Tuesday 11 December 2012

Christmas Spice Sugar Cubes




There is more to Christmas than the big day. Decorating and getting in the festive mood is all part of it.

For the tree, we draped bright white lights and twined beaded ribbons around its branches. Hung glittering icicles, snowflakes and white iridescence baubles. Balanced the Christmas Monkey on top. Brushed my hand across the needles and breathed in its earthy pine scent.




Pinned snowflakes and baubles around the book cases and hung prancing reindeers off picture frames.

After a bit of scavenging in the park, I finished the door wreath. Restrung the plain white star lights in the windows. Baked gingerbread.

These are the parts of Christmas that I love. Clear blue skied winter mornings, looking across the Kentish downs with a cup of Christmas blend. Just pop one of these spicy sugar cubes in for that extra festive kick.



Makes 15

Ingredients
70gr granulated white sugar
1tsp Christmas Spice Mix*
2 drops orange extract
Water



Method

1, In a small bowl stir the sugar and spice mix together.
2, Drop in the orange extract and a few drops of water. Stir this together, gradually adding drops of water until you have a damp snow like consistency.




3, Press firmly into moulds and leave somewhere warm to dry out completely for two to three hours.
4, Remove carefully from the moulds and store in an airtight container until use.




(*)

Christmas Spice Mix

I make this in bulk on Stir up Sunday. It's great for anything Christmassy from puddings, mincemeat and has even been known to make its way onto our Boxing Day ham.

The basic recipe is 2 tbsps of cinnamon, all spice, ginger and nutmeg together with two ground cloves. I added a teaspoon of vanilla powder on this years blend. Can be easily scaled up.

12 comments:

  1. HOW do you get your cat to stay put for that? Mine runs a mile at any sort of decoration/costuming.

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  2. Move silently and fast, generally while they are sleeping. Like a ninja. Get the camera ready, poke them to wake them up and snap.

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  3. ooo fabulous, I'm seeing these dropped into porrige all over the Christmas season!
    Lovely recipe

    x

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    1. Thank you Stephanie, I hadnt even thought about putting these on porridge! Great idea!

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  4. Hannah, theses sound perfect, I'm going to make some tomorrow and add little jars of them to chutneys & Christmas jam gifts.

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    1. Thank you Jude, they'll make such a cute little gift - I'm on the hunt for some more chocolate moulds, hopefully some christmassy ones!

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  5. I was just thinking these would make a wonderful gift, but couldn't think what I'd suggest people use them for. But now I've seen the porridge suggestion - fabulous :)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Choclette, I love the porridge idea too - maybe not pack the sugar in so tightly though, so they could be crumbled over.

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  6. These are brilliant - what a great idea. I love your cat's face with the lights!

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  7. That's really clever. If you make hot chocolate by mixing hot milk with cocoa you could sweeten it with these.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you :) love the idea of using them to sweeten proper cocoa!

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