DIY Sugar Cubes ~ these fancy sugar cubes are surprisingly easy to make using inexpensive plastic chocolate molds, and can transform morning coffee or afternoon tea into a truly memorable occasion!
The other day I had the most fun I’ve had in a while, some girlfriends and I went on an afternoon tea excursion to the historic Langham Huntington hotel in Pasadena. I could definitely get used to this…we spent a leisurely couple of hours sitting and chatting and being waited on hand and foot.
We started off with a Kir Royale, which is one of my favorite elegant cocktails — Crème de cassis topped off with champagne, and no, it wasn’t 5 o’clock yet!
Langham Hotels and Resorts is a British owned company, and so it makes perfect sense that they would institute the venerable old tradition of Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood at the Langham Huntington. It’s one of the more complete services I’ve experienced, with lots of interesting choices of tea, (I chose the English Floral, a rose, heather, elderflower, and lavender blend) and plenty to eat. I came super hungry, and left super happy! The three tiered tray holds everything from traditional scones and clotted cream to tea sandwiches and pastries. I’m not sure if the other ladies noticed, but I scarfed down one of the smoked salmon on sourdough with caramelized shallot caper cream before we even unfolded our napkins… 🙂
If you live in the area and want to show Mom how much she means to you, I recommend taking her to the Langham…they’re all booked up for this Mother’s Day, but you can give her a rain check. She’ll love it, and so will you.
It’s hard to come off the high of spending a few glorious hours at a luxury hotel, it’s like the letdown after a great vacation…reality settles in like a thud. I kinda wanted to keep the romance alive, so I set right to work creating my own elegant little DIY sugar cubes to make my regular old tea a little more special. They aren’t really cubes, I guess, they’re more like little bon bons, but, whatever. They’re even prettier than the plain paper wrapped ones we had at the Langham! It’s super duper easy, even your toddler can help. You can use them to fancy-up your own afternoon tea, or add them to the breakfast-in-bed tray this Sunday. If you’re the ‘Mom’ in residence, make these and set them out as a hint…
I went a little nutty and made all kinds of flavors, starting with lemon, and then I moved on to rose, orange blossom, lavender, and even jasmine. There’s no end to the fun you can have. But I’m guessing most of you will be happy with plain sugar. The key is that you moisten the sugar ever so slightly with either water, or your flavoring of choice, and then press it firmly into a plastic or silicone mold. You can add a touch of gel paste food coloring if you like.
Flip the mold over and voila! – you’ve got perfect little sugar bon bons. They dry firm in less than an hour, and then you can set them out on a tray or in a bowl. The plain ones will keep indefinitely, but the ‘flavored’ ones will not last as long because the scent and flavors will eventually fade.
There is no trick to these at all, the sugar falls right out of the molds. The only thing you have to do is make sure to mold your sugar while it is still damp, and let the cubes sit, untouched, while they dry, for at least 30 minutes. If you mess up, just scoop up the sugar and remold it.
One of the interesting ‘flavors’ I made was jasmine. I made it the same way I made my lemon sugar for my LEMON SUGAR SHORTBREAD, but instead of lemon rind I processed regular sugar with a handful of blossoms. This would work with honeysuckle, lilac, and lavender too. You can even use raw sugar for this, if you prefer, because the processor will break up the crystals enough for it to mold sharply.
I used my trusty Cuisinart mini food processor to blend up the sugars, and the very same plastic bon bon mold I used in my MEYER LEMON FILLED CHOCOLATES. Any plastic or silicone mold with small openings will do. You can find them at large craft stores.
These DIY sugar cubes are a really straightforward, simple project, it shouldn’t cause you any trouble at all. Whether you’re treating mom, or just kicking back with friends, the only thing you have to decide is…one lump, or two?
tvfgi recommends: fancy chocolate mold
The mold above is the one I used, but there are lots of others for you to experiment with. They’re inexpensive and sturdy, I love them for making chocolate candy, too.
DIY Sugar Cubes for Afternoon Tea
Ingredients
plain sugar cubes
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp water
lemon sugar cubes
- 1/2 cup sugar
- rind from 1/2 lemon I use a serrated vegetable peeler to thinly peel the rid off, just the yellow, not the bitter white part
rose sugar cubes
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp rosewater
- touch of gel paste food coloring optional
Instructions
- For the plain sugar cubes, put the sugar into the bowl of a small food processor and add the water. Process until the sugar is uniformly moist, this will just take about 30 seconds.
- For the lemon sugar, put the sugar into your processor. Add the lemon rind and process until the rind is completely incorporated into the sugar and it is a pale yellow. I give the small machine a little shake now and then to redistribute everything. You don't need the water for this one because the rind adds the moisture.
- For the rose sugar cubes, process the sugar with the rose water.
- Spoon the moist sugar into plastic molds and press in firmly. Use the pads of your fingers to really make sure you've packed it in. The processor will have 'fluffed up' the sugar which is why you need to pack it down.
- To invert the mold you can either do it directly onto a flat surface like your counter top, or you can place something firm and flat over the mold, and invert the mold and the surface together,
- Gently lift the mold so you don't disturb the delicate impressions. Let them sit for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour. They will be firm enough to handle and even stack, carefully!
Reader Rave ~
“Oh my goodness, these are adorable, Sue. My daughter and I were at a French patisserie the other day and she asked me how sugar cubes are made. I am pinning this and getting her to make them!” ~Julia
Don’t forget to pin these DIY Sugar Cubes!
54 Comments
Ashley Watson
September 14, 2019 at 7:00 amThe inner Southern Belle in me is ecstatic right now. Thank you for sharing this. I am hosting a bridal tea tomorrow and this is exactly what I was looking for. Growing up on tea parties with fresh wisteria on the table, big dresses, and being allowed to put 2 cubes in my tiny cup is a favorite memory. 🙂
Sue
September 14, 2019 at 8:01 amYou have to check out my homemade clotted cream, Ashley!! I have a regular oven version and an Instant Pot Version.
Julia Frey
October 2, 2018 at 7:35 amOh my goodness, these are adorable, Sue. My daughter and I were at a French patisserie the other day and she asked me how sugar cubes are made. I am pinning this and getting her to make them!
Sue
October 2, 2018 at 7:37 amThis is such a fun project and I only wish I’d known about it when my girls were little, we would have loved doing it together.
Nicole Lee Bielby
September 20, 2018 at 6:41 pmI am wanting to make peppermint sugar cubes, any advice on the perfect way to make them?
Sue
September 20, 2018 at 8:19 pmI would try using mint extract in place of the water, that should work!
Sue
September 20, 2018 at 8:27 pmAnother interesting idea would be to process the sugar with fresh mint leaves and then mold.
May Ling
August 30, 2018 at 5:24 pmWhere do you find these plastic molds? I bought some but they aren’t as pretty as your molds.
Thank you.
Sue
August 30, 2018 at 5:29 pmI have this one May, you can find it here.
Christine Ashkeboussi
February 3, 2018 at 7:43 pmHello Sue,
I so enjoyed your post and look forward to making my own batch of pretty molded sugar cubes. I’ve been checking online and finding lots of hearts and roses but none as unique as yours. Do you remember exactly where you found them or the manufacturer? Any additional information would be helpful. Kind Regards, Christine
Sue
April 10, 2018 at 12:45 pmHi Christine ~ I believe I got my mold from Chocoley, here.
Sue
January 8, 2019 at 8:36 amI’ve linked to the product just above the recipe in the post.
Patricia D. Pageau
August 2, 2017 at 9:47 amThank you so much for your wonderful recipes! As you, High Tea is a great way to have a relaxing and quite delicious afternoon! I was wondering where did you get your jasmine flowers? I will be trying them for sure I have a “Tea Party” soon. Shall take a try at the clodded cream too. Once you have the “Tea” bug you live from one experience to the next, so wonderful to be served!
Sue
August 2, 2017 at 10:12 amHi Patricia! Thanks for your kind words, and I have a jasmine vine growing in my yard, so I have an endless supply of flowers!
Julie Meadows
June 1, 2017 at 11:16 amHow far in advance can I make these? Will they freeze well?
Sue
June 1, 2017 at 6:26 pmThese will last basically forever, Julie, no need to freeze.
Christie
March 10, 2017 at 3:06 pmCan this be done with Stevia powder?
Sue
March 10, 2017 at 3:19 pmI’m not sure, you’d have to experiment, Christie! And let us know 🙂
Barbara
February 8, 2017 at 5:28 pmThese are so incredibly easy! I adore fancy sugar cubes for afternoon teas but am not that skilled at piping icing onto ready made cubes. These are an effortless option. I have found that 1/2 teaspoon water did not work for me, I had to use a bit more. In fact I grated lemon rind for some and orange rind for others and then squeezed lemon or orange juice in the processor without even measuring it. The texture of wet sand is the key to success. Thanks for the idea, I appreciate being able to make them myself.
Sue
February 8, 2017 at 5:35 pmYou’re so welcome Barbara!
Melissa
August 12, 2016 at 7:01 pmMy boys enjoy a cube or two whenever we’re dining out at a local french restaurant. They are just 6 and 3 but I’d be super mom if I could make them at home for a special treat, esp. if I can find airplane or car molds! Thank you for the awesome post!
Sue
August 12, 2016 at 8:32 pmYou can definitely find those molds, Melissa —https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EFN551G/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thvifrthgris-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01EFN551G&linkId=791dab0a519a160cd5e9c26b32500515
Carla
January 25, 2017 at 10:43 pmI love the pattern of ur blue and white cup, where do you get it, I purchase a plate with the same pattern in a yard sale. But I will love to buy the set.