There’s something wonderfully charming about a miniature Christmas house, especially one with snowy white walls and a red-and-white peppermint roof. This sugar cube house takes familiar kitchen ingredients and turns them into a festive cottage, complete with candy-trimmed windows and a little chimney. It’s the sort of Christmas craft that makes you want to clear the table, put on some music, and spend an afternoon creating.

What caught my eye is the texture of the walls. The sugar pieces look like tiny white bricks, giving the house a lovely sense of detail before the decorating even begins. Add the striped roof and thick white icing snow, and you have a cottage that looks ready for a Christmas storybook.

This project was originally shared by Martha Stewart, with the source credited to Martha Stewart Living Television. You can still explore the archived sugar cube house tutorial for its materials and construction instructions.

A Christmas Building Project with Plenty of Character

The original method uses sugar cubes as building blocks and thick royal icing to hold them together. Candy provides the architectural details, from the roof decoration to the window surrounds.

Unlike decorating a ready-built house, this project lets you enjoy constructing the walls as well. It rewards patience, so I’d treat it as a leisurely craft session rather than something to squeeze in between Christmas errands.

Before beginning, read through the archived instructions and plan where the finished house will sit. Building on a suitable base from the start will save you from trying to move a delicate cottage later.

Decorating Your Snowy Cottage

The pictured peppermint roof is my favourite feature. Its red-and-white stripes stand out beautifully against the white walls, while the icing gives the impression of snow slipping over the roof’s edge.

For your own decorating scheme, choose a small selection of colours. Red and white give a classic Christmas look, while pastel sweets could create a softer storybook cottage. Try arranging your decorations before attaching them so you can decide how much detail you want.

Children and grandchildren could help plan the colours and select candies, with an adult handling cutting and structural assembly. There’s plenty of fun in choosing the little details, even for someone who isn’t building the walls.

A Display House Rather Than a Fully Edible Treat

Although many materials are edible, the original construction includes cardboard supports for the roof and chimney. Treat the completed house as a decorative Christmas craft rather than something to serve and eat as a whole.

I’d display it on a sideboard or a small table where everyone can admire the windows, snowy roof, and chimney. A simple setting will let the house remain the centre of attention.

For another festive cottage idea, take a look at these stroopwafel house mug toppers. They bring the same miniature-house charm to a cozy Christmas drink.

What I love most about this sugar cube cottage is the invitation to slow down and make something detailed with your hands. It doesn’t need to look exactly like the photograph to feel special. Your choice of colours and candy decorations will give it a personality of its own—and perhaps make it the beginning of a new family Christmas tradition.

Original project credit: Martha Stewart / Martha Stewart Living Television.