DIY Chocolate Mint Body Butter

While on Pinterest the other day, I stumbled across this amazing recipe for a DIY Chocolate Mint Body Butter.  I sounded like an amazing experiment  I once got a container of this for a gift and know that it cost nearly $15 for a small container.  This one is a little cheaper to make and you get so much more for your money.  Plus you can make it with more organic/chemical free ingredients.  The main recipe came from a website called mommypotamus.com.  I also found another one (there was no credit on that one) and have sort of combined the two to get the best effect.

• 1/2 cup of cocoa butter (it’s listed as cacao butter sometimes.)
• 1/2 cup mango or shea butter (you can also substitute another 1/2 cup cocoa butter. It will be a little  less “light” when whipped up, but it was really amazing…especially for dry skin.)
• 1/2 cup coconut oil 
  
• 1/2 cup of jojoba or a mild olive oil.  I used olive oil and that gave outstanding results and was my favorite.
• 1-2 teaspoons peppermint essential oil (the more you add the stronger the mint scent)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons pure cocoa powder (if you would prefer a “white chocolate” version that is not a bronzer, substitute arrowroot powder or non-GMO cornstarch)
• 2 teaspoons naturally derived vitamin E (optional).  I pierced some vitamin E capsules and it worked well!

How To Make Whipped Body Butter:

1. Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and fitting a smaller bowl inside. The inside bowl needs to be able to hold at least 4-5 cups of liquid. Glass works better than metal.
2. Using a double boiler or a pot of boiling water with a smaller pot fitted inside, melt cocoa butter and mango butter over a low simmer. This will prevent it from scalding.
3. Add coconut oil and melt until completely liquid.
4. Remove cocoa butter/coconut oil mixture from heat.
5. Measure 5 teaspoons of cocoa powder into a small bowl and gradually add several tablespoons of jojoba/almond/olive oil. Mix thoroughly and then add to cocoa butter/coconut oil mixture along with remaining jojoba/almond/olive oil.
6. Place mixture in chilled bowl (which should still be resting above the ice bowl) and allow to cool for 10-20 minutes.
7. Remove mixture from ice bath and whip very well until stiff peaks form. If after a few minutes it does not seem to be thickening return the bowl to the ice bath and whip there.
8. Store in an airtight jar – Keep out of sunlight to prevent oxidation.  I keep mine in the cupboard a.k.a cool dry place.
9. You will also want to store it in a cool place.  If your bathroom gets warm, it’s not the place to keep this.