An Edible Butter Candle?
Yes! And you can make your own with help from our friends at JW Marriott. Here's how.
A collaboration with JW Marriott
Be warned these are a scene stealer. When your dinner party guests discover that the candles burning on your table are both edible and made of actual butter, they will shift their attention immediately.
While these candles have made the rounds on social media, we experienced them for the first time last year when we hosted a Garden Party at the new JW Marriott in Reston Station, Virginia.
Check out more from our Garden Party here and here.
The idea behind the candles is to imbue your space with warmth while inviting interaction among your guests. As the wicks burn, the herb-laced butter slowly melts, and you can’t help but reach for the bread basket and nudge your tablemate. “Look at that,” you tell them, as you shake your heads in unison.
Most of you know that butter is having more than a moment. It started with those viral butter boards from a few years back, followed by delicious compound butters, butter molded into various shapes, lovely butter mounds, even butter-dipped soft serve ice cream by celebrity baker Dominique Ansel. It has extended into home (with items like butter-colored KitchenAid mixers) and fashion (who can forget Timothée Chalamet’s butter-yellow leather suit?).
The candles are surprisingly easy to make. It’s okay if arts & crafts aren’t your forte. If you can follow a recipe, you can make butter candles for your next get-together.
The Butter Candle Recipe from JW Marriott Reston Station
Ingredients
Extra virgin olive oil
High-quality butter (with an 82-85% milkfat content; you cannot substitute margarine)
Fresh rosemary
Fresh thyme
Edible flowers
Food-safe hemp wick covered in beeswax (the wicks should be extra long)
Bread
Match
Coat the inside of your candle mold with olive oil. This will help the candle slip out easily after it solidifies.
Melt the butter over low heat, but don’t make clarified butter; you still want some milk solids emulsified into butter.
Slowly pour the butter into your mold. If you’re using fresh herbs, keep any stems and leaves away from the center of the candle.
Before the butter has completely hardened, string the wick through the hole in the mold, allowing for 2 to 3 inches in length at the top. A longer wick means the flame will last throughout dinner.
Allow 24 hours to set in the refrigerator. If any herbs or flowers float to top, trim them with scissors.
Use warm water to unmold the candle.
Garnish with flaked sea salt and place on a small plate that will tidily collect the pooled butter, or use a platter surrounded by bread.
Light the candle 15 minutes before your guests sit down to dinner.
Ready to host your own? JW Marriott can help you create a personalized Garden Party experience. Visit jwmarriott.com.
Intriguing!