Today, I’m sharing a super simple tutorial on how to make your own powdered sugar. Your powdered sugar will be ready in just a few minutes! You’ll just need a reliable blender or food processor.
You may know this sugar as confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar, but I grew up calling it “powdered sugar.” My grandmother makes the best frosting with it.
Powdered sugar has a not-so-great reputation because it’s typically made out of refined sugar, which is then mixed with corn starch to prevent caking. Since we’re making ours fresh, you can skip the corn starch when you make it at home.
Plain white sugar makes the fluffiest homemade powdered sugar. Or, you can use more natural, less refined options such as coconut sugar. Coconut sugar actually contains trace minerals like iron and zinc, which are lacking in regular sugar. Let’s get to it!
If you have run out of icing sugar or can’t find any to buy, you can make your own by whizzing granulated or caster sugar in a food processor, powerful blender, standard blender, coffee or spice grinder, or more laboriously, in a mortar and pestle.
Uses for Powdered Sugar
Life’s too short to go without the occasional glazed treat. Here are a few delicious options:
How to Make Powdered Sugar
- Author: Cookie and Kate
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 3 minutes
- Yield: Varies
- Category: Tutorial
- Method: Blended
- Diet: Vegan
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Homemade powdered sugar is so easy to make! Learn how in this simple tutorial. Use any sugar you have on hand (healthier options like coconut sugar and turbinado sugar work great!). One cup sugar will yield about two cups powdered sugar.
- Approximately half as much granulated sugar as you need powdered sugar (I’ve had best results with cane sugar, turbinado sugar and coconut sugar but even brown sugar and sucanat work!)
- 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. You may want to sift the sugar before use for clump free, super fluffy sugar.
Make it vegan: Use sugar that is labeled vegan/hasn’t been filtered through bone char.
How to Make Powdered Sugar Icing
FAQ
Can I make my own powdered sugar?
What is the closest thing to icing sugar?
Is icing sugar just ground up sugar?
Can You Make your own icing sugar?
Yes, you can make your own icing sugar at home by blending granulated sugar in a high-speed blender until it becomes a fine powder. This homemade icing sugar can be used in various recipes such as frostings, glazes, and icings. It is also a cost-effective option when compared to store-bought icing sugar.
What is a substitute for icing sugar?
You can replace icing sugar with lump sugar, stevia, agave syrup, sweeteners, or honey. Your choice will depend on your tastes, preferences, and if there is any underlying pathology.
How do you make icing sugar at home?
There are a few different methods you can use to make your own icing sugar at home. One method involves using regular granulated sugar and a blender or food processor. Simply add the sugar to the blender or food processor and blend until it becomes a fine powder. You can also add a small amount of cornstarch to the mixture to help prevent clumping.
Can you make icing sugar from scratch?
You can make icing sugar at home from scratch! This will make pure icing sugar, but if you’re looking for the commercial quality that you know from the store, you can also add one teaspoon of corn starch per cup of sugar. The corn starch will make the sugar, turned icing, much fluffier and more like the store brands you might be used to.