How to Make Sugar Cubes Recipe

Learn how to make sugar cubes and impress everyone at your next cocktail party or tea party! These colorful, flavorful treats are surprisingly easy to make, and they’ll take your cocktails and tea to the next level.

You probably know by now that I love to think through every element of a cocktail and break down how it’s made.

From homemade simple syrup to homemade grenadine, so many of our beloved cocktail ingredients can be made from scratch.

To me, a true craft cocktail is layered with hand-crafted or well-planned ingredients.

Is it okay to buy store bought and cut corners?

Absolutely! And I do it all the time.

But if I have the time, I love creating a handmade element to serve to friends when I make them a cocktail or have them over to tea.

Homemade sugar cubes are just so much fun.

I remember my mom, a cordon bleu chef, making cake decorations like flowers out of sugar. Cake decorators can make some incredible things with sugar!

Sugar cubes are just the tip of the iceberg.

How to make sugar cubes

Making sugar cubes is rather easy. You need sugar, of course, and a tiny little bit of water and a little bit of egg white from a pasteurized egg.

Flavoring and food coloring are totally optional, so add those if you wish. (I have some suggestions below!)

I do find that if you are making multiple flavors, the color helps you to distinguish them, but a guessing game could be a whole other element if you choose!

The texture of the mixture should be sandy and not too wet, as if you were building a sandcastle.

If the mixture is too watery, the cubes won’t hold their shape. But don’t worry, just stir in some more sugar until you reach the right consistency.

Then, pour the mixture onto a parchment- or silicone-lined baking sheet, pat it into a slab and cut it into shapes like cubes.

How to make sugar cubes into shapes

If you like the cube look, you’ll use a knife to cut them into even strips one way, then the other.

Slide a sheet of grid paper or notebook paper under your parchment if you want some help making straight, even lines.

Mine are shaped like stars because I like how cute they look, plus I find a cookie cutter is a little bit easier than cutting them into identical cubes.

And actually, I used a star-shaped fondant cutter, not a cookie cutter, to make these. They are small, about 3/4 inches across.

How to flavor sugar cubes

I made six flavors, but you can make as many or as few as you like.

You can use extracts, essential oils and cocktail bitters. Here are a few ideas:

• Angostura bitters
• Other flavors of bitters
• Vanilla extract
• Lemon extract
• Lime extract
• Lavender extract
• Peppermint extract
• Cinnamon extract
• Almond extract
• Orange blossom water
• Rose water

You don’t need a lot to get a little bit of flavor in each cube. Just a drop or two will work.

How to color sugar cubes

I use liquid food coloring for my homemade sugar cubes.

If you desire a lighter color, you just need a drop, two at most, because it will go pretty far. You can stir in extra sugar to lighten the hue, if you need to.

How to use sugar cubes

Sugar cubes are delicious in all kinds of drinks. You can even enjoy them at teatime.

One of my favorite ways is with a super simple champagne cocktail, featuring a spirit, some sort of sparkling wine, a sugar cube and a dash of bitters.

Vodka, gin and brandy are great choices, but you can even make a champagne cocktail with bourbon.

I once put together a champagne cocktail bar for a party, where my guests could choose their preferred spirit and a homemade, flavored sugar cube.

They had so much fun trying different combinations!

Try them in a classic cocktail like an old-fashioned, or try this recipe for a rye and cider cocktail.

There are so many possibilities!

Planning a dinner party and need some inspiration?

How about looking for a new slow cooker dinner idea?

We’ve got you covered in our ever-growing Facebook group! If you’re not a member yet, why not?!

We’re chatting cooking techniques, dessert ideas, and everything in between. If you’re already a member, invite your friends to join us too!