Cupcake Soap: Have you heard of it ?

Making cupcake soap is part chemistry, part artistry

The image shown here should not be mistaken for cup cakes, these are ‘Soap cupcakes’. They are the best example of creative soap making. The finished results resembles an edible cup cake. For that matter the equipment and tools involved are also borrowed from there. You need Silicone ‘Cupcake’ moulds, Silicone or Plastic moulds for decorations, Hand sprayer, Measuring spoons,  Electric Whisk, Piping bag & nozzle.

These soaps are handmade ones and because of which special care and effort is gone into adding in the right ingredients (mostly organic) and giving it the finest cupcake look. Ingredients can range from  flower extracts like Avocado, Water-melon, Chamomile to essential oils like lavender oil, coconut oil, palm oil etc.

The explanation might give you an impression that these are going to be very expensive (probably yes if you are buying it). You can make it at your home. Also this market is very much open to Indians as there are very few players. Probably this could lead you into an entrepreneurial way…..

cupcake soap

Do It Yourself

Step 1: Decide on the shape and choose a silicon mould: You could use the same eatable cupcake silicon moulds.

Step2: Prepare the soap base: You could choose either Melt and Pour soap or Cold press soap. Melt and Pour utilizes pre-made base that is ready to use and in Cold press lye and oil are mixed in right proportion. You definitely need to watch couple of soap making videos, before you start your work, especially with respect to safety measures like getting your goggles and gloves. Most of cold press soaps are made using coconut oil, palm oil and olive oil. Other fragrance oils like almond oil could also be added to it. Color and fragrance must be added during preparation step to get the desired base soap.

Lye is sodium hydroxide (NaOH) + Water.  Lye is made by adding sodium hydroxide to cold soft or distilled water (never add water to NaOH as it lead to explosion).  The addition of NaOH causes heat, so must be careful not to add all of the content at a go. Also never heat lye on the stove, and never place it in the microwave. Once the oils and alkali or NaOH is mixed, there is no need to heat it further, hence it’s called cold process.

Step 3: Prepare the frosting: Add perfume and color to  soap base (MP or CP) then whisk it until the soap is quite thick. It should give stiff peaks (like your regular cup cake frosting). Then put the soap frosting into a piping bag with an icing tip (shape of your choice) and pipe the soap directly onto the cupcakes. One could even opt for scooping or spreading.

Step 4: Curing: Cover the soap cupcakes with a tall box so that the cup cake peaks are not disturbed. Cover and insulate for 24 hours or so. Then slowly de-mould it and cure it on an open rack. Curing can take anywhere between 3-4 weeks.  During curing process most of the water used in the recipe evaporates and soap turns into hard, long lasting one with a very rich lather.

You could start your learning here:

Cold process Soap base: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/free-beginners-guide-to-soapmaking-cold-process/

Melt and Pour soap base: http://www.naulakhaessentials.com/BlogDetails.aspx?Id=1

Making lye: http://www.natureontheshelf.com/soap-making/how-to-make-lye-solution-for-soap-making.html

Frosting: http://www.lovinsoap.com/2012/07/piping-soap-cupcakes-another-palm-free-recipe/

Buy in India:

       1.Scootsy: https://scootsy.com/buy-gifts-online-mumbai-gift-shop-aa-living-assorted-cupcake-soap-1155-113759.html

2. Prakrutik: http://engrave.in/cup-cake-handmade-soap
3. Naulakha essentials: http://www.naulakhaessentials.com/
4. Gia bath and body: http://giabathandbodyworks.in/?product_cat=artisan-bathing-bars
5. MayaIndia: https://www.mayaindiaspa.com/products/product-b