Recentls I surveyed the pantry and spied a bunch of leftover candy canes. I had used some of them to make peppermint bark and had a few left.
My mother also gives the kids these giant candy canes every Christmas and I don’t have the heart to tell her that they just don’t like them quite that much.
In years past, I would let them sit in the pantry for six months before finally throwing them away. This year I had a better idea – DIY Candy Cane Sugar Scrub! I guess I am recycling candy canes :). Super easy and fast and would make a great gift.
Ingredients (makes one batch)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup crushed candy canes
- 1/2 cup cooking oil (I used canola, but any type would work – sunflower, olive, safflower – I think a lighter oil works best)
- 8 drops peppermint oil (optional)
Yep, that’s it! The essential peppermint oil is optional, but it makes it smell fabulous. You can buy it a health food store and some craft stores carry essential oils. I used five regular candy canes and that giant one you see in the photo. I was able to make three batches; each batch is about 1.25 cups of scrub.
Directions
First I pulverized the candy canes in a food processor until they were finely ground.
Look at that giant candy cane!
Finely crush them all, then mix in the sugar, canola oil and peppermint oil:
Fill a jar with the scrub and you’re done!
These would make great gifts, but I kept them for myself :). I have one at the kitchen sink and one in the shower.
I mostly use it on my hands and feet, but I think you could use it anywhere. I especially love it in the shower because the peppermint is a nice wake-me-up on our cold winter mornings.
