Sugar mice facts for kids
Pink sugar mice, probably strawberry or raspberry flavoured
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| Type | Confectionery |
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| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Main ingredients | Sugar, flavouring, food colouring |
Sugar mice are a fun and traditional sugar candy from the United Kingdom. They are especially popular around the Christmas holidays. These sweet treats are shaped like little mice and are often brightly colored.
Contents
What Are Sugar Mice Made Of?
Sugar mice are mainly made from sugar! The traditional way to make them uses a special kind of sugar paste called fondant. This fondant is created by boiling sugar and water together.
Making Sugar Mice at Home
There's also an easier, no-cook way to make sugar mice, which is great for kids! This method uses icing sugar (which is very fine sugar), egg whites, and golden syrup. These ingredients are mixed to form a thick paste.
Adding Flavors and Colors
You can add different flavours and colors to the sugar paste. For example:
- Pink for strawberry or raspberry flavour.
- Yellow or green for lemon flavour.
- White or yellow for vanilla flavour.
- Orange for orange flavour.
How Are Sugar Mice Shaped?
Once the sugar paste is ready, small pieces are shaped by hand to look like tiny mice.
Giving Them Tails
Each sugar mouse needs a tail! Traditionally, a piece of cotton string was used for the tail. However, today, people often use edible things like licorice to make the tails.
Decorating Your Mice
You can make your sugar mice even more special by decorating them. People often use extra fondant icing, more icing sugar, or even chocolate to add faces or other small details.
Drying and Texture
After they are shaped and decorated, sugar mice need to dry. They are usually left out for one or two days. As they dry, they get their unique texture. It's a bit like fudge – dry and crumbly, but still sweet and delicious!
