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These snickerdoodle sugar cubes add the flavor of your favorite holiday cookie to any cup of coffee! Keep them on hand for yourself or give a bunch as a fun holiday gift!
I know what you’re thinking…”What the heck are snickerdoodle sugar cubes?”!
A couple of years ago, I started making my own sugar cubes. First, I used regular sugar just to test it out, but then I started making different versions.
For example, you can use your vanilla sugar to make vanilla sugar cubes! Or different spices, extracts, and more.
But for the holidays, what if we go all out and make snickerdoodle sugar cubes? I love their cinnamon sugar flavor, and often make snickerdoodle blondies, but you can do so much more!
They are:
- Absolutely adorable
- Extremely easy to make
- Unlike anything your friends and family will have ever received before.
Plus, they are perfect for dropping in a mug of coffee to add a little holiday fun!
This is just one of 55+ homemade Christmas gift ideas to explore, including many more fun recipes like this!
Ingredients
- Brown sugar – You have to use sugar to make sugar cubes, but you can use different types! By combining brown sugar and white sugar, you get a really nice texture and color plus a little extra flavor.
- White sugar
- Vanilla extract – My homemade Bourbon vanilla extract is my favorite for this, but you can use any. It will dampen the sugar to make it hold its shape in the molds.
- Cinnamon – Use ground cinnamon or your favorite spice blend, like chai spice, pumpkin pie spice, etc. This can be adjusted to your preference, too. See my notes in the recipe card for more details!
Where did you get that mold?
This is the number one question I always get when I post things like this!
I have ones like these for making regular cubes (although they aren’t perfectly cubed shape; they’re a little shorter).
But since these are for the holidays, I pulled out a silicone ornament mold I got at a craft store a couple of years ago.
Something like these holiday-themed silicone candy molds would work well, although you can use any shape you’d like.
How to Make Snickerdoodle Sugar Cubes
Step 1: Combine sugars, extract, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Stir to combine.
Step 2: Add the sugar mixture to your mold. Press down with your spoon or hands to compress the sugar in the mold.
Step 3: Press down with your spoon or hands to compress the sugar in the mold.
Step 4: Use a butter knife or bench scraper to flatten the back to make sure they have clean edges after you remove them from the mold.
Step 5: To dry the cubes, you can either put the mold in a dehydrator at 135F for 1-2 hours. If using the oven, set the heat to 170F and crack the door open several inches. Dry for about 1 hour in the oven.
They will feel firm to the touch when they are done.
Step 6: Once the cubes are fully dry and hardened, remove them from the molds. Store in an airtight container (like a glass mason jar) and add to coffee or tea to add a little sweetness and flavor!
Free Printable Gift Tags
To make these sugar cubes easy for gifting, I put together printable gift tags. Just click the button below to view the file, then download and print on cardstock. Easy peasy!
Storing Suggestions
Once hardened, the sugar cubes are shelf-stable and can last indefinitely. For the best flavor, I like to use them within 6 months to a year.
Just make sure you store them in an airtight container. Any ambient moisture may cause them to become soggy.
Tips & Variations
- The drying time will vary depending on the size of your cubes. My larger ornament cubes took about 2.5 hours in the dehydrator while the little cubes were done in about an hour.
- Change the sugar. You can use all brown sugar, all white sugar, or even different types of sugar, like demerara.
How to Serve
You can use these just like any other sugar cubes, which are generally used for sweetening coffee or tea.
I like to use the little cubes because then you can adjust the sweetness gradually, while larger cubes or shapes may be too much for some people.
More Homemade Holiday Gifts
If you’re giving homemade sugar cubes, you may also want to make jars of spiced Christmas coffee. It’s right in the same general category, and has been my go-to coffee all December!
I’ve also got a recipe for gingerbread coffee creamer, which has all those warm cozy spices, too.
And to serve with the coffee? Give these cranberry white chocolate muffins in a jar or a box of honey gingerbread. Perfect for dunking in coffee!
If you made this recipe, please leave a comment or ask a question below! I’d love to hear what you think or troubleshoot any issues.
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Homemade Snickerdoodle Sugar Cubes
Equipment
- 1 silicone mold ; depending on the size of the mold and how many cubes you want, you may need more than one
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 – 1 tbsp cinnamon, (see notes below)
Instructions
- Combine sugars, extract, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Stir to combine.1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup white sugar, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 – 1 tbsp cinnamon
- Add the sugar mixture to your mold. Press down with your spoon or hands to compress the sugar in the mold.
- Use a butter knife or bench scraper to flatten the back of the mold to make sure the sugar cubes have clean edges after you remove them from the mold.
- To dry the cubes, you can either put the mold in a dehydrator at 135F for 1-2 hours. If using the oven, set the heat to 170F and crack the door open several inches. Dry for about 1 hour in the oven.
- Once the cubes are fully dry and hardened, remove them from the molds.
- Store in an airtight container (like a glass mason jar) and add to coffee or tea to add a little sweetness and flavor!
Notes
Did you try this recipe?
Post a photo and tag @milkglasshome!Pin this recipe for later!
I have been making all kinds of sugar cubes this holiday season, but I haven’t used brown sugar yet. I air dry mine overnight (it makes the house smell so good) do you think brown sugar will set up like regular if I continue with air drying?
Sounds like you’ve been having fun! I think so, but I imagine they may take a little longer. Worth a try!
I have been having so much fun! Ok, I will definitely be making these and will report back on how long it takes to air dry.
By the way, your Spiced Christmas Coffee has been a huge hit with our family and friends this year!
Aw, yay! I love that! I had a little bit of the sugar cube mixture remaining after I made another batch, and left it out overnight just to see (not compressed in cubes or anything). It dried out and hardened nicely, so I suspect it will work just fine! So glad the coffee has been a hit with your crew. 🙂
Ok, I decided to follow your directions, drying them out in the oven. They turned out great! I made a batch of cubes to gift and a batch in a sheet pan to crumble and keep on hand to sprinkle on oatmeal or to use in my homemade cocoa mixes.
I opted to use the full tablespoon and you are right, it is cinnamon forward, but I don’t mind at all. Give me all of the cinnamon!
Thank you so much for sharing. I am making one of your cookie recipes tomorrow. We are having a Milk Glass Christmas!
Laura, Awesome! I’m glad the oven worked well for you, and that you like the flavor. Saving some for oatmeal sounds like such a good idea. Thanks for letting me be a little part of your holiday season this year. I hope you have a Merry Christmas!
I would love to try these. I have homemade cinnamon extract could that be used instead of the vanilla. I love snickerdoodle cookies, so I am wanting to try these cubes.
Perfect! That sounds delicious!