One of the amazing things about soap making is the wide variety of different techniques and possibilities. In this episode of Soap Queen TV, I show you how to create one of my favorite soapy techniques…cold process soap frosting! Simply whip together cool oils and lye to create a light and fluffy texture that is great for piping. Soap frosting is incredibly versatile, and works great for soap cupcakes, or soapy flowers.
To create the base you need:
12 Bar Round Silicone Mold
3.3 oz. Apricot Kernel Oil
9.9 oz. Canola Oil
9.9 oz. Coconut Oil
9.9 oz. Palm Oil
4.6 oz. Sodium Hydroxide
10.8 oz. distilled water
Aqua Pearl Mica
2 oz. Sweetgrass Fragrance Oil
To create the frosting you need:
7.5 oz. Coconut Oil
1.8 oz. Mango Butter
7.5 oz. Palm Oil
2.5 oz. Sodium Hydroxide
5.5 oz. distilled water
.7 oz. Rise & Shine Fragrance Oil
17 mL Diluted Emerald Lab Color
3 mL Diluted Canary Lab Color
11 mL Peach Lab Color
2 Frosting Bags
1M Frosting Tip
Could I pipe this soap into a plastic 8oz jar and use it as a whipped soap in the shower?
How long do u think I should let it cure? In the jar or outside the jar?
Thanks
Hi Leslie!
The texture of the frosting is similar to a bar of soap – it’s actually a little bit harder because of all the solid oils and butters inside. That texture would be tricky to scoop out of a jar. We also recommend letting it cure for 4-6 weeks. The jar doesn’t offer great airflow, so it wouldn’t cure very quickly inside.
If you’re looking for a whipped and fluffy texture, you’ll love our Foaming Bath Butter! It’s easy to scoop out of jars. 🙂
Foaming Bath Butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Foaming-Bath-Butter-P4955.aspx
We used it in the Sparkling Snow Sugar Scrub for a nice fluffy texture: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/sparkling-snow-sugar-scrub/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
A lil off topic but I can’t find answer anywhere hope u can help…do u think it’s possible to whip up 100% olive oil? I really want to make whipped Castile soap bar~
Hi Viv!
I’m not entirely sure! Because the olive oil is softer at room temperature, it may not get a very fluffy, pipeable texture. The hard oils in this recipe help the soap get the thicker, stiffer texture needed for frosting. My worry is that the olive oil soap may be more foamy than thick. I would recommend making a small test batch to see if it whips up nicely! Definitely let us know how it goes. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thanks Kelsey, I’ve postponed the little project till April. Thought to just try the hand milled method: shred up few cured Castile bars, melt them, and whip them up with some milk but I can’t seem to decide yet…since I also like my Castile as it is now. Definitely keep u posted if I do it 😉
Sounds good! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I want to make this recipe… but I wondered what would happen if I used the hand blender instead of the stand mixer. Does it really take 40 minutes to get the frosting to the right consistency? and would it be the same?
I’m very cautious with the soapmaking process. I don’t use any of the equipment in the kitchen once I’ve used them for soap… that’s the reason I’m having second thoughts about using my kitchen aid mixer for this.
Hi Rosy!
This recipe is so much fun to make!
Depending on how hot your house is, it can take up to 40 minutes of blending to get the frosting to piping consistency. However, you can shorten that time by making sure your oils and lye water are cooled beforehand. Also, it helps to soap in a cooler area. In the fall and winter months, I’ve found it takes me about 15 minutes or so to make frosting, and I do it with a hand blender. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thanks so much Kelsey : ) : ) : )
I’m ready to do this !!!! I’m so excited !!!
You’re welcome! Have fun making soapy frosting. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
i was watching you make whipped icing and it appears that the soap you first poured into the round molds and then after the whipped soap went on top were not covered for 24 hours to go through gel phase, did you and you just didn’t show it? if not the soap will be very hard on your skin and not ph balanced.
thanks for your input
Lori
Hi Lori!
Neither stages of this soap (base and frosting) went through gel phase. Gel phase is a personal preference, and does not effect the pH balance of the soap. As long as you use the correct amount of lye and water, your soap will have a safe pH level. Gelling’ and ‘gel phasing’ in cold process soap refers to a part of the saponification (soapmaking) process where the soap gets warm and gelatinous – up to 180 degrees. Gel phase primarily affects the appearance of the soap, by making colors appear brighter and gives the soap a slightly shiny appearance. I’ve included a blog post that explains gel phase a little but more, you might find it helpful 🙂
Jazzed About Gel Phase: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/gel-phase/
Let me know if you have any more questions!
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
Hi! Annie, I have cocoa butter but I have long time with, maybe is rancid still work good for whipped frosting???, Thanks
Hi Silvia!
Cocoa butter has a shelf life of 1-2 years. After that, the cocoa butter can go rancid and cause Dreaded Orange Spots in your recipe. You can read more about Dreaded Orange Spots here: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/dreaded-orange-spots/
You can find out more about oil shelf lives in the Free Beginner’s Guide to Cold Process: Common Soapmaking Oils: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/free-beginners-guide-to-soapmaking-common-soapmaking-oils/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
How long does soap frosting have to cure berfore it is safe to use?
Hi Linda!
Most of the saponification, or soap making, process happens within the first 48 hours. After that, the soap is safe to use. However, we recommend letting the soap cure for 4-6 weeks. That creates a milder bar that lasts longer in the shower. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I’m fairly new to soaping and would like to experiment with frosting. That being said i started making soap because I have a lot of people close to me including my daughter who are severely allergic to certain things palm trees being pretty much the main one…( her face swells even getting close.) Being that im a newbie and you guys are experts i have to ask Is there another formula you personally prefer that doesn’t require palm? Or maybe an oil you personally prefer to substitute? Perhaps beef tallow? Since it will also provide hardness, stable lather and conditioning? Thank you!
Hi Amanda!
We have an awesome recipe for cold process frosting that doesn’t include palm oil. It has cocoa butter, shea butter, olive oil and coconut oil. It looks great on top of your soap! The soap is also palm free. I’ll include a link below. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Queen of Hearts Cold Process: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/queen-hearts-cold-process/
Thank you so much!!! You guys are amazing!
You’re very welcome! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
This is amazing! Do you have liquid soap tutorials?
Hi Ana!
We have an amazing video that shows you how to make liquid soap step by step. It also includes a great recipe! I’ll provide the link below.
We also have several premade liquid soap bases you can customize with color and fragrance. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Liquid Soapmaking Online Video: https://www.brambleberry.com/Liquid-Soapmaking-Online-Video-P4828.aspx
Liquid bases:
Hi, I’m new to the whole soap making thing and haven’t actually got to make any. So while I was watching your videos on YouTube it said keep your kids away from a certain thing. Well I am a kid… So do you have any other ideas I coud make soap Witt, without having to use that certain thing. (It’s the thing that burns your skin.)
Hi Shyann!
Melt and pour is another fun way to make soap! It involves melting the soap, adding color and fragrance and pouring it into molds. It has already saponified, or turned into soap, so you’re not handling lye at all.
I’ll include some great resources for getting started. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Beginning Soaper Resource Roundup: https://soapqueen.com/bramble-berry-news/beginning-soaper-resource-roundup/
what is the difference in using the batch of cp soap for frosting as opposed to making a different batch of whipped frosting? wouldn’t it work just as well?
Hi Gigi!
Whipped cold process frosting has more air in it. It also has a mixture of harder oils. This allows you to do intricate piping and designs.
Regular cold process soap that’s at thick trace will still give you nice thick soap, but it is harder to do intricate piping or designs.
It’s your preference which you prefer! Both produce beautiful soap. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
This looks like so much fun!
Hi Shala!
It is a lot of fun – it’s like soapy art! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I am new at soaping and have learned so much from Anne-Marie! She is a great teacher and has excellent taste! I’m starting to sell my soap and learning how to make other products also. I’m having so much fun! Your products are high quality and reasonably priced. I’m a faithful customer and student! Thanks!!!!
Hi Mary!
I’m so glad you like the blog, and that we can help out! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
For the frosting – Don’t have any mango butter. Can you recommend another oil I could substitute?
Hi Sharon!
For the frosting, you can substitute cocoa butter or shea butter, because they’re both hard butters like the mango butter. Just make sure to run your recipe through the Lye Calculator again to get the right amount of lye to use. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Free Beginner’s Guide to Soapmaking: Common Soapmaking Oils: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/free-beginners-guide-to-soapmaking-common-soapmaking-oils/
Lye Calculator: https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Lye-Calculator.aspx
I love this lesson on whipping CP soap – Im going to try it – I have been taking the classes and feel soo much better about Lye! queation where do you purchase those nice containers with the narrow pour spouts does BB sell them?
Hi Cindy!
We do! They’re our easy pour mixing and measuring containers, which are great for precision pouring. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Easy pour mixing and measuring containers: https://www.brambleberry.com/Easy-Pour-Mixing-and-Measuring-Container-P5428.aspx
OH NO!! I was so excited to find a good set of instructions for “frosting” that I didn’t listen well enough =(
I used the stick blender on the oils and then put it in the freezer while I worked on the base of my soap. I completely SKIPPED the part about “Melting” the oils before chilling!!! Oh!!
I felt my frosting after I got it on top of my base and it felt gritty! PLEASE tell me that gritty feeling will pass as it saponifies??
Hi Michele!
Butters like mango butter can be grainy if they’re not melted gently. That may be the reason for the gritty feeling.
I’m not sure how it will feel after it cures. However, even if it is gritty, it’s still usable! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can you make the main bar on one day and then frost the next? Would the frosting stick or fall off? I have read conflicting advice on this.
Thanks!
Shelly
Hi Shelly!
We tested this recipe on dry soap and soap that had been made about 45 minutes earlier. The soap frosting stuck to both.
So, if you wanted to wait a day, that should be just fine. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
This looks like so much fun. Do I still insulate the soap overnight? Thanks Annie
Hi Annie!
We didn’t insulate this recipe, but you can if you’d like. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Do you think this frosting recipe would work on bath bomb cupcakes without setting off the fizzy with the moisture in the cp frosting recipe?
Hi Margo!
We haven’t tried this recipe on bath bomb cupcakes, so I’m not exactly sure! The heat and moisture of the frosting may set those bath fizzies off.
You may want to make a small test batch to be sure. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
These are really pretty and a great technique. Anne-Marie for the frosting what oils/butters would you suggest for those that do not use Palm Oil ?
Hi Marilyn!
For soap frosting, you want to have a lot of hard oils so it gets nice and thick. I would recommend adding other hard oils and butters like Shea or Cocoa Butter. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
When I make frosting I usually whip my oils first and that only takes 10 minutes or less. I only add my lye water once the oils are fluffy. I am not sure that will help but maybe try it the next time you are experimenting.
This was such a funny episode. You really made me laugh. Thanks
Hi Odette!
Thanks so much for that tip! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Super cute!!!
Hi Katherine!
So glad you like it. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry