CANDY CANE SUGAR CUBES

Candy Cane Sugar Cubes image

These fanciful sugar cubes are sure to make a splash at your next holiday tea. They're sweet additions to your table and also fabulous gifts.-Kara Cashion, Ottawa, Ontario

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h

Yield 10-1/2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) sugar cubes
2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons water
4-1/2 teaspoons meringue powder
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
DECORATING:
2-1/8 teaspoons water, divided
Yellow and red paste food coloring
Very small new paintbrush

Steps:

Arrange cubes in a single layer in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Push cubes to one side; pack into pan with rolled-up foil to stabilize cubes for decorating., In a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, water, meringue powder and cream of tartar; beat on low speed just until combined. Beat on high for 4-5 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Keep unused icing covered at all times with a damp cloth., For decorating, remove 2/3 cup icing to a small bowl; add 2 teaspoons water. Add a very small amount of yellow food coloring to tint icing pale ivory so it will show on white cubes. (Leave icing white if using brown cubes.) , Cut a very small hole in the corner of a resealable plastic bag or insert tip #2 into a pastry bag. Fill bag with icing; pipe each sugar cube with a candy cane shape., Let dry at room temperature for at least 2 hours or overnight before painting stripes on canes. (For faster drying, heat oven to 150°, turn oven off and place tray of cubes in oven for 1 hour.), For stripes, add 1/8 teaspoon water to 1 teaspoon icing. Add enough red food coloring to make a dark red. With paintbrush, add stripes to canes. Let stand until dry.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 22 calories, Fat 0 fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 1mg sodium, Carbohydrate 6g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 0 protein.