How to Make Colored Sugar Cubes

Colored sugar cubes can be used for more things than white ones.

Sugar cubes can present you with many more options than just using them to sweeten drinks. Sugar cubes, when colored, can also be used in many different craft and food decorating projects. Finding pre-made sugar cubes can be difficult, but finding colored pre-made sugar cubes can be even harder. You can make your own colored sugar cubes, and even make a variety of different cube sizes. With the right guidance, your options with colored sugar cubes are plentiful.

Things You'll Need

• Ice cube trays
• Plastic zip-lock baggies
• Dropper
• White granulated sugar
• Liquid food coloring
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoons
• Cups, 1 per color
• Butter knife
• Piece of cardboard, size of trays
• Non-stick cookie sheet
• Oven

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees. Pour sugar into a measuring cup, filling to the 2-cup mark.

2. Scoop and measure out 2 tbsp. of sugar from the measuring cup. Add this smaller amount into a plastic zip-lock baggie.

3. Measure out 4 tsp. of liquid food coloring into a cup.

4. Use the dropper to add one drop of food coloring into the baggie of sugar, zip the baggie closed.

5. Shake the bag and carefully work the food coloring through the sugar by hand, kneading the baggie. Add one drop of food coloring to the baggie at a time to achieve the darkness you desire. The sugar should have a moistened consistency by the time you are finished.

6. Scoop out the colored sugar and place into the ice cube trays, packing tightly.

7. Use the butter knife to level the top of the sugar in the trays.

8. Place a piece of cardboard over the top of the ice cube tray and flip over to release the sugar cubes onto the cardboard. Tap the bottom of the tray gently if needed.

9. Place your colored sugar cubes on the non-stick cookie sheet and bake in the oven for five minutes. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and allow the cubes to cool completely.

Tips & Warnings

• For multiple colors, repeat the whole process, using clean ice cube trays and separate baggies for each color.

• Add the drops of food coloring down the side of the baggie on the inside instead of directly on the sugar.

• You can also let your sugar cubes air dry for five hours after you remove them from the trays instead of baking them.

References

• From Karen's Kitchen: Regular Sugar Mold Recipe
• From Karen's Kitchen: Making Sugar Molds

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Domino Sugar: Building with Sugar Cubes