We make solid hand cream with the Thermomix® because beeswax at 70°C not only melts, but simultaneously acts as an emulsifier to stabilise the butter and oil mixture. Go higher and the wax loses its binding strength; lower and it does not melt through completely.
The recipe yields 135 g, which divided into small pieces fits easily into any handbag. We use silicone chocolate truffle moulds, as they make releasing the pieces much easier than rigid tins.
Homemade Solid Hand Cream with the Thermomix®
Ingredients 0 / 5 ✓
- 30 g cocoa butter
- 50 g shea butter
- 20 g coconut oil
- 35 g beeswax
- 8 drops essential oil e.g. lavender, rose, orange
Instructions 0 / 3
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1
Melt.
Add all ingredients to the mixing bowl and melt for 10 minutes / 70°C / speed 1.
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2
Fill into moulds.
Immediately distribute the mixture into the chocolate truffle moulds and leave to set in the fridge for 1 hour.
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3
Use.
Gently release the hand cream pieces from the moulds and store in a cool, dark place until needed. To use, take a piece in your hand and let it melt slightly with your body heat, then rub it into both hands.
Tip: Packaged in small chocolate truffle tins, you can slip your cream into any handbag. It also makes a very pretty little gift.
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Why beeswax determines the texture
Without beeswax, the mixture stays oily even after chilling and runs when stored. The wax sets the melted fats and keeps the pieces firm at room temperature. On contact with skin they melt gently without crumbling.
The ratio of 35 g wax to 100 g fats gives the right balance: the hand cream still melts easily but holds its shape in the cupboard. Less wax makes it too soft; more makes it brittle.
Shea butter as the core moisturiser
Shea butter at 50 g carries the main moisturising load. It absorbs more slowly than coconut oil and forms a protective film on the skin. Cocoa butter adds 30 g of firmer structure and brings a faint chocolatey scent, which the essential oil will later mask.
Coconut oil at 20 g slightly lowers the melting point and makes the cream more supple on application. Without coconut oil the mixture feels harder and takes longer to melt on the skin.
10 minutes at speed 1, no reverse direction
The Thermomix® melts all ingredients evenly at 70°C on speed 1. Reverse direction is not needed here because nothing needs to be chopped. The slow rotation prevents air bubbles from mixing into the batch, which would otherwise remain visible once the cream sets.
After 10 minutes everything is fully melted. You can tell because no solid wax pieces remain stuck to the bottom. If you fill the moulds too early, the remaining bits clump as they cool and the texture becomes uneven.
Fill into cold moulds straight away
The mixture must be poured into the truffle moulds immediately after melting. If you wait too long, the wax begins to set in the mixing bowl and you can no longer get the mixture out cleanly. A spatula lets you scrape everything neatly into the moulds.
Silicone truffle moulds work best because the finished pieces simply pop out. With rigid tins you have to ease them out carefully with a knife, which can damage the edges.
In the fridge the mixture takes about one hour to set. At room temperature it needs two to three hours, depending on the temperature. The pieces are ready when they no longer flex.
Essential oils to suit your preference
8 drops of essential oil are enough for the scent. Lavender is calming, orange refreshing, rose gives a floral note. The oils go into the mixture only after melting, not before. Heat destroys some of the fragrance compounds, so we stir them in once the Thermomix® has stopped.
More than 10 drops can irritate the skin, especially for sensitive people. The concentration is chosen so that the scent is noticeable when you apply the cream without being overpowering.
Store in a cool, dark place
We store the finished hand cream pieces in small truffle tins, which protects them from moisture and light. In direct sunlight the wax starts to melt again and the pieces lose their shape. In a cupboard or handbag they keep for months.
To use, take a piece in your hand and let it soften slightly with your body heat. Then spread the cream across both hands. The film absorbs slowly and leaves no greasy residue on door handles or phones.
The hand cream works well as a gift because it contains no preservatives yet keeps for a long time. Beeswax has a mild antimicrobial effect, and solid fats do not go rancid as quickly as liquid oils.
