Candy Cane Soap

By MJH

Ingredients

• 3 lbs ArtMinds Shea Butter Soap (purchase two 2lb packages)
• loaf pan
• peppermint oil (not extract)
• red or pink ArtMinds soap colorant (or red food coloring)
• 2 glass bowls & 2 spatulas
• 1 box of 18 candy canes, crushed

Details

Adapted from hopeyoder.blogspot.com

Preparation

Step 1

Unwrap the candy canes and put them in a large plastic freezer bag and crush using either a rolling pin or a meat tenderizer as shown below and set aside.

Layer 1 ~ Cut one Shea butter package in half.
Reserve half for the second layer.
Break half of the package into individual blocks and put in a microwave safe bowl and melt at 30 second intervals, stirring with a spatula in between each cycle until completely melted.

Add 1/2 tsp of peppermint oil and 1/2 tsp of colorant to the melted soap and stir well.
Pour into a loaf pan.

Layer 2 ~ Break reserve soap into individual blocks and repeat melting process as in first layer.
Add 1/2 tsp of peppermint oil and stir well.
Pour into loaf pan over first layer.

Layer 3 ~ Cut the second Shea butter package in half.
Melt half of the package in the microwave and add 1/2 tsp of peppermint oil and 1/2 tsp of colorant to the melted soap and stir well.
Pour into a loaf pan and let cool slightly so it starts to set up forming a "skin" on the top.
Add the crushed peppermint stick to the top making sure the peppermint sinks into the top sightly so it will be partially "glued" into the soap mixture as it hardens.

Let it completely cool for 1 hour and then run a butter knife around the edge of the pan. If the soap is still warm let it cool completely before removing it from the pan.

Remove from the pan and place on parchment or wax paper.
Slice into 1/2" pieces (making sure it's hardened and cooled completely) and then slice each piece in half.
Wrap in cellophane bags or in parchment paper and tie with a pretty ribbon.