The Personal Touch Handmade Christmas Gifts
Bath Bomb
As we’re into our November issue we’ve given ourselves permission to openly talk about Christmas - we think we deserve it after the year 2020 has been!
Rather than buying ‘smellies’ as Xmas presents, it’s much more personal to give something homemade, this bath bomb recipe is quite fun to make and you can put your own spin on it!
As quite a creative pair we decided we’d look at options for making your own Christmas presents and crafts. First up is a really easy recipe for truffles that you can’t go wrong with, although when you taste them you might not want to give them away! Equipment Bath Bomb Moulds/Cupcake Tray Water spray Cup Cake Cases Decorations (e.g. glitter, sprinkles)
Chocolate truffles 5oz/150g Plain Chocolate 2oz/60g Butter 6oz/180g Nestles Milk 4oz/115g Icing Sugar
Ingredients 300g Bicarbonate of Soda 100g Citric Acid Essential Oils (e.g. lavender, peppermint, cinnamon) Water A few drops of food colouring
Addition options Vanilla Essence Raisins soaked in Rum Sultanas soaked in Grand Marnier + Orange Zest Rum only Apricots soaked in Apricot Brandy
Combine the bicarbonate of soda and citric acid in a large bowl. Add a few drops of your essential oil* and stir well. Stir in some glitter if you are using it.
Method Soak your dried fruit if you are using - overnight works well! Melt chocolate Add butter Add condensed milk Add icing sugar
Carefully add your colour a drop or two at a time, combining well with each addition until you get your desired colour. You must do this gradually to avoid the fizzy reaction between the bicarb and the citric acid from happening in your bowl rather than your bath!
Mix in any of your additions, chill in the fridge for 2 hours or more. Pipe the mixture into paper cases, or shape into balls - you could put them in a nice box, a jar, a tin - whatever works for you!
Once you are happy with colour and scent you can begin to add water. Again it is important to do this gradually. The water spray means that you aren’t adding water too quickly to one part of your mixture and setting off the reaction. Stir after each addition. Your bath bomb mixture is ready when it will just hold together when pressed in your hand. It mustn’t feel damp and it is far better for it to be too dry and not work in your moulds at first than 24
