There's nothing more charming than handmade birthday candles. Birthday candles can be made in several different ways. The simplest is to merely dip an extra-small wick (l5-ply or smaller) in the same way you dip a regular taper. However, their short length makes dipping them in pairs an ineffective way of producing them.

A second method of making birthday candles by dipping is to dip the wick in the same manner as if you were making a long taper. Once the candles have accumulated enough wax to reach the required diameter (usually ″), you can carefully cut the long candle into short sections, while it is still warm. Trim away the wax from the top ½″ of each section to expose the wick.

Birthday Drawing

A third method of making birthday candles involves melting the wax in a container with a large surface, such as a baking pan (9″ × 9″ or larger). Using a yard (36″) of wick, pull it through the melted wax, from one end to the other, repeatedly until you have accumulated the desired amount of wax on the wick. Though a form of dipping, this process is known as “drawing,” as you literally draw the wick through the wax.

As you draw the wick through the wax bath, wait a few minutes in between each dipping to allow the newly added wax to cool a bit — but make certain you re-dip while the wax-coated wick is still warm enough to be pliable (or it won't “draw” through the melted wax). When you have reached the desired diameter, snip the long wick/candle into short lengths, trimming the top of each about ¼″ to expose the wick so the candles can be easily lit.

Long in the Candle

The usual length of a birthday candle is 3″, but if you like, you can make taller birthday candles, which will burn a bit longer. Depending on the age of the person for whom the birthday candles are being made, this is sometimes a good idea. You don't want the candles on the cake to go out on their own before the birthday person gets to blow them out! Also, if you want to carry in a cake with its candles already lit — a spectacular presentation! — having taller, longer-burning candles can prevent them from going out during the trip from the kitchen to the dining room.