Along with sourdough starters and DIY spray foam mirrors, food-shaped candles were another one of the serotonin-sustaining items that helped get us through 2020. Often found in the form of donuts, avocados, croissants, these kitsch but lifelike candles represented the usual smorgasbord of millennial pop culture foods. But post-pandemic, food-shaped candles have evolved into a feast of increasingly realistic and diverse creations that are almost too pretty to burn (although, I can say from experience that it is delightful to light up these asparagus-shaped taper candles at dinner time).
There is just something about seeing a hyperrealistic piece of home decor in the form of a wax radish or bell pepper that scratches the Giuseppe Arcimboldo-shaped part of our brain. Pairing the fleeting beauty of food with the enduring presence of a design objet is a cheeky reflex long observed in tableware, i.e. cabbage ware majolica, as well as in fashion via the cornucopia-like hats of Schiaparelli, the trompe d’oiel vegetable accessories by Loewe, countless food-inspired offerings from Moschino (remember the McDonald’s collection and that celery purse?), the viral cookie bag from Puppets & Puppets, and beyond. If it looks good enough to eat, it’s begging to be made more permanent in the form of a purse, dish, or more recently, a candle.
Love romanesco? There’s a candle for that. Extending your tomato girl summer into winter 2025? There’s a candle for that, too (to say nothing of the tomato-scented candle discourse). Brands such as Cereria Introna and Gohar World — the sister-run NYC atelier that made those dishwashing gloves Julia Fox wore to the Grammys — also deserve a special shoutout in the field of stunning trompe l’oeil food candles:
Below, you’ll find the coolest food-shaped candles in four categories: the sweet, the savory, the farmers market haul (fruits and vegetables), and drinks. Grab your Edie Parker jelly lighter, and let’s stock up (and light up).
The Sweet
I especially enjoy giving friends cake-shaped candles as birthday presents, but you really don’t need an occasion to treat yourself to one of the beauties. I recommend buying a few, and keeping them on-hand for next year’s White Elephant parties.
For the friend who always wants to go to the Cheesecake Factory
For the person who keeps Ladurée tins
This Italian-made cake bite candle
An homage to your favorite cereals
For the friend who’s addicted to cake-decorating TikToks
The Savory
Food-shaped candles now resemble not just sausages, cheese, and other pantry staples, but entire smorgasbords of snack foods, fried chicken bundles, and plenty of pasta-shaped candles.
A whole picnic basket full of candles
A hot dog, fries, and more on the side
A tempting pepperoni pizza
The fried-chicken fan
Snack mix for movie night
You dream of bucatini
Ode to farfalle
The Fruits and Vegetables
The avocado candle walked so that the romanesco candle could run. Fruit- and vegetable-shaped candles are looking more hyper-specific than ever, and sure would look cute on a kitchen shelf.
You love ‘Pee-Wee’s Playhouse’
An homage to romanesco
Asparagus taper candle substitutes
Halfway to a caprese
You double the garlic in every recipe
You’re corny
Beverages
You’re going to need a drink-shaped candle to wash down those flammable fried chicken pieces, after all. Champagne and coffee take center stage here (and how nice that there’s nothing to uncork?).
You have something to celebrate
For the espresso martini devotee
