Sugar cubes usually conjure up images of friendly horses and tea with the Queen, but the fun-sized morsels can be used for so much more! From sprucing up classic cocktails to giving gift-ready mason jars a homemade touch, there’s more than one reason to keep homemade sugar cubes on hand.
How to Make Sugar Cubes
Ingredients
- Sugar*
- Water
- Coloring (optional)
- Flavoring (optional)
* Pure granulated sugar works best. Find our guide to sugar here.
Instructions
Step 1: Water It Down
Pour your sugar into a bowl and add water until the sugar is just moist. You’ll want to create an even, crumbly texture. If it comes out too watery, add a touch more sugar. Too dry? Sprinkle in some water.
Step 2: Make It Colorful (Optional)
If you want your cubes to pop with vivid color, add a drop of food coloring and stir it into the sugar-and-water mix. It’s best to start small and add more coloring as needed to avoid making the hue too dark. Find the right food coloring for your project.
Step 3: Add Some Flavor (Optional)
Take sweet-tooth satisfaction to the next level by adding flavor to your sugar cubes. Try a splash of vanilla extract, rose water or lemon juice for an easy-peasy improvement. If the additional liquid waters things down, mix in more sugar until the texture is perfect.
Step 4: Make Your Shapes
Use a spoon to place your sugary mixture into a mold. Try using a small ice cube tray, or create fun shapes with a candy mold. Whatever mold you use, make sure you pack the sugar firmly so the cubes hold their shape. Remove excess wet sugar from the tops of the molds with a pastry scraper or brush.
If you don’t have a mold on hand, you can spread the mixture about a half-inch thick on a sheet pan and score with a knife.
Step 5: Let Them Dry
Let the cubes dry completely before removing them from the mold (or cutting into cubes if you didn’t use a mold). The sugar’s consistency, humidity levels and size of the molds can all affect drying times, so we recommend leaving them out overnight at room temperature.
What to Do with Sugar Cubes
How to Use Them
Your homemade sugar cubes are ready to go! Serve them on their own, pair with homemade coffee creamers or make them even more decadent with Christmas decorations.
How to Store Sugar Cubes
Your unused cubes can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two years.
Drop a Cube in Your Fancy Coffee
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