We are officially snowed in today, and with Thanksgiving just days away, we’re already feeling all the Christmas spirit! The girls and I are big fans of anything gingerbread, so naturally we decided to give our favorite sugar scrub recipe a festive gingerbread twist. Between the cold weather, dry indoor heat, and mountain air, this time of year can be especially hard on our skin. A good sugar scrub is one of my favorite ways to keep everything feeling soft and smooth, and this one smells so warm and cozy.
The best part is how quick and easy it is to make. You probably already have most, if not all, of the ingredients in your kitchen. With brown sugar, coconut oil, warm spices, and vanilla, it smells almost good enough to eat and makes such a fun little holiday treat for yourself or a homemade gift for someone else.
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GINGERBREAD BODY SCRUB INGREDIENTS
Organic coconut oil and brown sugar are the base of this scrub. To create that warm gingerbread scent I used a blend of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and vanilla essential oil. The brown sugar and spices also give the scrub its naturally rich gingerbread color.
HOW TO MAKE GINGERBREAD BODY SCRUB
- Measure out the un-melted coconut oil, and place in a bowl. Mash the oil up with the back of a spoon until softened. It’s important not to melt the coconut oil, or the scrub won’t have the same light, fluffy texture.
- Add the gingerbread spices and vanilla fragrance oil. Mix well.
- Add the sugar and stir until fully combined.
You’ll find the exact measurements in the recipe card below. This recipe makes approximately 1½ cups of body scrub, but you can easily adjust the serving amount if you’d like to make more.
BEST BODY SCRUB CONTAINERS
You can store this scrub in any airtight container, but sometimes presentation matters! For gift giving, 4 ounce and 8 ounce Mason jars work perfectly. Add a square of pretty fabric under the jar ring and finish it with ribbon for an easy homemade holiday gift. Hinged airtight jars also work well if you’re making a larger batch.
Gingerbread Sugar Scrub
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp cloves
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp vanilla essential oil
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
Instructions
- In a medium size bowl add coconut oil and mix with a spoon until it softens up.
- Add cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and vanilla essential oil, stir to blend.
- Add brown sugar and mix again, using a spoon and your fingers to blend.
- Store in a clean storage container and use within 2-3 weeks.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Question: Should I use light or dark brown sugar for this recipe?
Answer: Both will work just fine. Dark sugar will offer a richer color and scent though.
Question: Will this attract ants?
Answer: Sugar can attract ants, so keep the lid tightly closed and wipe away any scrub or sugar residue around the container and shower after use.
Question: Will the brown sugar coloring rub off on my towels?
Answer: I use white towels and have never noticed any colored residue on my skin or towels.
I like to keep a jar of this gingerbread body scrub by the sink and use it whenever my hands are feeling dry. It’s such a lifesaver during the cold winter months, especially when the dry air starts taking a toll on our skin. Plus, every time I use it I get that warm, cozy gingerbread scent without any of the calories!
We’re just getting started with all of our gingerbread-spiced fun around here, so expect to see more festive ideas on the blog soon. For now, we’re heading outside to enjoy all this fresh snow while it lasts. I hope you have a wonderful and holiday season!
Do you love gingerbread? I do too! Try my Gingerbread Martinis, and Gingerbread Salt Dough Ornaments too! Thanks for reading.
SHOP SOME OF MY FAVORITES FOR MAKING BODY SCRUB
What size jars, i bought jelly jar to put in, how many do you it will make from 4 oz jars?
The scrub recipe makes about 2 1/2 cups and that would be 20 ounces. So I would just divide into each jar depending on size. Using 4 oz jars you could fill up 5 jars.
What if some one invests in tea or coffee?
I’m confused on the instructions mix oil with what?after that add slices then brown sugar
Coconut oil from a jar is kind of hard at room temperature, but you shouldn’t melt it for this recipe. So just mix & mash up the coconut oil so it’s still thick but it’s softer and you can work with it. Next add the spices to the coconut oil so it’s evenly distributed. Then add the brown sugar. Keeping the coconut oil at room temperature but softening it up by mixing it with a spoon will keep the scrub light and fluffy. I explain this more in my blog post above the recipe… but I know most people scan blog posts just looking for what they need to know. I hope this helps.