Butter Candle

Name: Butter Candle
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped; 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped; 1 tsp flaky sea salt; 1 wick food-safe candle wick (100% cotton), trimmed; 1 loaf crusty bread (for dipping)

A garlic-herb compound butter molded around a food-safe wick, frozen solid, then lit at the table so it melts into a warm, fragrant pool for dipping crusty bread, the dinner-party centerpiece trend. Plan ahead: freeze the candle for at least 2 hours before serving.

15 minMediumServes 6400 cal/serving

AmericanAppetizerNo-CookVegetarianHalal-friendlyPork-FreeAlcohol-FreeNightshade-FreeCorn-Free

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Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
1 tsp flaky sea salt
1 wick food-safe candle wick (100% cotton), trimmed
1 loaf crusty bread (for dipping)

Instructions

1

In a bowl, beat 1 cup softened unsalted butter until smooth and creamy, then mix in 2 cloves minced garlic, 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley, 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives, and 1 tsp flaky sea salt until evenly combined.
2

Center 1 wick trimmed food-safe candle wick (100% cotton), a certified food-safe cotton wick only, never a decorative candle wick, upright in a small silicone candle mold or a clean votive glass, anchoring the base with a dab of the butter mixture.
3

Pack the compound butter firmly around the wick, pressing out air pockets and smoothing the top so the wick stands straight with about 1/2 inch exposed.
4

Freeze the butter candle for at least 2 hours, or until completely solid.
5

Just before serving, unmold the candle, warming the mold briefly in your hands or dipping it in warm water to release it, and set it on a heatproof plate.
6

Light the wick at the table and let it burn for a few minutes until a shallow pool of melted butter forms around the base.
7

Extinguish the flame, then dip pieces of warm 1 loaf crusty bread (for dipping) into the melted, herbed butter.

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Questions

How much time should I plan for Butter Candle?

As written, 15 minutes: 15 of prep and 0 of cooking. The longest single stretch is the hands-off wait in step 4, 2 hours. That wait sits outside the stated prep and cook times, so plan around it.

Can I make Butter Candle dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in Butter Candle is 1 cup unsalted butter, softened. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Is Butter Candle vegan?

No, though it is vegetarian. What keeps it from vegan is 1 cup unsalted butter, softened. For fully plant-based entries, see the vegan appetizer collection.

How many calories are in Butter Candle?

One serving (the recipe makes 6) is about 400 calories, with 7 g protein, 32 g carbohydrate and 34 g fat, plus 2 g fiber and 456 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list.

Can I make Butter Candle ahead?

Yes, it takes well to being made ahead. Refrigerate what is left of Butter Candle within two hours and eat it within three days. It is served cold; there is nothing to reheat.

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