Peppermint Vanilla Body Butter

 Peppermint Vanilla Body Butter

You know by now, that I love vanilla, in my baking, in my coffee, in my body butters. Its aroma is like wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket but one that is fit for a queen, it's just so rich and deep, yet sweet and almost sultry. 

For this recipe, after infusing the vanilla beans into a carrier oil (I chose jojoba this time) the bean pods are strained out and then some of the vanilla bean seeds are scooped back into the oil. This adds those beautiful little flecks of brown back into the body butter and a bit more scent.

And at the very end of the recipe, a few drops of peppermint essential oil are added in. It does not take many drops, the peppermint is just a hint of mint, it is not meant to be strong or overpower the vanilla.

When I tell you this is heaven in a jar, I mean it. 

Vanilla Infused Oil

Two Vanilla Beans

1 cup Jojoba Oil 

Double boiler

One glass jar with tight fitting lid

Split the vanilla beans lengthwise and with a spoon scoop out the vanilla bean paste (some folks call this the caviar). Holding the top of the vanilla bean with one hand, slide the spoon down the length of the vanilla bean. Scrape the vanilla paste off the spoon into a clean glass jar (use a heat proof jar with a tight fitting lid, like a mason jar).

Chop the remaining vanilla beans into smaller sections, I do about 1in sections and place those into the jar with the vanilla bean paste.

Cover the vanilla beans and vanilla bean pods with 1 cup of jojoba oil and place a tight fitting lid on the jar.

In a small pot place the lid of another mason jar in the bottom of the pot and place the jar of oil on top of it. Fill the pot with water until it is about half up your jar. Turn the heat on low and gently heat the vanilla bean oil mixture for 3-4 hours. Add more water when needed as it evaporates.

While it is still warm, strain the oil through cheesecloth into another clean glass jar. 

Next take a spoon and scrape some those amazing little vanilla seeds off the cheesecloth and put them back into the jojoba oil that you are using for this recipe. This adds those pretty flecks of vanilla and a bit more scent as they infuse into the body butter.

Set the cheesecloth aside, you can add the vanilla pods back into the leftover jojoba oil that does not get used in this recipe, add more jojoba oil to it and set it in a warm place to infuse for a few weeks. This is a way to get another infusion out of the vanilla beans, that can then be used in a sugar scrub, body oil, lip balm or other skincare recipes. 

Peppermint Vanilla Body Butter

½ cup Vanilla Infused Oil

¾ cup of Shea Butter 

¼ cup of Coconut Oil (solid not liquid, easy to find at the grocery store)

5-6 drops Peppermint Essential Oil

Double Boiler

Spatula 

Stick Blender

6 2oz Amber Jars

1. Measure the vanilla oil, shea butter, coconut oil into a double boiler. Gently warm until just melted.

2. Remove from heat.

3. Place the bowl in the refrigerator until it is solid. Once it is solid, remove it from the refrigerator. If it's too solid, let it warm up a little before mixing.

4. Using a stick blender, whip the butter oil mixture until it is smooth and well blended. It will change consistency and become light and fluffy.

5. Once it’s fully whipped, add the peppermint essential oil and stir well or whip some more to combine.

6. Scoop into clean jars.

This recipe filled 6 two ounce amber jars. I used smaller jars because I want these body butters to be part of holiday gift bags that I will be giving to friends and family, but you could of course use larger jars.

Enjoy!