Crafts & Fun

With a wooden spoon, mix 125 mL (½ cup) flour and 50 mL (¼ cup) each of salt and water in a large bowl. Knead until mixture is no longer crumbly. Roll a small piece of dough into a 4 cm (1½ in.) ball. Press any kind of candle into (but not all the way though) the ball so that the candle stands up. To flatten the bottom of the candle holder, press it onto the table.

To make a Hanukkah menorah, roll the dough into a log shape. With a Hanukkah candle, press into the dough to make holders for nine candles. Add extra dough to the middle indent so that the centre candle stands higher. For a Kwanzaa candle holder, called a kinara, make spaces for seven candles.

For a star-shaped candle holder, pinch the sides of the dough around the candle in five places. Use a toothpick to add details like squiggly lines or dots. Remove the candle and place the candle holder on a cookie sheet lined with tinfoil or parchment paper. Bake in a 150ºC (300ºF) oven for 30 minutes. Turn the candle holder over and bake 10 more minutes. Let cool on a baking rack for at least one hour. Add final touches with magic markers or tempera paint. To preserve your creation, mix 2 parts white glue to 1 part water and apply with a paintbrush. Allow to dry. Always place a lit candle on a heatproof surface such as a small plate. Store leftover dough in an airtight container for up to three days.

This craft originally appeared in Deck Your Halls. Read the complete article.

December 2003