Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes Recipe

By Lisa Maliga copyright 2017-2023

The combination of dark chocolate and tart yet sweet raspberries is classic. I’ve slightly revised this recipe to include golden sugar and organic coconut sugar rather than plain granulated sugar. Also, golden ‘tinker dust’ has been added on top of each frosted cupcake to give it a distinctive glittery appearance.

CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS:

1/3 cup dark chocolate, finely chopped [3 oz] https://amzn.to/42Sy1a8

1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder https://amzn.to/3JQ25KU

3/4 cup hot water

3/4 cup all-purpose flour https://amzn.to/3nsTVAt

3/4 cup granulated sugar, https://amzn.to/3G0m3Bl  

For more flavor and/or health benefits, try: 2 parts golden sugar https://amzn.to/3lV1MXb and one part organic palm sugar https://amzn.to/3TYTM47

1/2 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt https://amzn.to/3KmkzEn

1/2 teaspoon baking soda https://amzn.to/3nnx5Kz

6 tablespoons virgin coconut oil [3 oz] https://amzn.to/3ZCwXVe

2 eggs [room temperature]

2 teaspoons [fresh] lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste [or extract] https://amzn.to/3lYMGzZ

Makes 12 cupcakes

Oven temperature: 350 Fahrenheit/177 Celsius

CUPCAKE DIRECTIONS: Place the chopped chocolate and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Pour the hot water over the mixture and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate mixture for 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. The rack should be in the center. Line a standard-size muffin pan with liners. Sift the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs thoroughly. Whisk the virgin coconut oil, eggs, lemon juice and vanilla extract into the cooled chocolate. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth. There will be small lumps from the raspberries in the dark chocolate. DON’T OVERMIX! Fill cupcake liners ¾ full. Bake until the cupcakes are set and just firm to the touch, 17 – 19 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove the cupcakes from the pan and place on the wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.

ROCKIN’ RASPBERRY FROSTING

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature [6 oz]

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar [confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar] https://amzn.to/3K3ype3

3 Tablespoons heavy cream

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste https://amzn.to/3lYMGzZ

1/4 cup seedless raspberry preserves https://amzn.to/3KngZtJ

3 drops neon pink https://amzn.to/3nx2Ot4

Bright Gold Tinker Dust [edible glitter] https://amzn.to/3ZuJ9Hr

FROSTING DIRECTIONS: Beat softened butter on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes until completely smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners’ sugar, cream, and vanilla extract with the mixer running. Increase to high speed and beat for 1 minute. Add the raspberry preserves and beat until thick and creamy, about 5 full minutes, so it’s very soft and fluffy. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes. I used a Wilton’s 1M piping tip.

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No Bake Cookies Recipe & Video Tutorial

By Lisa Maliga

Copyright 2021

No Bake Cookies

These No Bake Cookies contain Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa powder, a very fine chocolate that I’d bought a few months ago and just got around to testing. Even though these are what I refer to as ‘stovetop cookies’ as no oven is used, the rich flavor of this brand of chocolate stands out.

According to the company: “Our gourmet baking cocoa is Dutch-processed for rich flavor and appearance. Our cocoa contains one of the highest levels of cocoa butter on the market, ensuring superior chocolate flavor. From rich hot cocoa to fudgey brownies, Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa makes a difference you can taste.”

I also used a salted peanut butter so that no extra salt needs to be added.

This recipe is so easy to make, any time of the year. If you don’t want to turn your oven on this summer, and crave homemade cookies, I definitely recommend making these!

NO BAKE COOKIES RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 stick butter

½ cup granulated sugar

1 cup coconut sugar https://amzn.to/3lyrPB8

½ cup milk

4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted https://amzn.to/3CrpCNV

½ cup peanut butter https://amzn.to/3lvYuaa

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract  https://amzn.to/3yqnSC7

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats https://amzn.to/3Aq5aLx

Stovetop Temperature: Medium

In a large saucepan, add butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa powder. Mix until well combined. Boil for about 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Remove from heat.

Add vanilla extract and mix. Add peanut butter and oats and mix until well combined.

Use either a spoon or a cookie scoop, drop cookies on parchment or wax paper.

Let cool for several hours. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. They probably won’t last that long.

Yield: makes about 25 cookies.

I provide links to items on Amazon that I’ve bought and used or have used in the past. For butter, I recommend Kerrygold, Plugra, Vital Farms or President. Perhaps there’s a dairy in your area and that would be the best for you. As always, the better the ingredients, the better the cookies!

Want gluten-free cookies? Make sure your oats are labeled as gluten-free.

If you want these to be vegan-friendly, use coconut oil or vegan butter.

Allergic to peanut butter? Substitute almond butter or sunflower butter.

Happy Cooking!

VIDEO

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Dessert Cookbook Series: A Beginner’s Guide ~ New Boxed Set

By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2020

 

Includes 3 full-length dessert cookbooks and more than 50 recipes.

Learn how to make many different desserts, no matter what your level of baking experience.

It’s easier than ever to bake decadent chocolate cupcakes and brownies. Get helpful tips about decorating and coloring cupcakes, recommended equipment, and loads of resources. Original and tested step-by-step recipes include Blueberry Brownies, Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes, Blue Velvet Cupcakes, Peppermint Swirl Cupcakes, and many more tantalizing treats.

The book was written by someone who went from baking box mix brownies and cupcakes to discovering the joy of baking from scratch. With a photograph of each finished treat, the reader will be inspired to try baking these delicious recipes.

Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide contains 50+ color photos.

Bake beautiful and delicious French macarons in your own kitchen. This collection of tried-and-tested recipes allows bakers to create these tasty and colorful confections.

The author details what equipment and ingredients you need, offers numerous helpful tips, resources, and shares more than 30 recipes for you to whip up an array of elegant French delicacies.

Full of inspiring color photos, Baking French Macarons: A Beginner’s Guide, offers everything you need to bake stunning macarons that will impress anyone who tastes them.

Some of the flavors include Cinnamon Caramel, Tangy Orange, Key Lime, and Acai macarons.

Ruby Chocolate: A Beginner’s Guide includes ten original and tested recipes using authentic ruby chocolate. From healthy granola bars to tasty ruby chocolate chip cookies to decadent fudge, chocolate lovers will be inspired to create their own desserts. The reader also receives gift packaging ideas, and many resources.

Available exclusively at Amazon.

U.S. link: Dessert Cookbook Series: A Beginner’s Guide

U.K. link: Dessert Cookbook Series: A Beginner’s Guide

CA link: Dessert Cookbook Series: A Beginner’s Guide

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Chocolate Orange Spice Cupcakes Recipe & Video Tutorial

By Lisa Maliga
Copyright 2017-2018

This type of cupcake is appealing to those who love a strong citrusy spicy combination. If you’re looking for an autumn, Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas treat, here’s a winning flavor. 

Chocolate Orange Spice Cupcake

CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS:

1/3 cup dark chocolate, finely chopped [Green & Black’s Maya Gold] [3 oz.]
1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
3/4 cup hot water
3/4 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons virgin coconut oil [3 oz]
2 eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons [fresh] lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla

Makes 12 cupcakes

Oven temperature: 350 Fahrenheit/177 Celsius

DIRECTIONS:

Place the chopped chocolate and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Pour the hot water over the mixture and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate mixture for 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. The rack should be in the center. Line a standard-size muffin pan with liners.

Sift the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk the eggs thoroughly.

Whisk the virgin coconut oil, eggs, lemon juice and vanilla extract into the cooled chocolate. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth. DON’T OVERMIX!

Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full. Bake until the cupcakes are set and just firm to the touch, 17 – 19 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, and then remove the cupcakes from the pan and place on the wire rack to cool completely.

ORANGE SPICE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

FROSTING INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup [6 oz.] unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar [confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar]
3 Tablespoons heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin spice blend*
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 ½ teaspoons orange extract
12 drops orange color

FROSTING DIRECTIONS: 

Beat softened butter on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes until completely smooth and creamy. Add the confectioners’ sugar, cream, vanilla extract, and spices with the mixer running. Increase to high speed and beat for 1 minute.

Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.

Green & Black’s Maya Gold chocolate has a spicy orange flavor that pairs beautifully with this frosting. I used it once before as I’d run out of regular dark chocolate and was impressed with the way the flavor came out in the cupcakes even a day after they’d been baked. If you can’t use this particular brand/type of chocolate, that’s okay, use whatever’s available to you. However, if you want it to have an orange spice flavor, add 1/4 teaspoon orange extract and about 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin or apple spice blend to your cupcake batter.

* make your own pumpkin spice blend

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

Amazon Kindle link: Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide

VIDEO

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Chocolate Coconut Ganache Filling Recipe [Vegan/Non-dairy]

Chocolate Coconut Ganache Filling Recipe [Vegan/Non-dairy]

By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2018

My first chocolate ganache was made with a name brand of chocolate chips, ahem morsels, and was nice but not great. Ganache is all about the chocolate and the better quality the chocolate, the tastier your macarons will be. I’ve also learned that some people are either lactose intolerant, or they want to sell their macarons but can’t use any dairy products in the ganache. So, here’s a solution to that – a recipe that contains vegan and non-dairy ingredients. Chocolate and coconut are very compatible flavors and this is one of my favorite ganache recipes.

This original recipe is from the book Baking Macarons: The Swiss Meringue Method. 

The ingredients: organic virgin coconut oil, unsweetened coconut milk, coconut flavor, and Theo Coconut 70% Dark Chocolate

INGREDIENTS:

10 ounces dark chocolate, chopped Theo Coconut 70% Dark Chocolate contains toasted coconut and is recommended
5.46 ounces unsweetened coconut milk [1 small can]
1 Tablespoon virgin coconut oil
1-2 teaspoons coconut flavor or extract

INSTRUCTIONS:

Before opening the can of coconut milk, shake well. Place in a microwave-safe container. Heat until just starting to simmer, approximately one minute. Pour over chocolate. Add virgin coconut oil and let sit for a few minutes as the chocolate melts. Stir to combine.

Add coconut extract or flavor and whisk until fully incorporated. Let cool until thick but not hard.

Scoop into a piping bag.

Chopped chocolate in a glass bowl

Pouring the heated coconut milk onto the chocolate pieces

Gently stir and add the organic virgin coconut oil

Adding the coconut flavor oil

Stirring the chocolate coconut ganache — note the chunks of toasted coconut!

Chocolate Macarons with Chocolate Coconut Filling

Want to learn more about baking macarons? 

Amazon: Baking Macarons: The Swiss Meringue Method
PAPERBACK: Baking Macarons: The Swiss Meringue Method
Amazon UK: Baking Macarons: The Swiss Meringue Method
PAPERBACK: Baking Macarons: The Swiss Meringue Method
B&N/Nook: Baking Macarons: The Swiss Meringue Method
iTunes: Baking Macarons: The Swiss Meringue Method
Kobo: Baking Macarons: The Swiss Meringue Method
Scribd: Baking-Macarons: The Swiss Meringue Method
Smashwords: Baking Macarons: The Swiss Meringue Method

Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes Recipe Tutorial & Video

Copyright 2017-2018 by Lisa Maliga

Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes Recipe Tutorial

For lovers of chocolate and coconut! The virgin coconut oil and organic coconut palm sugar make these cupcakes healthier and more delicious. This recipe is from the book Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide by Lisa Maliga.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS:
1/3 cup dark chocolate, finely chopped [3 oz.]
1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
3/4 cup hot water
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup organic coconut palm sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons virgin coconut oil [3 oz]
2 eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons [fresh] lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
1 teaspoon vanilla

Makes 12 cupcakes

Oven temperature: 350 Fahrenheit/177 Celsius

Directions:

Place the chopped chocolate and sifted cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Pour the hot water over the mixture and whisk until smooth. Refrigerate mixture for 20 minutes.

Add hot water to chocolate chunks and cocoa powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. The rack should be in the center. Line a standard-size muffin pan with liners.

Sift the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl; set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk the eggs thoroughly.

Whisk the virgin coconut oil, eggs, lemon juice and vanilla extract into the cooled chocolate. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth. DON’T OVERMIX!

Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full. Bake until the cupcakes are set and just firm to the touch, 17 – 19 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, and then remove the cupcakes from the pan and place on the wire rack to cool completely.

 

Coconut Frosting

FROSTING INGREDIENTS:
3 1/4 cups powdered sugar
8 ounces butter at room temperature
2 teaspoons coconut extract
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 Tablespoons heavy cream
Shredded coconut for sprinkling [optional]

FROSTING DIRECTIONS:
With an electric mixer, beat together sugar and butter. Add coconut extract, vanilla and cream.
Mix on low until well blended, and then on medium for another two minutes.
Pipe onto cupcakes and top with a sprinkling of shredded coconut.

VIDEO TUTORIAL:

Amazon link: Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginners Guide

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Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide–An Excerpt

Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide

by Lisa Maliga, copyright 2017=2019

My second cookbook has just been released after months of testing various chocolate cupcake and brownie recipes. It was so much fun baking these sweet treats and learning more cupcake decorating techniques. For example, I tried the swirl method and was able to come up with this:

Peppermint Swirl Cupcakes

I’ve also learned how to make my own sparkling sugar and the various ways to core cupcakes. So, if you love chocolate goodness, keep on reading!

Chapter 1 ~ About the Ingredients

Your cupcakes and brownies can look and taste better than any found in a bakery. What you put into your batch of cupcakes is up to you and your budget. Are fresh eggs and butter available to you? I’ve been able to use farm fresh eggs in many of my batches of cupcakes and brownies. Those hens are free ranging and while kept in a coop at night, during the day they amble around several acres of pasture and eat natural food from the ground as well as organic chicken feed.

Use whatever ingredients you have in your pantry, cupboards and refrigerator for your first batches of brownies and/or cupcakes. Don’t invest a lot of money in ingredients or equipment if you only plan to make the occasional dessert. But once you make brownies and cupcakes from scratch, get creative and try new brands of chocolate, butter, or any of the other ingredients to learn if you can taste a difference. Oftentimes you’ll find some sweet [I couldn’t resist that pun] deals on the ingredients at your grocery store so you’ll spend less money on finding out what you like to add to your chocolaty desserts. Baking isn’t just science–it’s also art.

As the recipes in this book are all about using the most natural ingredients, as well as the best tasting, virgin coconut oil is recommended. This tropical oil is easier to use in oil form rather than solid. Coconut oil is coconut butter at temperatures below 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on the weather, I can let it sit in the sun to melt or if it’s hot enough then measuring it is always easier. Virgin coconut oil gives cupcakes natural moisture and you won’t taste the extra coconut.

Amazon Kindle: Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide

Amazon Kindle UK: Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide

Paperback edition: Baking Chocolate Cupcakes and Brownies: A Beginner’s Guide

French Macaron Baking Adventures, Part 9: Chocolate Mint Macarons

By Lisa Maliga, copyright 2016

Before the release of my new eBook, I mentioned I’d be writing about a spring surprise. I was definitely surprised! I envisioned a beautiful spring green color macaron shell and a rich minty chocolate ganache filling. Well, I ended up learning more about gel colors, natural colors and essential oils.

At first, all was great with the meringue. It had the standard stiff peaks and to get that lovely minty color, I added 7 drops of gel food coloring. And that was followed with one drop of pure peppermint essential oil. So it looked and smelled like chocolate mint chip ice cream.

Nice mint green color

Everything mixed up well; the piping was adequate, the shells dried within 30 minutes. Midway through the first batch, I switched on the oven light and saw nice little feet forming. I set about making the ganache and when it was time to remove the macarons I saw that all the shells had a golden brown crust! My goal was green not brown. After removing them, I lowered the oven rack [it was one below the center] and lowered the temperature from 320 to 300. But as seen below, it didn’t help…

Too much gel colorant & wrong oven temperature 

I baked the other two trays at varying temperatures and oven rack positions. All of them were well done, even though twenty minutes was the longest time spent in the oven. Most were so hollow either the tops came off or you could easily see through the feet from one side to the other.

The overbaked shell cracked in half!

The chocolate ganache tasted good but not great as I didn’t add enough heavy cream and discovered that the teaspoon of virgin coconut oil clogged the metal piping tip. I reversed the piping bag and adding the ganache that way! What a mess I was making. I also lost several of the shells due to the tops being so crisp they just flipped off. Maybe I could’ve added filling to the other layers, but I just decided to send them to the compost heap outside.

Later, I learned the reason my shells browned – too much gel food colorant and the oven temperature was too high. Okay, next batch I was changing the color to something all natural: matcha green tea.

Hollow macarons with brownish shells — but they tasted good!

Batch #13 was either going to be lucky or unlucky. Turned out it was a bit of both. My eggs sat on the counter overnight and I noticed they’d aged so well they whipped up to fill the 2-quart bowl up more than halfway. That was a first!

However, I’m going to pass along this tip: don’t mix the powdered sugar and almond flour together a week before you make macarons. I thought it’d save time but in reality I had to resift the remaining half because it got a little clumpy. That wasn’t much of a problem nor was having to move the batter into the five quart bowl because there wasn’t enough room.

Even though I only added 1.5 teaspoons of matcha green tea powder [which I sifted before adding to the sugar/almond flour combo] I found it more difficult to mix. However, it definitely turned the batter green and the resulting macarons look natural, tho’ not lime green or mint green. This was also the first time I used extra fine granulated sugar.

Matcha green tea added to almond flour/powdered sugar mix

I added peppermint essential oil to the batter just before mixing it rather than to the meringue. There wasn’t a hint of the matcha green tea aroma.

Cracked and deflated macaron shells

The first batch ended up cracking and went into the compost pile. The other two batches came out okay—there were feet, they puffed up but deflated a bit—and they were as hollow as heck but they resembled macaron shells. They’re on the rustic side. The chocolate ganache was made with dark chocolate with mint extract and I added a few drops of pure peppermint essential oil. This time the heavy cream was the right amount and I only added a teaspoon of real butter and no virgin coconut oil.

Second batch of macaron shells

While the resulting macarons don’t look like they’re from Lauduree, they tasted good and I ended up with 20 of them.

Natural green color

Next week I’m going to make a fruity combination to celebrate spring. Wish me luck!

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Don’t Eat the Sugar Scrub Recipe

By Lisa Maliga copyright 2015-2016

Don’t Eat the Sugar Scrub has only 3 ingredients!

Sugar scrubs are great for exfoliating and leaving your skin smoother and a lot more moisturized–especially in cooler and drier weather. This recipe is so simple to make and the trio of ingredients can be found in your grocery store or natural food market. I’m a big believer in high quality ingredients so I’ve included links that lead to the main websites for each of the three ingredients. These are only suggested places to find them. You may prefer other brands or already have them in your pantry. 

[Click photos to enlarge]

Don’t Eat the Sugar Scrub is good for facial use, on your body and feet, and it makes an awesome lip scrub. Please try not to eat too much of this as it’s very sweet! Ask me how I know this! 🙂

If using a sugar scrub in the bathtub or shower, be aware that it can become slippery after you rinse off the sugar scrub.

Don’t Eat the Sugar Scrub Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup organic brown sugar https://www.floridacrystals.com/Products.aspx?id=1

1/2 cup organic virgin coconut oil https://store.nutiva.com/coconut-oil

2 tablespoons shredded coconut [unsweetened] http://www.bobsredmill.com/shredded-coconut.html

Equipment:

2-ounce measuring cup

Measuring spoon

Wooden spoon

Plastic or glass container for storage

Prep time:

5 minutes

Yield:

Approx. 11 ounces

Instructions:

Pour the brown sugar into the measuring cup. Then add the virgin coconut oil. Mix well and add the shredded coconut. Once mixed, scoop into your container. Make sure the container is tightly closed.

Don’t Eat the Sugar Scrub

The look and texture will resemble wet sand.

Some variations may include: half brown/half white sugar, coconut sugar, demerara sugar [which has larger sugar grains that may scratch very sensitive skin]. Please note that the shredded coconut may too rough for sensitive skin although the amount included is far less than the other ingredients. You can also add half the amount of shredded coconut.

While this can be used on your body, exercise caution when applying to the face as it might be too rough for some people. Do a patch test, if in doubt. Also, apply to clean, damp skin.

About the Shelf Life:

Small plastic spoon

When I was running my former company, everythingshea.com, I didn’t sell sugar scrubs from my website, but I made them for a few wholesale accounts. One of the clients asked me about the shelf life. I was straightforward about it as I didn’t use preservatives back then and I still don’t! I can’t guarantee a scrub will have a one year shelf life, even though I have made some that have lasted longer than that because I made large quantities or else I didn’t use them that much. 

If you don’t use this recipe right away, here are some ways to extend the shelf life. Between uses, make sure the lid is always tightly shut. Keep it away from water when using at the sink or in your shower or tub. Apply with dry fingers. If concerned about spoilage, apply with a spoon, wooden craft stick or cosmetic spatula, if possible. Store in a cool, dry place. If you don’t plan to use it a lot, you can refrigerate the sugar scrub.

Thank you for reading this and let me know if you make it and how you like it! Don’t hesitate to share this easy-to-make recipe and please Don’t Eat the Sugar Scrub! 🙂

For a whipped sugar scrub recipe, check out my latest eBook Nilotica [East African] Shea Body Butter Recipes [The Whipped Shea Butter Series], Book 1.

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The Prepper’s Guide to Soap Crafting and Soap Storage ~ Excerpt

By Lisa Maliga

Copyright 2013-2016

Be the cleanest prepper around! Create your own lye-free soap or find the best type of soap to store in the coming years. Informative book shows the best ways to craft your own soap. You’ll receive original recipes and valuable storage tips to get the most out of your soap. Learn about natural melt and pour, hand-milled, African black soap and liquid soaps. Includes recommended reading and several supplier resources. The Prepper’s Guide to Soap Crafting and Soap Storage is written and photographed by the author of How to Make Handmade Shampoo Bars and The Joy of Melt and Pour Soap Crafting.

CHAPTER 3 

STORING YOUR SOAP BASE

Here are ways to get the most out of your soap base. First, some general use tips.

Your soap should be kept in a draining type of soap dish. Leaving any type of soap in a puddle of water in the shower, bathtub or next to the sink will drastically shorten its shelf life. The humidity will cause it to soften much faster. If you have a very small/humid enclosed type of bathroom, consider storing your soap in a separate room.

 Melt and Pour Soap Base

Here are some things you should know about melt and pour soap base, sometimes known as glycerin melt and pour soap base. It contains approximately 20% plant-derived glycerin, which makes it softer than other types of soap. This also means that it’s a moisture magnet. It should always be wrapped and stored in a cool, dry location. You can wrap in the original packaging, usually plastic wrap/shrink wrap, or a clamshell container. Additionally, it can be stored in a heavy-duty opaque plastic storage container. When I was crafting this type of soap I bought it in 40-pound blocks, which I cut into large chunks and kept in an airtight opaque plastic container. This was kept in the back of a closet so it was away from any harsh lighting conditions.

The Prepper’s Guide to Soap Crafting and Soap Storage is available online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.