Got a cup full of broken crayon stubs? Don’t toss them — melt them down into brand-new custom-shaped crayons. It takes 15 minutes, no special skills, and you can make alphabet letters, shapes, or any silicone-mold shape your kids will love.
To melt crayons in the oven, break them into pieces and place them in an oven-safe silicone mold. Bake at 200°F for 7–12 minutes until fully melted. Low heat for longer is the trick that keeps the wax from bubbling or scorching.
At a glance
- Active time: 15 minutes
- Bake time: 7–12 minutes at 200°F
- Skill level: Easy — adult-led; kids can help break and arrange
- Best for: Custom alphabet crayons, gift crayons, recycling broken crayon stubs
You can use broken leftover crayons or grab a fresh box for cleaner color mixes. We used this technique to make alphabet letter crayons for ABC practice, custom-name crayons as birthday gifts, and a care package for a friend’s kid with a coloring book.
Important safety note: Use only oven-safe silicone molds. Some molds are designed for ice or chocolate only and aren’t rated for oven temperatures. Check the label or packaging.
How to melt crayons in the oven to make new crayons
HOW TO MELT CRAYONS IN THE OVEN
Ingredients
- • Crayons, all the pieces we find unused at home.
- • Silicone molds.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit and spray Silicon molds lightly with cooking spray.
- Peel off the wrapper from the crayon pieces and sort them into heaps of colors.
- Break the crayons into small pieces as needed to fit them into the Silicon mold.
- You can place the crayon pieces in the molds, by color, or mix them to make some multicolored ones.
- Put the pan in the oven for about 10 to 15 minutes until the crayons have completely melted.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. You can put the molds in the freezer to cool faster.
- Flip the mold over to remove the fresh crayons, tapping the Silicon molds to remove them.
- Have fun coloring!
Supplies needed
- Crayons (old or new)
- Oven-safe silicone mold
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Microwave
- Oven
- Baking sheet (to hold the mold)
Step 1: Remove the paper
Removing the paper wrappers by hand takes forever. Here’s the trick that made us 100× faster:
Fill a microwave-safe bowl halfway with water. Microwave for about 1 minute — you want the water warm, not hot (too hot and the crayons will start melting in the bowl). Soak the crayons for a few minutes and the paper peels right off.
Alternative: buy crayons online that come pre-stripped — skip this step entirely.
Step 2: Break the crayons
Break the crayons into small pieces and fill each mold cavity. Don’t overthink color placement — the wax melts and blends in slightly unpredictable ways, which is part of the charm.
This is honestly my favorite part — oddly satisfying, and an unexpected creative outlet for the adult in the room.
Step 3: Melt in the oven
Preheat the oven to 200°F. Place the silicone mold on a baking sheet (silicone is flimsy and you don’t want molten wax sliding out), and bake for 7–12 minutes until fully melted.
If your mold is deep, the wax will sink as it melts. Halfway through baking, you can pull the mold out and add a few more crayon pieces to top off each cavity, then return to the oven.
Step 4: Cool
Once the wax is fully liquid, take the mold out and let it cool. Room temperature works (about an hour), or speed it up by putting the mold in the fridge for 15–20 minutes.
Step 5: Unmold
Pop the crayons out of the silicone gently. If any get stuck — especially shapes with thin parts — run warm water over the back of the mold for a few seconds to loosen them. I broke one letter (the bottom of a U) by yanking too hard, so go slow with delicate shapes.
Step 6: Ready to use
The new crayons are ready. Some may need a quick rub on scrap paper to wear through a thin wax layer on the surface and reach the color underneath.
This project was a hit for letter recognition with my toddler, and the alphabet crayons made adorable personalized gifts for his friends.
Ways to use melted crayons
- Alphabet learning — letter-shaped crayons make ABC practice tactile and fun
- Personalized gifts — spell out a child’s name in letter crayons; add a coloring book for a complete present
- Party favors — themed shapes (stars, hearts, dinosaurs) make memorable take-home favors
- Color-mixing experiments — deliberately combine colors and discover what mixes well
- Sensory-friendly chunky crayons — thick shapes are easier for toddlers and kids with fine-motor challenges to grip than standard skinny crayons
- Holiday ornaments — melt into thin disc shapes with a hole on top for a string
FAQs
What temperature should I melt crayons at?
200°F (95°C). Higher temperatures cause the wax to bubble, scorch, and lose pigment. Low and slow is the right approach.
Can I melt crayons in the microwave instead?
You can, but I don’t recommend it — microwaves heat unevenly, so some spots will scorch while others stay solid. The oven gives a much more even result. Plus, silicone molds aren’t always microwave-safe.
Will the smell linger in my oven?
You’ll get a faint waxy smell while baking, but it dissipates within an hour after you turn the oven off. The smell doesn’t transfer to food cooked afterward.
What if my mold isn’t labeled oven-safe?
Don’t use it. Non-oven-safe silicone can leach or melt at 200°F. Look for molds labeled food-grade or oven-safe; most baking-aisle silicone (the kind you’d use for muffins or chocolate) is fine.
Why do my new crayons feel waxy and not draw well?
There’s often a thin layer of pure wax on the outside surface. Rub the crayon on scrap paper for a few seconds to wear through to the colored core — then they’ll draw normally.
Can kids help?
Absolutely — just keep them away from the hot oven. Kids can soak the crayons, peel the paper, break them into pieces, and arrange them in the mold. The oven step is adult-only.
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