I’m as giddy as a schoolgirl about today’s Simply Homemade project.  We’ve been making some pretty fun projects since the series started, but this one takes the cake.  The cupcake, to be exact.

A cupcake?

“What’s the big deal?”  You might be thinking.  The cupcake trend has peaked, hasn’t it?  Aren’t we all over cupcakes?

I will pretend I didn’t hear you and offer this little comfort: you won’t be eating these cupcakes.  You and your hips are perfectly safe with me.

These cupcakes are for the bath.  That’s right!  Today’s Simply Homemade project features DIY Sugared Bath Bombs.  Cupcake bath bombs.  Squeeee! 

What good little girl (or grown-up little girl) wouldn’t want to receive one of these in her stocking on Christmas morning?

You all do?

No problem.

Naturally, Sugared Bath Bombs are so easy to make, I can whip up a batch of these in less time than it takes to make the real thing, and with far fewer ingredients.  Here’s how I cooked them up in time for gift-giving.

How to make Sugared Bath Bombs

Ingredients:

1 c. baking soda

1/2 c. corn starch

1/2 c. Epsom salts

1/2 cup instant drink mix, like Crystal Light or unsweetened Kool-Aid, with “citric acid” listed as the first ingredient.  You can also use 1/2 cup plain citric acid, available at health stores or through Amazon.  But of course, you’ll want to make these right away and who has time to wait for UPS?

1/3 cup oil  *Any oil will do; I used equal parts coconut oil and calendula oil for their skin-loving properties.  Almond oil, melted shea butter, and even olive oil would be great alternatives.

*Note: If you use plain citric acid, you will want to add 1 t. essential oils in a scent you like.  Try lavender, peppermint, or lemon.  Essential oils get expensive, which is why I used drink mix.  However, essential oils have so many wonderful health benefits, it’s worth the expense if you’re doing this on a small scale.

**If you went the plain citric acid route, you may also want to add a bit of natural food coloring.  Just a few drops will do.  After all, you don’t want your bath water to look like Kool-Aid.  If you use a drink mix for the citric acid component, it will already be flavored and scented, but it won’t look like Kool-Aid.

For Icing:

6 cups powdered sugar

4 egg whites

Extra Stuff You’ll Need:

Sprinkles, raw sugar, or other edible decorations

Cupcake wrappers

Instructions:

Blend the dry ingredients very well.  I put all the dry ingredients in my Vitamix and let it whir for a minute.  It’s important to incorporate the citric acid throughout if you want the bath bombs to fizz consistently.  If you do not have a blender, just employ some child labor to do the mixing.

When the dry ingredients are maxed out on the mixing, slowly add the oil.  Do this about a  tablespoon at a time, mixing well between additions.

Soon, the mixture will begin to clump together.  When you can press it into your first and it holds its shape, you’re done.

Distribute the mixture into your cupcake tins.  I used 12 wrappers, but if you want fatter bath bombs, use fewer wrappers.  It’s not an exact science.

Press the mixture into the wrappers using as much pressure as you can.  You want the bombs to hold their shape!  We used a 1/4 measure as a press.

Ignore my messy-looking stoneware cupcake pan.  That’s what we call “seasoned.”

Set the bath bombs aside to dry and harden while you make the icing.

Icing Action:

This type of Royal Icing dries hard, which is what you want if your Sugared Bath Bombs are going to make it to Christmas morning without looking all smooshy.  Smooshy=not the spirit of Christmas.

In a mixing bowl with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and powdered sugar until it turns glossy and peaks form.  The peaks should be stiff enough to stand up but soft enough to bend a little at the ends.

Pipe the icing onto the tops of the cupcakes using a pastry bag.  You can also use a Ziploc bag with one corner cut off, which is what I did because I have no idea where the movers packed my my cake decorating supplies.  They’re probably in with the winter coats.

You can also use a star tip, if your movers left your cake decorations alone.

Sprinkle the cupcakes with edible decorations while the icing is wet.  It sets quickly, so work fast!

Allow your pretty little Sugared Bath Bombs to cure overnight, if possible, to give the icing time to harden all the way through.

Package your Sugared Bath Bombs in cellophane and ribbons and all the usual suspects.

Or, gift one on a pretty little thrifted plate.

That’s all there is to it.  Who new fat-free, calorie-free cupcakes could be so easy?

So, fill up some stockings, fill up the tub, and enjoy your very own Simply Homemade creation!

*Safety notes for not-very-sensible people: Do not eat these.  You probably won’t die if you do, but let’s not find out.  It’s probably not a good idea to give these to small children because even if you tell them not to eat them, they will.  In fact, if you tell them not to eat these, they will be 100x more likely to do so.

Secondarily, the oils in these Sugared Bath Bombs can make the tub slippery.  It is best not to dance the polka while bathing with one of these fizzing away in the water.  I know.  I’m such a spoil-sport.

One last thing, because I know you’ll ask: Yes, it’s okay to bathe with frosting.  I won’t tell.  Big stores sell sugar scrubs for lots of money.  This is just a sugar scrub minus the scrub, minus the big money.  Your tub will not mind, and even the sprinkles will dissolve in the water (that’s why we chose edible embellishments on an item you can’t even eat).

Now, go get yourself some citric acid.

Join us tomorrow for another Simply Homemade project!  I’d give you a clue if I had one.

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