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These Edible Tallow Candles Melt Into a Bread Dip: my favorite party trick is serving edible tallow candles – a viral-worthy appetizer that doubles as a conversation starter! I use real rendered beef fat (tallow), herbs, and aromatics, to make small, savory edible candles that melt into a delicious bread dip when lit! These are inspired by my favorite bread service at a local steakhouse I love. This recipe is easier than it looks – and it is perfect for impressing guests with minimal effort!
The Edible Candle Trend You Can Actually Serve: yes, you can light these candles — and eat them, too! These tallow bread dip candles are the ultimate wow-worthy appetizer for dinner parties, cozy holiday spreads, or rustic grazing boards. I tested this recipe in my home with flavorful rendered beef tallow, herbs, garlic, and a short foodsafe wick, these savory “candles” melt into the most delicious bread dip as they burn – they are perfect for dipping crusty bread straight into the warm, garlicky goodness!
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At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
Table of Contents
How to Make Bread Dip Tallow Candles
One of my very favorite restaurants in Northern Colorado has tons of dishes I love – especially the tallow candle they have as an appetizer with sourdough bread on the menu. After the last time we went in, I couldn’t wait to try making edible tallow candles at home – and thanks to butter candles being really popular lately, it wasn’t hard to find a food-grade wick online. I found these edible wicks, and decided to use silicone egg cup molds to be my candle molds – they are easy to pop the candle out when set.
We love these candles with no knead bread, with vegetables, crackers, and even garlic bread!
Ingredients to Make Tallow Candles for Bread Dip
- Tallow: Tallow is the primary ingredient in these candles, serving as the main fuel source for the candle’s flame. Tallow is rendered animal fat, traditionally sourced from beef or sheep. It has a high melting point and provides a slow-burning, long-lasting flame. Tallow candles have been used for centuries due to their accessibility and affordability.
- Lemon Zest: Lemon zest is added to the tallow candle to infuse a pleasant citrus fragrance when the candle is burned. The lemon zest brings a fresh and aromatic element to the candle, enhancing the overall sensory experience.
- Minced Shallot: Minced shallot is another aromatic ingredient that contributes to the candle’s fragrance. Shallots have a mild, sweet onion-like aroma. When melted into the tallow, they release their scent as the candle burns, creating a subtle and inviting ambiance.
- Italian Herbs: Italian herbs, such as basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme, are added for their aromatic properties. These herbs infuse the tallow candle with a pleasant, herbaceous fragrance reminiscent of Italian cuisine. The combination of herbs creates a complex and enticing aroma.
- Food Grade Candle Wick: The food-grade candle wick is an essential component that allows the candle to burn steadily and evenly. It absorbs the melted tallow and carries it upward to fuel the flame. A food-grade wick ensures that the candle remains safe for use and doesn’t introduce harmful substances when burned.
Steps to Make Bread Dip Tallow Candles
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following process:
Prep
Thoroughly clean silicone molds and place wick in bottom.
Melt Tallow
In a small pot, add tallow and shallot. Cook until tallow is melted, about 1-2 minutes.
Stir in Herbs
Remove from heat and stir in herbs, salt, and zest.
Pour into Molds
Pour into prepped silicone molds, place wick in mold.
Let set. Place in refrigerator or freezer to set, about 20 minutes.
Light & Serve
Place on plate with minced shallot, lemon zest, salt and pepper.
Dip Bread & Enjoy!
As tallow melts, dip bread into the tallow and scoop up lemon zest and shallot – and enjoy!
Tips and Tricks for Perfect Tallow Candles
Choose High-Quality Ingredients: Start with high-quality tallow, which should be clean, pure, and rendered properly. Make sure the tallow doesn’t have any off-putting flavors or odors.
Use Food-Grade Wicks: Ensure you use wicks specifically designed for edible candles, made from food-grade materials. These wicks are safe to consume, and they won’t release harmful chemicals when burned.
Select Flavorful Additions: Enhance the flavor of your edible tallow candles by adding herbs, spices, or aromatic ingredients to the tallow before it solidifies. For example, you can infuse the tallow with garlic, rosemary, or thyme for savory candles or vanilla, cinnamon, or citrus zest for sweet candles.
Experiment with Shapes and Molds: Get creative with the shapes and molds you use for your edible candles. Silicone molds come in various designs, allowing you to craft candles that match your theme or occasion.
Monitor the Temperature: Pay close attention to the temperature of the tallow when melting and pouring. Avoid overheating, as this can lead to an undesirable texture or separation of ingredients.
Adjust the Seasonings: Taste the tallow mixture before pouring it into molds and adjust the seasonings as needed. This ensures the flavor is to your liking.
Serve with Complementary Dippers: Offer a variety of dippers or accompaniments that pair well with the flavor of the tallow candle. For example, if you have a savory candle, provide bread, vegetables, or meats for dipping.
Garnish for Presentation: – Enhance the visual appeal of your edible tallow candles by garnishing with fresh herbs, grated cheese, or edible flowers after unmolding.
Store Properly: – Store your edible tallow candles in an airtight container in a cool, dry place to prevent them from absorbing any unwanted odors or moisture.
Be Mindful of Allergies: – When serving edible tallow candles to guests, inquire about food allergies or dietary restrictions to ensure everyone can enjoy them safely.
Edible Tallow Candles Recipe FAQs
Edible tallow candles are candles made from rendered animal fat (tallow) that are designed to be safe for consumption. They are often used as a source of both light and flavor in cooking and dining settings.
Edible tallow candles are typically made by melting tallow and adding flavorings such as herbs, spices, or citrus zest. A food-grade candle wick is inserted into the mixture, allowing it to solidify around the wick.
Yes, edible tallow candles are safe for consumption, but they are primarily used as a dip, as the candle melts and runs all over a dish.
Edible tallow candles can be used in a variety of dishes, such as roasts, stews, sautés, and pan-fried items. They can add depth and flavor to both savory and sweet dishes.
To use an edible tallow candle, simply light the wick and allow the tallow to melt. You can then use the melted tallow as a cooking fat to sauté or flavor your dishes. The herbs and spices infused in the candle will impart their flavors to the food.
Yes, you can customize the flavor of edible tallow candles by adding different herbs, spices, citrus zest, or other flavorings during the candle-making process. This allows you to tailor the candle to your culinary preferences.
What to Serve With Tallow Candles
Tallow candles are great with bread dipped in, but also amazing for crab, lobster, vegetables, or steak dipped in, too!
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Bread Dip Edible Tallow Candle
Equipment
- GOKCEN’s Silicone Egg Bite Molds [2 Pack] Instant Pot Accessories – Fit Instant Pot 5,6,8 qt Pressure Cooker – Food Freezer Tray with Lid – Reusable Storage Container (Blue & Green – Egg Bite Mold)
Ingredients
- 2 cups beef tallow
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1 shallot, finely minced – reserve 1 teaspoon for serving
- 1 teaspoon Italian herbs blend
- ½ teaspoon flake finishing salt or kosher salt
Instructions
- Thoroughly clean silicone molds and place wick in bottom. Trim excessively long wicks.
- In a small pot, add tallow and shallot. Cook until tallow is melted, about 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in herbs, salt, and zest.
- Pour into prepped silicone molds.
- Place in refrigerator or freezer to set, about 20 minutes.
- Serve with fresh grated lemon zest and reserved fresh shallot on plate.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
