Bourbon Balls Recipe with Woodford Reserve: No Bake DIY Holiday Gifts

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October 19, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 4 Comments

Make this easy gluten free, no bake bourbon balls recipe with Woodford Reserve (or rum if you prefer!) for the ultimate last minute DIY holiday gifts!

This no bake bourbon balls recipe with Woodford Reserve allows you to create the ultimate no bake last minute DIY holiday gifts. These easy bourbon balls not only taste delicious, they’re also gluten free. So everyone can enjoy the delectable taste of chocolate and bourbon this holiday season. A delightful no bake dessert for Christmas, these bourbon balls can also be made with rum or customized with your favorite ingredients whether it be coconut or dried raspberries for a flavorful holiday treat!

How to Make No Bake Bourbon Balls

Whether you need a last minute gift to bring to a holiday party or a super last minute gift on Christmas Eve, these homemade bourbon balls are the perfect choice! Not only is this recipe for bourbon balls super easy to make, there’s also no baking required. Basically that means they are pretty fool proof. Even if you’re a slacker in the kitchen like I am. While this recipe for bourbon balls calls for nuts, you can easily omit them from the recipe if you have nut allergies.

Ingredients for Making Gluten Free Bourbon Balls

This easy bourbon balls recipe can be made with either vanilla wafers or ginger snaps. For my first batch of homemade bourbon balls, I used gluten-free Mi-Del’s Ginger Snaps. They crush really easily which makes them worth the extra $1.50 even if you don’t need gluten free bourbon balls. However, one bag will only make you one batch. For my second batch I used regular grocery store brand gingersnaps and had a heck of a time crushing them. I actually took a hammer to the outside of the bag at 9am the first year I made these. However I still ended up with some whole cookies left in the bag and lots of large chunks.

I also used baking nuts for my recipe for bourbon balls. They were significantly cheaper than buying whole nuts from the nut aisle, especially as I wasn’t going to use an entire can. Plus it was the only way I could find them unsalted at the time. Finally, I recommend that choose your bourbon wisely. The better the booze, well, the better the ball! I specifically used Woodford Reserve for my recipe.

If you aren’t a huge fan of bourbon, you can simply swap out the bourbon with your favorite rum. These would actually be amazing with a spiced rum or a flavored rum that accents the ingredients that go into the recipe.

Easy Bourbon Balls Recipe with Woodford Reserve

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups ginger snap cookies, crushed
1/2 Cup pecan baking chips, optional
1/2 Cup confectioners sugar
1/4 Cup Woodford Reserve (or rum of choice)
2 Tablespoons baking cocoa powder
2 Tablespoons raw local honey
1/2 teaspoon real vanilla extract
Shredded coconut, chopped for dusting

Instructions:

Crush the ginger snap cookies as much as possible then combine in a large bowl with the other ingredients. Mix well with a spatula then place in freezer to chill for about an hour.

Once your bourbon balls have chilled, roll into about 3/4″ balls and then roll in shredded coconut to coat thoroughly. (Alternately you can use confectioner’s sugar or even dried raspberries, as pictured, instead.) Keep at it until all dough has been used.

Easy Packaging Idea for Gifting Your Bourbon Balls

For easy DIY holiday gifts, I placed about 8 balls each in a zipper sandwich bags. I then place the balls inside glassine bags for presentation and labeled them with holiday stickers. You can even add a strip of washi tape to each of your gifts with the “eat by” date.

Once made, cover and refrigerate your bourbon balls. They will keep for a week in the refrigerator so don’t make these too far ahead. Otherwise you’ll have to freeze them.

You’ll also want to keep them refrigerated when you’re not binging on them during yet another seasonal rerun of A Christmas Story.

Yield: About 42 bourbon balls

Bourbon Balls Recipe with Woodford Reserve

Name: Bourbon Balls Recipe with Woodford Reserve
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: About 42 bourbon balls
Cuisine: cookies
Ingredients: 1 1/2 Cups ginger snap cookies, crushed; 1/2 Cup pecan baking chips, optional; 1/2 Cup confectioners sugar; 1/4 Cup Woodford Reserve (or rum of choice); 2 Tablespoons baking cocoa powder; 2 Tablespoons raw local honey; 1/2 teaspoon real vanilla extract; Shredded coconut, chopped for dusting

Make this easy gluten free, no bake bourbon balls recipe with Woodford Reserve (or rum if you prefer!) for the ultimate last minute DIY holiday gifts!

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

1 1/2 Cups ginger snap cookies, crushed
1/2 Cup pecan baking chips, optional
1/2 Cup confectioners sugar
1/4 Cup Woodford Reserve (or rum of choice)
2 Tablespoons baking cocoa powder
2 Tablespoons raw local honey
1/2 teaspoon real vanilla extract
Shredded coconut, chopped for dusting

Instructions

Crush the ginger snap cookies as much as possible then combine in a large bowl with the other ingredients. Mix well with a spatula then place in freezer to chill for about an hour.

Once made, cover and refrigerate your bourbon balls. They will keep for a week in the refrigerator so don’t make these too far ahead. Otherwise you’ll have to freeze them.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

3 balls
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 200 Total Fat: 8g Saturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 5g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 150mg Carbohydrates: 30g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 14g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 2g

More Holiday Dessert Recipes & Food Gifts

If you like my recipe for bourbon balls, then you may also want to try some of these other dessert recipes.

Or learn how to make these other boozy Christmas treats.

For more last minute DIY holiday gift ideas, be sure to follow my boards on Pinterest! You can find and follow Soap Deli News on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my newsletter.

Filed Under: Food Recipes, Holiday DIY, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: christmas, Christmas gift, cookies, dessert, food gift, food recipe, gift idea, holiday gift, last minute gift, no bake, treat, winter

Snickerdoodle Soap Cupcakes with Melt and Pour Soap & Essential Oils

October 16, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 6 Comments

Cookies and cupcakes were a regular part of my childhood growing up. Since cutting back on sugar however, sometimes food scented soaps are the next best thing. Learn how to make homemade snickerdoodle soap cupcakes for your bath or shower. Made using melt and pour soap, this easy soap cupcakes recipe is naturally scented with essential oils and is simple enough for even beginners to craft.

Isn’t it amazing how just the scent of food can trigger so many memories? Everytime I smell the warm cinnamon sugar fragrance of a snickerdoodle cookie, I’m instantly taken back to my childhood. From as young as four I often found myself in the kitchen making snickerdoodle cookies with my mom. They were my absolute favorite cookies at the time! And while I loved licking cake and brownie batter off mom’s hand blender beaters, rolling sugar cookie dough in cinnamon and sugar was the most fun.

I still get nostalgic whenever I see snickerdoodles in the store at our local Fresh Market. Making snickerdoodles with my mom as a kid is still one of my favorite childhood memories. While I’ve (mostly) giving up baking cookies for more grown up green things, I’ve since turned the tables and have been teaching my mom some new tricks in the kitchen.

While eating snickerdoodle cookies isn’t something I do all that often (it’s hard to forget the evils of sugar and inflammation when you have fibro) making snickerdoodle soap cupcakes is a fun (sugar free) experience that allows me to enjoy their warm seasonal fragrance!

Food inspired soaps are always popular because of their fun scents. Not only do the kids have fun with these at bathtime, they’re also great for adults! After all, what’s more fun than self care for the kid in you? I used a cupcake mold to make these cute snickerdoodle soap cupcakes. This mold contains both the top and bottom mold portions of the cupcake. So not only are these soaps easy to make, you basically get two molds for the price of one!

Whether you’re selling your homemade soap creations or making them for yourself, using a mold to make the whipped icing eliminates the trial and error of making soap icing. Not only does it save you time, the tops always come out perfect.

How to Make Snickerdoodle Soap Cupcakes (with Melt and Pour Soap)

Snickerdoodle Essential Oil Blend

There are snickerdoodle fragrance oils that you can use to make snickerdoodle soaps. I wanted to use an essential oil blend because I had the essential oils already.

To make a snickerdoodle essential oil blend, combine:

5 drops sweet orange essential oil
2 drops cassia or cinnamon essential oil
1 drop clove essential oil

To be honest, I was surprised at how wonderful this smells! The three oils combine for a sugary sweet and cinnamon spice scent that’s perfect for making snickerdoodle cupcake soaps.

You can create a master blend in an empty essential oil bottle, or you can add the essential oils by the drop. I give you directions to use it either way in this recipe.

(For my snickerdoodle essential oil blend recipe I used essential oils from a past Simply Earth essential oil box. If you’d like to give them a try, use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE to receive a FREE bonus box worth $40 with your first order. You’ll also get an e-coupon for $40 off anything on your next purchase. Free diffuser anyone? Take advantage of this offer here.)

If you do use a snickerdoodle fragrance oil blend, you can use twice as much as you would an essential oil. I would start with the amount suggested in the recipe and add more as needed to get the scent that you want.

Cupcake Mold for Soap Cupcakes

I wanted to make soap cupcakes, but I don’t like piping soap on top for the icing. I consider myself pretty crafty, but cake decorating is not among my talents. My mom used to make cakes all the time however. Which worked out well enough for me. She was pretty intent on piping the perfect flowers for her cakes, so I always got to eat the icing flowers that didn’t quite make the cut. (As photographed above. Me at age six in 1981 wearing a nightgown for the evening. Remember those?)

Whipped soap isn’t an easy recipe to master. It tends to be soft, so iced soap cupcakes are hard to package for gifts or for selling.

Rather piping soap icing, I picked up this silicone cupcake soap mold instead. It makes adorable two piece cupcakes with melt and pour soap. Now the icing tops for my soap cupcakes are always perfect. And they won’t get dinged or damaged when you handle the soap.

Melt and Pour Soap Bases for Soap Cupcakes

I wanted these soap cupcakes to look like real snickerdoodle cupcakes, so I used two different kinds of melt and pour soap.

For the icing, I used white melt and pour soap base. The essential oils, which contain vanilla, turned it cream. So it looks like real vanilla icing.

I wanted the cake part to be darker, so I used a cream or almost tan oatmeal soap and added real cinnamon.

Cinnamon can be irritating to children or those with sensitive skin. If you’re giving these soap cupcakes as a homemade gifts, you can skip the cinnamon and add some mica or soap colorant to get a darker color.

Adding real spices like cinnamon to melt and pour can be tricky. Cinnamon tends to clump in the melted soap. To avoid this, you can stir the cinnamon in a little bit of glycerin or rubbing alcohol and add it to the soap.

I just added it to the soap and stirred it really well. If there are clumps, press them against the side of the container with the back of a spoon to break up the clumps. There may be a few small clumps of cinnamon left, but I think it gives the soap a more realistic look.

Either way you add the cinnamon, it will tend to settle to the bottom of the soap. To help it stay dispersed through the soap, let the soap cool until it just starts to form a film on the top. Then stir a few times and pour. The cinnamon is less likely to settle when you pour the soap at a cooler temperature.

Snickerdoodle Soap Cupcakes Recipe

Ingredients:

8 ounces white melt and pour soap
10 ounces white or cream melt and pour soap
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon snickerdoodle essential oil blend (or 64 drops sweet orange, 24 drops cassia, and 12 drops clove, divided)

Instructions:

The top and bottom are two separate pours, so let’s start with the icing on the top of the soap cupcakes. Cut white melt and pour soap into 1 inch cubes and microwave 30 seconds at a time until melted. Stir every 30 seconds.

When it’s melted, add ½ teaspoon of the snickerdoodle essential oil blend or 32 drops sweet orange, 12 drops cassia, and 6 drops clove. (Here’s an easy essential oil conversion chart if you need it.) Stir well and pour into the top, or the icing, cavities in the mold. Spray with rubbing alcohol to remove air bubbles.

Now cut 10 ounces of cream or white melt and pour soap and microwave it as before. When it’s melted, add ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and stir well to remove lumps.

Then add ½ teaspoon of your homemade blend or 32 drops sweet orange, 12 drops cassia and 6 drops clove. Stir well.

Pour into the cupcake or bottom part of the mold. Spray with rubbing alcohol to remove air bubbles.

Let sit until completely cooled, about an hour.

Remove the soap from the mold. This mold is very flexible, so they will come right out. Use a knife to score the tops of the cupcakes and the bottom of the icing tops. Scoring the soap helps the two pieces stick together better.

Melt about half an ounce of white soap for 10 seconds in the microwave. Carefully spoon it on top of the cupcakes and set the icing on top. Let sit until completely cooled.

If you’re gifting or selling these snickerdoodle cupcake soaps, you can package them in clear bags and add a ribbon to the top.

Yield: 4 soap cupcakes

Snickerdoodle Soap Cupcakes

Learn how to make homemade snickerdoodle soap cupcakes for your bath or shower. Made using melt and pour soap, this easy soap cupcakes recipe is naturally scented with essential oils and is simple enough for even beginners to craft.

Materials

8 ounces white melt and pour soap
10 ounces white or cream melt and pour soap
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon snickerdoodle essential oil blend (or 64 drops sweet orange, 24 drops cassia, and 12 drops clove, divided)

Instructions

When it’s melted, add ½ teaspoon of the snickerdoodle essential oil blend or 32 drops sweet orange, 12 drops cassia, and 6 drops clove. Stir well and pour into the top, or the icing, cavities in the mold. Spray with rubbing alcohol to remove air bubbles.

Now cut 10 ounces of cream or white melt and pour soap and microwave it as before. When it’s melted, add ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and stir well to remove lumps.

Then add ½ teaspoon of your homemade blend or 32 drops sweet orange, 12 drops cassia and 6 drops clove. Stir well.

Pour into the cupcake or bottom part of the mold. Spray with rubbing alcohol to remove air bubbles.

Let sit until completely cooled, about an hour.

Melt about half an ounce of white soap for 10 seconds in the microwave. Carefully spoon it on top of the cupcakes and set the icing on top. Let sit until completely cooled.

Soap Cupcakes DIY with melt and pour soap and natural essential oils. The perfect in shower treat and DIY beauty gift! Learn how to make homemade snickerdoodle soap cupcakes for your bath or shower. Made using melt and pour soap, this easy soap cupcakes recipe is naturally scented with essential oils and is simple enough for even beginning soap makers to craft. Gift them to yourself for self care or make them for DIY holiday gifts throughout the winter season.

Love my snickerdoodle soap cupcakes? Then be sure to pin this soap making tutorial for later.

More Seasonal Winter Soap Recipes for DIY Holiday Gifts

Looking for more beginner melt and pour soap recipes? Try one of these other DIY holiday soap gift ideas!

Want more great ideas? Then follow me across your favorite social media channels. You can find and follow Soap Deli News on Blog Lovin‘, pinterest, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my newsletter.

Filed Under: Soapmaking Tagged With: Christmas gift, crafts, cupcake, diy, easy, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, gift idea, holiday gift, melt and pour soap, melt and pour soap recipe, melt and pour soapmaking, snickerdoodle, soap tutorial, soapmaking, winter, winter skin care

Breathe Easy Essential Oil Blend: Make A Homemade Vapor Rub Cold Remedy

October 12, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 4 Comments

Try this natural breathe easy essential oil blend recipe to make your own homemade vapor rub cold remedy for symptom relief from nasal and chest congestion. A simple and effective home remedy for fast cold relief when you’re fighting a cold or the flu.

How to Use An Aromatherapeutic Breathe Easy Essential Oil Blend

When I get a cold, there’s nothing worse than not being able to breathe through my nose. While shower steams with menthol work wonders in the morning, taking a shower every time my nose gets stuffy isn’t a realistic option. Especially not at night when I’m trying to sleep. That’s when a breathe easy essential oil blend comes in handy. Whether you make your own breathe easy essential oil recipe or use a ready made breathe easy essential oil blend, you’ll be set for all the congestion challenges seasonal colds throw your way.

There are three easy ways to use the breathe easy essential oil blend. You can use your breathe easy essential oil blend in an essential oil diffuser at night or include it in an essential oil shower steamers recipe. Alternately, you can also use it in a simple remedy for homemade vapor rub. Keep reading to learn how to make a breathe easy essential oil recipe as well as where to buy a premade essential oil blend. Then try out your breathe easy essential oil blend in my simple (super easy!) homemade vapor rub cold remedy.

Breathe Easy Essential Oil Blend Recipe

Support respiratory function and promote a healthy immune response with this natural breathe easy essential oil blend recipe. This natural plant-based blend can be used in your diffuser as well as in my homemade vapor rub recipe. Use it to support easy breathing, revitalization and clear airways throughout winter.

Combine in an amber glass jar with a reducer or glass dropper and shake to combine.

Alternately, if you prefer, you can buy this specific blend premade in order to avoid buying multiple essential oils from Edens Garden. Or try the Respire blend from Spark Naturals, which also contains tea tree and clove essential oils. Formulated with a combination of peppermint, melaleuca (tea tree), eucalyptus, rosemary, lemon and clove, this blends aids in relief of congestion and other respiratory symptoms caused by colds and flu.

Once you’ve made an essential oil blend to use for aromatherapy, you can use your formulation to create your own homemade vapor rub recipe as a natural cold relief remedy.

Homemade Vapor Rub Recipe for Nasal & Chest Congestion

Ingredients:

2 oz. beeswax pastilles
4 oz. carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil or fractionated coconut oil
3 mL Respire or Breathe Easy essential oil blend (or .1 oz.)
.05 oz. menthol crystals

Instructions:

Using a digital scale, weigh out the beeswax. Place the beeswax in a double boiler and gently heat until melted.

While the beeswax melts, weigh out the carrier oil into a separate container.

Next weigh out the menthol crystals. Add the menthol crystals to the container with the carrier oil. Stir until the menthol crystals dissolve.

Once dissolved, measure or weigh out the breathe easy essential oil blend. Then combine with the carrier oil and menthol mixture.

Once the beeswax has melted, remove from heat. Then stir in the carrier oil mixture with the menthol crystals and essential oils.

Now pour the homemade vapor rub into a 6 oz. glass jar or three 2 oz. glass jars. You can also use metal tins.

Allow the homemade vapor rub to cool completely, then screw on the lids and label as desired for personal use.

To use your homemade vapor rub as a natural remedy for fast cold relief, rub a thin layer on your chest or upper back at nighttime. It will help to soothe coughs and may also offer relief from nasal and chest congestion as well as sinus pressure and headaches.

Yield: 2 - 6 oz. jars.

Homemade Vapor Rub Recipe

Materials

2 oz. beeswax pastilles
4 oz. carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil or fractionated coconut oil
3 mL Respire or Breathe Easy essential oil blend (or .1 oz.)
.05 oz. menthol crystals

Instructions

Using a digital scale, weigh out the beeswax. Place the beeswax in a double boiler and gently heat until melted.

While the beeswax melts, weigh out the carrier oil into a separate container.

Next weigh out the menthol crystals. Add the menthol crystals to the container with the carrier oil. Stir until the menthol crystals dissolve.

Once dissolved, measure or weigh out the breathe easy essential oil blend. Then combine with the carrier oil and menthol mixture.

Once the beeswax has melted, remove from heat. Then stir in the carrier oil mixture with the menthol crystals and essential oils.

Now pour the homemade vapor rub into a 6 oz. glass jar or three 2 oz. glass jars. You can also use metal tins.

Allow the homemade vapor rub to cool completely, then screw on the lids and label as desired for personal use.

Breathe easy diffuser blend for colds. Try this natural breathe easy essential oil diffuser blend recipe in your essential oil diffuser to support respiratory function and promote a healthy immune response with this natural breathe easy essential oil blend recipe. This natural plant-based blend can be used in your diffuser as well as in my homemade vapor rub recipe. Use it to support easy breathing, revitalization and clear airways throughout winter.

Like this recipe? Then you’ll also want to try my recipes for DIY shower steamers with menthol crystals and a sickness support bath soak! As well as check out my post on other natural ways to fight colds and flu including how to make an elderberry syrup to support your body’s natural immunity. Plus don’t forget to pin this post for reference later!

Where can I buy homemade vapor rub?

Not ready to make your own homemade vapor rub from scratch? Try one of these artisan made, petroleum free cold and flu salves instead.

You can also explore more herbal home remedies here. Also be sure to check out my eucalyptus & orange essential oil blend recipe. It’s one of my favorite aromatherapeutic essential oil blends and has a number of uses for health, home and beauty. Or discover more DIY ideas by visiting my Essential Oils & Herbs board on Pinterest as well as my Home Remedies board.

Want more great ideas? Then be sure to follow Soap Deli News across your favorite social media channels. You can find and follow me on Blog Lovin‘, pinterest, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: aromatherapy, cold relief, colds, diffuser blends, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, fall, flu, health and wellness, healthy living, home remedies, home remedy, self care, vapor rub, winter

Homemade Winter Gifts for Your Seasonal Holiday Gift List

December 11, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon 2 Comments

Not all handmade gifts are created equal. So it can be hard hunting for homemade gift ideas that you know will truly be appreciated. To take some of the guesswork out your holiday gift list, I’ve put together a gift guide filled with homemade winter gifts.

So whether you’re crafting handmade gifts for a winter holiday, or making birthday or hostess gifts, this collection of homemade winter gift ideas are perfect for everyone on your list!

Homemade Winter Gifts & Ideas

1. Hot Chocolate Lotion Bars

These DIY hot chocolate lotion bars from Eco Living Mama (pictured) make lovely seasonal stocking stuffers and handmade holiday gift ideas. Not only do they smell amazing, they made with all natural, good-for-your-skin ingredients. Make it.

2. Hot Chocolate Milk Bath Salts

Another chocolate inspired homemade gift idea, these hot chocolate milk bath salts from Everything Pretty are the perfect homemade winter gift. Not only do these bath salts soothe seasonally dry skin, they’re the perfect way to relax amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Make it.

3. Sugar Plum Body Butter Bars

These silky, lightweight body butter bars from Humblebee & Me are made with plum oil for its moisturizing properties and rich, seasonal scent. They can be tinted with mica, if desired, and are perfectly sized for stocking stuffers for simple homemade winter gifts for friends and coworkers. Make it.

4. Homemade Mulling Spices

These fragrant, homemade mulling spices from Hello Glow make wonderful homemade winter gifts for wine lovers. (Trust me, I know!) However, this recipe works beautifully with bourbon as well. Included with the printable recipe are easy instructions for making citrus ginger mulled wine to include with your gift. Make it.

5. Peppermint Orange Body Butter

A recipe from one of my guest posts on The Nourished Life, this peppermint orange body butter recipe helps to nourish and protect dry, winter skin. It’s a super easy homemade holiday gift to make while the fresh citrus mint fragrance is perfect for the season. Make it.

6. Christmas Tree Bath Bombs

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, these Christmas tree bath bombs from Onion Rings and Things (pictured) are a winter delight when taking time out for self care. Scent them with essential oils for natural homemade winter gifts for your friends. They’re perfect for helping ease the pressures of the holiday season and forcing that much needed time off from the stress of daily life. Make it.

(While this bath bomb recipe calls for food coloring, I recommend using a bath bomb colorant or lake dye instead for a colorful bath that won’t stain your tub.)

7. Skin Softening Hand Scrub

Winter is rough on dry skin. However, it can be even more brutal on dry hands. Help your friends, family and even teachers (who are always washing their hands) keep their hands soft and moisturized this winter with this easy skin softening hand scrub recipe from Soap Deli News. Make it.

8. Holiday Gifts in a Jar

Sugar scrubs are so easy to make. Why not make a trio of three mason jar sugar scrubs for your homemade winter gifts? No Compass Necessary shares their natural sugar scrub recipes for peppermint, vanilla spice and frankincense sugar scrubs. Plus there are free printable labels to make gift giving even easier! Make it.

9. Fizzy Bath Salt Recipe with Essential Oils

It’s hard to avoid a cold during the holiday season. So why not give a gift that tackles all of one’s holiday woes – winter sniffles included? This fizzy bath salt recipe from Soap Deli News fizzes like a bath bomb but is SO much easier to craft. While taking a time out to relax in the tub, the combination of Epsom salt and essential oils help to clear nasal passages and ease sore muscles. Make it.

10. Hot Cocoa Bath Bombs

If you’ve mastered the art of bath bombs then this DIY from A Cultivated Nest is a must for your homemade winter gifts. These cute homemade hot chocolate bath fizzies look like something you could eat, complete with “icing” on top so you can wow your friends and coworkers with your mad crafting skills. Make it.

11. Scented Dry Oil Body Spray

This best homemade holiday gift idea for a DIY dry oil body spray from Soap Deli News (pictured) is a long time Pinterest favorite. It makes lovely stocking stuffers or homemade winter gifts for friends and family. Make it.

12. Homemade Massage Candles

Candles are another amazing way to enjoy your favorite scents. However, these homemade massage candles aren’t just great for making the room smell great. They can also be massaged onto skin once the wick is blown out. Then simply massage onto skin to condition dry patches and add a wonderful holiday scent. Make it.

13. Simple Solid Perfumes

Solid perfumes make wonderful homemade winter gifts for friends. This easy DIY perfume trio from Hello Glow using natural essential oils to create three lovely fragrance blends – energizing, calming and joyful. If aromatherapy isn’t quite your thing, swap them out with fragrance oils in your favorite seasonal scents. Make it.

14. Hand Poured Herbal Candles

Candles always make lovely homemade winter gifts for just about anyone. I especially love gifting candles as handmade hostess gifts throughout the year. These DIY hand poured herbal candles from The Herbal Academy are especially perfect for the winter season. Naturally scented with simple essential oil blends and botanicals, these candles are made with toxin free soy wax. Make it.

15. Essential Oil Room Sprays

This trio of essential oil room sprays from A life Adjacent are another wonderful gift for the hostess this winter at holiday gatherings. Crafted using only distilled water, vodka and essential oils, you can make room sprays scented in cola, mulled orange cider, vanilla latte and hot cocoa for natural home scents throughout the season. Make it.

16. Homemade Winter Hand Scrub

We all suffer from skin that feels dry and tight in the winter. Our hand, especially, tend to suffer from hand washing and other daily activities. Help your friends and loved ones pamper their hands with this homemade winter hand scrub from Lemon Peony (pictured!) Make it.

17. Shimmering Body Butter

This cardamom scented shimmering body butter from Wild for Nature is non-greasy. So moisturizing dry hands this winter won’t leave behind those messy oily fingerprints. It’s warm spiced fragrance is perfect for winter weather, while the addition of bronze mica makes it holiday party perfect! Make it.

18. Eggnog Soy Wax Candle

This delightful candle tutorial from Jojotastic is crafted with soy wax and natural essential oils for a fun spin off the popular holiday drink. Infused with with nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla essential oils, this soy wax candle looks and smells just like eggnog! Make it.

19. Handmade Rosemary Mint Soap

Everyone uses soap, which is part of why it makes such a great handmade gift ideas. These rosemary mint soap bars from The Turquoise Home are made using a natural melt and pour soap base in addition to honey to nourish dry winter skin. Rosemary and peppermint essential oil then add a delightful seasonal scent. Make it.

(Prefer to make cold process soaps for your homemade winter gifts? Try this rosemary mint cold process soap recipe! And don’t forget to check out these pretty gift wrap ideas for your homemade holiday soaps.)

20. Stovetop Potpourri

This beautiful jars of stovetop potpourri from Tidbits will not only make your own home smell like the holidays, they’re also shelf stable. So they’re perfect for homemade winter gifts for neighbors, teachers and coworkers – all the people you’re not quite sure what to give for gifts. Choose from three delightful home fragrance blends with this cost effective homemade gift DIY that also comes with free printable labels. Make it.

21. Gingerbread Bath Bombs

Gingerbread is always at the top of my list for homemade winter gifts. There’s just something about those warm spices and the fragrant scent that make the season feel comforting and inviting. These gingerbread bath bombs from Beauty Crafter (pictured) are no exception and are perfect for stocking stuffers and other seasonal winter gifts. Make it.

22. Gingerbread Men Soap Bars

There are so many wonderful ways to gift gingerbread for the holidays, I couldn’t stop with just one DIY ideas. These super easy, glittering gingerbread soaps from Soap Deli News are made with just three ingredients and are perfect for last minute homemade winter gifts for friends and family. Make it.

23. Gingerbread Man Soaps

If glitter isn’t your preference, not to worry. These 15-minute DIY gingerbread man soaps from Happiness Is Homemade offer a more traditional take on gingerbread. Simply add a bit of soap paint to your finished gingerbread soaps for the cutest stocking stuffers ever. Make it.

24. Gingerbread Men Snow Globe Soaps

Snow globes are always a favorite during winter. This creative homemade soap tutorial from Soap Deli News shows you step-by-step how to make your own DIY snow globe soaps with little gingerbread men hidden inside. They’re not only super cute, but they’re also a favorite among both kids and adults alike! Make it.

25. Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies always make delightful homemade winter gifts. The warm seasonal spices are definitely my favorite this time of year! This gingerbread cookies recipe from Evermine, however, offer a unique twist on traditional gingerbread cookies. Each gingerbread man cookies is designed to hold a candy cane inside it’s grasp! Make it.

26. Boozy Wood Infused Bourbon

Gifts for guys can be hard. However, this DIY for wood infused liquor from Man Made DIY (pictured) is perfect for homemade winter gifts for him. Simply infuse a piece of grilling wood – along with dried fruits and spices if desired – to create unique holiday alcohol blends that can be enjoyed throughout the winter holiday season. Make it.

(Not sure about making your own infused alcohol without a little extra guidance? Try one of the DIY liquor infusion kits from Vena’s Fizz House for all your favorite liquors.)

27. Needle Felted Wine Bags

Don’t just gift a bottle of wine this holiday season. Gift it with your own handcrafted needle felted wine bag! Not only are these wine bags WAY easier to make than you might think, they are also reusable and regiftable making them perfect homemade winter gifts for the eco-conscious. Make it.

28. Wood Burned Rolling Pin

This DIY allows you to explore your own creativity even if you’re short on time. The perfect gift for bakers and foodies alike, these easy wood burned rolling pins from Delia Creates can be customized in minutes with just a simple, inexpensive wood burning kit. Make it.

29. Marzipan Pinecone Treats

The fact that these marzipan pinecone treats from Country Hill Cottage look just like pinecones delight me to no end. A simple no bake holiday gift, these pinecones are made using marzipan, almond slices, cocoa, and spices for unique homemade winter gifts. Make it.

30. Gourmet Vanilla Extract

If you have an instant pot then you’re going to love this homemade holiday gift idea. Tidbits teaches you how to make your own gourmet vanilla extracts for your favorite foodies in three gourmet flavors – chocolate vanilla, cinnamon vanilla and coconut vanilla – in your instant pot. Plus there are free printable labels to make your gift look perfect! Make it.

31. Simple Beeswax Candles

These simple, natural beeswax candles from Hello Nest only take five minutes to create. Perfect for any minimalist in your life, this gift also makes a lovely addition to anyone’s home decor. Even better, you can buy beeswax sheets with Prime shipping for the perfect last minute holiday gift idea. Make it.

32. Cookie Cutter Fudge

This homemade cookie cutter fudge recipe from Crafty Morning is perfect for the baker in your life. Not only are your friends and family gifted with homemade fudge – yum! – but your gift comes wrapped inside a cookie cutter that can be added to their collection. Make it.

33. Peppermint Patties

Peppermint patties are one of my all time favorite candies. These homemade peppermint patties, however, are the most amazing thing ever! Learn how to make your own at The Gunny Sack. Then top your handmade treats with crushed peppermint for delish homemade winter gifts everyone will love. Make it.

34. Peppermint Mocha Salt Scrub

Coffee scrubs are touted for anti-aging skin care benefits. But when you combo a coffee scrub with mocha, you’ve got the perfect homemade holiday gift for the coffee lovers in you life. Learn to make a salt scrub with a caffeine punch at Everything Pretty. Make it.

35. Christmas Tree Body Wash

This fragrant, bubbly Christmas tree body wash recipe from Humblebee & Me makes great homemade winter gifts for those surprise guests. Or slip them inside your family’s stockings for homemade skin care they’ll love bathing in all winter long. Make it.

More Homemade Winter Gifts & Ideas

Didn’t quite find the perfect homemade winter gifts for your holiday gift list? Take a peek at these DIY Christmas gift ideas. Or shop from my handmade holiday gift guides below.

For homemade winter gifts and ideas, you can find me on your favorite social media platforms. You can follow me on G+, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’ and Instagram. Alternately, you can also subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, DIY Craft Project, Gift Guides, Holiday DIY, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: bath and body, christmas, Christmas gift, christmas gifts, craft, diy, gift guide, gift idea, gift ideas, handmade gifts, holiday gift, holiday gift giving, holidays, homemade gift, winter

Creative Ways to Package Soap for Sale (Or Handmade Holiday Gifts)

November 20, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon 3 Comments

If you’re looking for creative ways to package soap for sale to set your product apart at craft fairs and events, then you’ll love these easy soap packaging and labeling ideas! Keep reading to learn the best ways to package homemade soap for sale and put your soaps a head above the competition. Plus learn how to make some of my favorite homemade soap recipes for winter skin care.

Creative Ways to Package Soap

Just because the homemade soaps you sell need to include the weight and ingredient list doesn’t mean you’re stuck using a traditional soap label. If you’re looking for creative ways to package your cold process soap bars, then try thinking outside the box. (Learn how to legally label your soaps for sale.)

Easy Ways to Package Soap Using Scrapbook Supplies

I used scrapbook supplies and bakers twine to decorate these homemade soap bars. Simply print out your ingredient list and other information onto squares of cardstock. Then use bakers twine or a decorative ribbon to attach the ingredient list to the bottom or back of your soap bars. Simply slip the ingredient list under the bakers twine to safely secure it to your soap.

This is also a great way to package soap for seasonal handmade holiday gifts. It’s really as simple as wrapping chipboard elements, cardstock cutouts and felt shapes onto your soaps using ribbon, string or twine.

You can also use patterned scrapbook papers to wrap your soaps like little presents. A custom cigar band then displays your information or message. I love this custom cigar band and patterned poppy paper combo from The Creative Artisan Co. You can order these personalized soap labels as a set or separately with your own custom business logo or message for handmade soap wedding favors.

Or consider all-in-one custom soap packaging like this custom soap packaging design from Andrea Tips that wraps and labels your soap all at one with just one product.

There’s even a soap wrapping tool that allows you to hand wrap your homemade soaps perfectly every single time!

I also love this simple idea for tying leather cording around shaped soaps and accenting with herbs like rosemary. It’s a really easy way to add that extra touch to your handmade holiday gifts.

How to Package Round Soap

One of my favorite ways to package round soap is by using washi tape. You can do this one of two ways. You can either tightly wrap your soap in foodservice film, then wrap a piece of washi tape around the diameter of the bar. Or, you can cut brown paper to fit the diameter of your soap. Then wrap the paper around the diameter. Tape the paper closed. Then add decorative washi tape over the brown paper (as pictured above.)

If you’re looking for ways to package your soaps to sell you can also put your label around the diameter of your soap in lieu of the washi tape. Or try one of the following ways to package round soap. I love how attractive the soap label is on these ways to package soap from Etsy sellers.

This sweet fig goat milk soap from Fish Princess Farm illustrates one of the more common ways to package soap using patterned paper or fabric and a round sticker label.

You can also use plain colored tissue paper similar to this soap example of a bar of homemade shaving soap from Crow Sparrow Wares. To give your homemade soaps as handmade holiday gifts, you may want to use a simple, round handmade with love sticker for your round soap bars.

I also love this twist on using paper as one of the ways to package soap. Instead, The Humble Soaper uses breathable, gauze-like fabric as a unique way to wrap her homemade soaps. Rather than folding the fabric into the center of the soap bar, she instead ties the fabric on top as illustrated by this example of her natural round soap bars.

Ways to Package Soap in Boxes

Soaps boxes are one of the easiest ways to package soap. Just because you use a box to package your soap, however, doesn’t mean it has to be “square.” This holiday inspired unicorn bath bomb box from Tyars Essentials would also work beautifully for unicorn or horn shaped soaps. (This is a downloadable file so you will need a Cricut machine for this project.)

Eco-friendly carton soap boxes will make your green friendly soapmaking business shine. The carton soap boxes from GREENKraft come in three sizes, are made with recyclable cardboard and are 100% recyclable. They also feature a nifty little window so you can show off your homemade soaps inside. I think they look especially nice with these custom apothecary labels from Substation Paperie.

Gable boxes and pillow boxes, like these from Cookiebox Store, are another wonderful way to package your homemade soaps for handmade holiday gifts.

Or give these clear boxes a try. These clear soap boxes make stylish packaging for melt and pour macaron shaped soaps and are perfect for homemade soap wedding favors.

How to Package Homemade Soap Bars in Bags

Bags are also one of the easiest ways to wrap soap for sale or to give as handmade holiday gifts. Monita Natural Care sells decorative burlap bags for her homemade soaps that you can for gift giving. However, it’s also great inspiration for designing your own burlap bags for handmade holiday soap gifts.

These cotton muslin printed bags from USCreativeshop are available in bulk for employee gifts, wedding favors or soaps for sale. They come in a variety of size options to best fit your needs. I also love that these bags can be reused time and again.

For more ways to package soap for sale or to give as handmade holiday gifts, be sure to check out more soap packaging and labeling ideas on Etsy here. You can also shop for homemade soaps from my curated collection. Alternately, keep reading for some of my all time favorite homemade soap recipes for winter skin care.

Best Homemade Soap Recipes for Winter Skin Care

If you suffer from dry skin or eczema in the winter, or other times of the year, it may be time to switch up your natural skin care routine. These homemade soap recipes are perfect for winter skin care. Made with natural skin conditioning ingredients, all of these winter homemade soap recipes nourish skin without stripping it. You’ll love the difference a moisturizing, low cleansing soap can make for your skin!

Have photos of your homemade soaps or great soap packaging ideas? Then be sure to tag your pictures with #soapdelishowoff when you share ways to package soap on instagram.

For homemade soap recipes, you can follow me on your favorite social media platforms. You can follow me on G+, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’ and Instagram. Alternately, you can also subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Homemade Gift Ideas, Small Business Marketing & Tips, Soapmaking Tagged With: cold process soap recipe, cold process soapmaking, gift idea, holiday gift, holiday gift giving, holidays, packaging, selling soap, small business, soap labels, soap packaging, soap recipes, soap tutorial, soapmaking, winter, winter skin care