! )
Step 1. Melt your base down using a double broiler or crock pot. You’ll want to stir every few minutes or so, and you can add a little milk to speed up the process. Keep in mind that the more milk you add, the longer it will take your soap to set and the softer it will be. Melt the base down until it’s thick and creamy, being careful to not let it sit too long without stirring since it can burn.
Step 2. Here’s the fun part! You can start adding your extras: fragrance oils, spices, and coffee grounds. Have fun and get creative! Just don’t go too crazy. A few dollops of oil go a long way! If you’d like a “swirl” effect in your soap, don’t mix your ingredients completely.
Step 3. Once you’re done stirring, pour your soap mixture into your mold. Plastic or silicone loaf molds work great, as you can cut them down into individual bars later. Tap the mold against your counter to “settle” the mixture and eliminate any air bubbles.
Step 4. This is the easy part—let the mold sit in your fridge over-night. Yep, that’s it. Just be careful you don’t accidentally eat it later as a midnight snack!
Step 5. Sneak into your kitchen at the crack of dawn because you’re just so excited to check on your soap! Okay, maybe that’s just me. Remove your soap from the mold and cut it into individual bars.
Step 6. Now for the hardest part—wait at least two days before using your soap! I mean, before giving it away. I forgot we’re not keeping them. Okay, I guess we can keep a few. Either way, you’ll need a few days to let them dry out and properly harden first before use.
Step 7. Your soap is finished! You can pat yourself on the back for giving a gift even Martha Stewart would be proud of!
