Chocolate Mint Soap

1Steve's Note:

This is a basic soap that is best left un-milled Not as fancy as milled soap in a fancy mold, but saves time and makes an excellent bar soap. The prep time listed is for the day it takes before you can cut into bars of soap. However the soap must cure for 3 weeks before use. The yield will depend entirely on the size of the bars you make.

• Total Time: 24 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 24 hrs
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 1 Batch s ...

• 42 ounces tallow
• 16 ounces coconut oil
• 12 ounces soya oil
• 8 ounces palm oil or 8 ounces lard
• 8 ounces cocoa butter
• 12 ounces lye
• 32 ounces cold distilled water
• 1 ounce peppermint extract
• 2 ounces cocoa powder

Directions:

1. Pour lye into water and stir until lye is dissolved. Warning: Lye is a caustic substance and can burn the skin and eyes. Always use proper precautions when using this product. Wear an apron, protective goggles and rubber gloves. Keep away from children.
2. Set aside to cool.
3. 100 degrees F (38 degrees C) Melt tallow with oils and cocoa butter (reserve a couple of teaspoons to mix the cocoa powder in).
4. Cool to 100 degrees F (38 degrees C).
5. Slowly pour the lye into the fats, stirring constantly until a small amount of soap can be drizzled across the surface leaving a"trace" before dissolving.
6. Put in peppermint scent and stir well.
7. Take out a cup of the white soap and set aside in a warm bowl (or a bowl sitting in warm water).
8. Blend the 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of cocoa powder with the reserved oil and pour this mixture into the main batch of soap.
9. Pour soap into mold.
10. Then swirl in the white portion set aside.
11. Wrap in towel a and put aside for approx.
12. 20 hours.
13. Un-mold, cut into bars and cure for three weeks.

Reviews

[Pets'R'us]

Well today was the day the curing time was finished and I could test the soap. Excellent lather and enough peppermint smell. The soap needed 2/3 days in the mold before it was willing to come out, was a bit sticky when I cut it but when the bars matured they became dry and hard. I know that they will go on improving with a few more weeks curing. This makes a large batch, I ended up with about 40 bars varied with an approx weight of 2 to 4 oz.