This candle making tutorial shows you how to make dessert candles in a container. We coordinate scents and colors for the container wax and then add a scented “whipped cream” topping. You can make these DIY dessert candles for pie flavors, cakes, cobblers, candies, or just about any sweet treat – the only limit is your imagination! Adding the whipped wax gives a perfect finishing touch. Use your creativity to come up with your own flavor and color combinations! Dessert candles are perfect table toppers & decorations for parties, picnics, or during the holidays.
Materials List:
Making Dessert Candles: Step-by-Step
Step 1Prepare work surface. Cover counter with wax paper, old newspapers or aluminum foil to make clean up easier.
Step 2Prepare the Mason jar by using a wick sticker to attach the wick onto the bottom center of the inside of the jar. Use some pressure to ensure a good adhesion. Use a wick bar to keep the wick straight & centered in the jar.
Step 3Melt the candle wax in a double boiler or presto pot with a thermometer to ensure temperature. Melt the wax to approximately 170 degrees. Occasionally stir wax to ensure it completely and evenly melts.
Step 4Place the pour pot on digital scale and tare. Once wax is completely melted, transfer 6 oz of wax to the pour pot with a ladle.
Step 5Add .60 oz of Hot Apple Pie fragrance oil to the wax. Stir until fragrance oil is completely mixed into the wax – approximately 2 minutes. Add several drops of Hot Apple Pie liquid colorant until desired shade is achieved and stir.
Note: Wax in the liquid state will appear darker than when cooled. To test wax coloring, place a few drops of wax on a white piece of paper or a paper plate. When dry in a few seconds, a more accurate color shade will appear.
Step 6Let wax cool to approximately150 degrees F. Fill pre-wicked jar approximately 3/4 of the way full, leaving room on the top for the whipped topping. Place off to the side to cool.
Step 7When the candle is completely cooled, follow tutorial for
whipped wax and scent the wax with Vanilla or Whipped Cream**. Spoon whipped wax onto the top of the candle. Gently tap the jar on a hard surface to make sure the whipped wax adheres to the top layer of the candle. Let cool completely and trim the wick to approximately 1/4″.
Tip: Soy wax needs time to cure before burning. Let completed candle cure for 7-14 days before burning.** Fragrance Suggestion: any fragrance can be used.
What Wax to Use for Dessert Candles?
Soy wax is a great choice for dessert candle making for its natural, cleaner-burning properties and its ability to hold both color and fragrance well. While soy wax might not offer the same level of detail as paraffin for extremely intricate designs, it is excellent for simpler dessert shapes like cupcakes, pies, or round cakes.
If you require more detail in your dessert candles, consider mixing soy wax with a small percentage of paraffin wax to improve the firmness and detail retention without sacrificing the natural benefits of soy. This blend allows for better texture handling and finer details, which can be crucial for more complex designs.
For those preferring to stick with all-natural ingredients, pure soy wax can still be used effectively. Enhance the aesthetic of your soy wax dessert candles by using natural colorants and experimenting with layering techniques to mimic the appearance of different dessert layers and textures. Remember, when using soy wax, allowing ample curing time after pouring and before burning is key to developing the best fragrance throw and achieving a clean burn.
SOME SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
- Cover counter with wax paper, old newspapers or aluminum foil to make clean up easier.
- Be sure to wear safety goggles for eye protection. You do not want to be splashed in the eye with hot wax! Remember with wax – safety first.
- Waxes used in making candles are very similar to cooking oils – they are flammable and they are poured at high temperatures, but with certain precautions, accidents may be avoided. NEVER HEAT WAX ABOVE 210°F.
- For safety, wax should be melted in a double boiler. Wax should NEVER be heated directly over an open flame or burner. Direct heating can cause wax to explode and result in serious injury.
- Use of a thermometer is advised to ensure proper wax pouring temperature.
- Never leave hot wax unattended. Keep children and pets away from the area where wax is being melted and poured.
- Never pour water in a wax fire. Water will cause the fire to spread. To extinguish a fire in a pan, cover the pan with its lid. Use a dry chemical fire extinguisher.
- Never pour melted wax into the sink or other drains.
