Learn how to make powdered sugar at home! Also known as confectioner's sugar, it's the secret to making gooey brownies, luscious frosting, and more.
Who else has a bag of powdered sugar in their pantry that they’ve been working through foryears? Powdered sugar isn’t something I use often, but every once in a while, I need a cup to make perfect gooey brownies or luscious cream cheese frosting. When I add it to the grocery list, I dread watching another bag sit in the cupboard as I make my way through it at an agonizing pace.
But all that’s about to change! I don’t know what took me so long, but Ifinally learned how to make powdered sugar at home. Seriously, this recipe’s a game changer. Gone are the days of hauling an ancient sack of confectioner’s sugar (yes, they’re the same!) out of the pantry every time I make carrot cake. Now, I can make the exactly the amount of powdered sugar I need for a given recipe. And the best part? It only requires 2 ingredients and 1 minute.
How to Make Powdered Sugar
To make powdered sugar at home, you’ll need two ingredients: granulated sugar and cornstarch. Use 1 tablespoon cornstarch for every cup of sugar. My recipe below calls for 2 cups sugar, but feel free to scale it up or down depending on the size of your blender and the quantity of powdered sugar you need. Expect the amount of sugar you start with to double. For example, if you start with 2 cups granulated sugar, you’ll end up with 4 cups confectioner’s sugar.
Add the granulated sugar and cornstarch to a powerful blender or food processor, and blend for 30 seconds, until the sugar is white and fluffy.
Use it right away, or store it in an airtight container at room temperature for later use. If it’s lumpy, be sure to sift it before you use it. That’s it!
Favorite Powdered Sugar Recipes
So you learned how to make powdered sugar…now what do you do with it?
First and foremost, confectioner’s sugar is what makes icings and frostings thick and sweet. Find it in my vegan frosting recipe, or in the glazes and icings that accompany these baked goods:
It’s also a valuable ingredientincertain baked goods. For example, it enhances the chewy, fudgy texture of these homemade brownies and these vegan brownies.
Last but not least, a dusting of confectioner’s sugar adds a little extra something to any stack of pancakes or French toast. Sprinkle it over my classic French toast, this French toast bake, or any of these pancake recipes:
Yum!
More Easy Baking Basics
If you loved learning how to make powdered sugar, try making these baking basics next:
How to Make Powdered Sugar
This homemade powdered sugar recipe is SO easy - you'll never get the store bought kind again! Use it in any recipe that calls for powdered sugar, icing sugar, or confectioner's sugar. Find some of my favorites in the post above.
Instructions
Place the sugar and cornstarch in a high speed blender and blend for 30 seconds or until fluffy.
Store in an airtight container. If the powdered sugar gets lumpy, sift before using.
Notes
Yield: about 4 cups powdered sugar
FAQs
The magic ratio is 1 cup granulated sugar to 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Combine the two in a high-powered blender like a Vitamix, a food processor, or spice grinder, then blitz away until you have a soft, powdery consistency—the total time could be several minutes, depending on the power of your machine.
How much powdered sugar is equivalent to 1 cup of granulated sugar? ›
Generally, it's recommended to use 1 cup of granulated sugar for 1 3/4 cups of powdered sugar. A more accurate (and easier) way to substitute the sugars is based on weight, not volume. If a recipe calls for 1 cup of powdered sugar (4 ounces, or 113 grams), you should use 4 ounces of granulated sugar.
How do you keep powdered sugar from melting on lemon bars? ›
To Keep Powdered Sugar from Melting, Add Cornstarch
Powdered sugar already contains cornstarch, and adding a little extra makes your powdered sugar last longer.
What is a substitute for 1 cup of powdered sugar? ›
Also worth mentioning: If you're out of powdered sugar, but have granulated sugar on hand, whiz 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon cornstarch in a food processor for each cup of powdered sugar you need.
Can you make powdered sugar by just blending sugar? ›
Pour granulated sugar into a blender or food processor. Blend the sugar until it is a fine, fluffy powdered sugar. The more refined, whiter sugars make the fluffiest powdered sugars. Use powdered sugar immediately or save it for later.
Can you ground up sugar to make powdered sugar? ›
You can also use a coffee grinder, spice grinder, or mortar and pestle, but it may take a bit longer to process. Grind for 1–2 minutes until the sugar transforms into a fine white powder, then sift through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any remaining large granules.
Is there a difference between confectioners sugar and powdered sugar? ›
No. Although the terms are often colloquially used interchangeably, they are not the same. Powdered sugar is similar to confectioners' sugar but without the cornstarch. Because the words are often mistaken for each other, you will even find "powdered sugar" in the grocery store that is actually confectioners' sugar.
What happens if you use granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar? ›
"Regular sugar has a larger crystal size than powdered sugar," he explains. "This means, cup for cup, there would be more sugar in a cup of powdered sugar than in a cup of regular sugar." In addition to inconsistent measurements, regular sugar won't dissolve and mix as well into recipes like frosting and icing.
What is 1 cup of powdered sugar? ›
Common Measurement Conversions for Baking
| 1 cup flour | 120 grams | 4.2 oz |
|---|
| 1 cup sour cream | 240 grams | 8.6 oz |
| 1 cup sugar | 200 grams | 7.1 oz |
| 1 cup brown sugar | 220 grams | 7.8 oz |
| 1 cup powdered sugar | 115 grams | 4.1 oz |
4 more rowsAt the heart of this confectioner's complaint is cornstarch, which is added to powdered sugar as an anti-caking agent, a role in which it truly shines. Cornstarch is the least hygroscopic* of all starches, which keeps powdered sugar free-flowing and soft.
Yes, it's best to store lemon bars in the refrigerator. To store them, simply cover them with plastic wrap and pop them in the fridge. Stored this way, your lemon bars should keep for about 1 week.
What ingredient keeps powdered sugar from clumping? ›
Cornstarch – this is used to keep the powdered sugar dry and to stop it caking, making it last much longer.
What to do if I don't have powdered sugar? ›
If you don't have powdered sugar on hand, but you have regular granulated sugar, you can grind it in a blender or a food processor until it reaches a powdery consistency.
Does powdered sugar go bad? ›
Confectioners' sugar (also known as powdered sugar) can also last for years if it's stored in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place. However, just like white and brown sugar, if confectioners' sugar is exposed to moisture or air, it won't taste as good.
Is powdered sugar healthier than regular sugar? ›
Is Powdered Sugar Healthy? No. While powdered sugar is a source of quick energy due to its high carbohydrate content, it lacks significant nutritional value. Consuming large amounts of sugar can contribute to weight gain, tooth decay, and increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Is it cheaper to make or buy powdered sugar? ›
One batch of confectioner's sugar requires 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon cornstarch for a total cost of $0.24 cents. This produces two cups of confectioner's sugar. This means that 1 cup of homemade costs just 12 cents, about a third the cost of commercial powdered sugar.
Is powdered sugar just sugar and cornstarch? ›
Like powdered sugar, confectioners' sugar is made of finely ground granulated sugar. However, the key difference is the addition of cornstarch. Adding cornstarch to powdered sugar serves to prevent the sugar from caking up and getting clumpy over time. It protects the integrity of the sugar's powdered form.
Can you make powdered sugar from brown sugar? ›
What Sugar to Use? When it comes to granulated sugar you can use white sugar, raw turbinado sugar or sucanat, as well as maple sugar or coconut sugar. The one sugar that won't work well is brown sugar, which is simply white sugar with molasses added to it, making it a bit too sticky for powdered sugar.
How to make powdered sugar without a sifter? ›
Whisk or fork
Pour the amount of powdered sugar you need for a recipe into a bowl. Gently stir the sugar with a wire whisk or fork to remove the clumps. Stir gently so that the sugar stays in the bowl instead of wafting up into the air.
