Build an Ice Castle Out of Sugar Cubes

Looking for a fun alternative to a gingerbread house? Make a castle (or house) out of sugar cubes.

Building with sugar cubes is just like building with blocks. The only limit is your imagination and it's a fun project for the family to do together.

Supplies:

• Sturdy cardboard, foam board or wood for your base
• Sugar cubes
• Assorted candy for decoration
• Royal icing (Recipe included below)
• Pastry bag or plastic zip lock bag
• Decorating tips
• Optional LED candle to put inside your finished castle

First up, mix up some royal icing.

• 3 Tablespoons of meringue powder
• 4 cups of confectioner’s sugar (about 1 pound)
• 5 Tablespoons of warm water

Beat all ingredients in a stand mixer on low for 12 minutes

Determine where you will place your structure and trace the outline of the walls on the base. Fill your pastry bag with royal icing and draw a line on top of your traced line with the icing.

Start stacking your sugar cubes, one layer at a time, using the icing as mortar. Add windows and additional details along the way.

Some of our favorite items to use for embellishments are: Jolly Rancher candies (these make great “stained glass” for your windows), Hershey Kisses, gumdrops, licorice, starlight peppermints, pretzels, graham crackers and chocolates that are shaped and coated to look like rocks. They make great sidewalks. You can also color your royal icing and make ponds with skaters, trees, and other details.

Place your finished castle (house) on your holiday buffet for everyone to enjoy!