DIY: Sugar Mold Centerpiece

We have such a cool DIY to share with you today! Our historical sugar molds are the star of this really simple do-it-yourself centerpiece. Personally, I didn’t know what a sugar mold was until I did a little research while prepping for this post.  We figured you might be interested, so let’s start with a little history lesson! Sugar molds were used beginning in medieval times through the 19th century to form cones of sugar from raw sugar cane syrup. The syrup was poured into the depressions in the wood block and once dry, it formed raw brown sugar cones. Up until the 1820’s the sugar was chipped off of the cone and then manually sifted to get the desired fineness. Of course, as time went on, more advanced sugar processing methods were developed and the term “granulated sugar” became the norm. Brown sugar molds are still used for the traditional tequila making process, but for the most part, sugar molds are making a comeback in interiors and decor. Which leads us to A LA CRATE owner Sarah’s very cool idea to use succulents, moss, and candles to create an elegant, unique centerpiece. Intrigued? Me too.

Okay, let’s get started! First things first, just so you know, A LA CRATE’s sugar mold rentals all have 12 holes. To begin, place sugar mold glass liners (available to rent from ALC for 50¢ each) in as many holes as you would like for tea lights (make sure to use tea lights, not votives). The liners are key because they make it super easy to pop out the tea lights when they cool. It is also important to get good quality tea lights that will burn for as many hours as you need. We have found that soy based ones work great for longevity.