Many desserts and baking recipes involve powdered sugar, or confectioners' sugar as we like to call it. If you encounter this ingredient and don’t have any lying around, don’t panic! We’re here to help you find a powdered sugar substitute without going to the store, so you can get your homemade treats done in time for that bake sale, birthday party or holiday celebration. Show
What is powdered sugar?In order to understand what substitutes make sense or what your own DIY powdered sugar should look like, it’s helpful to know exactly what it is. Essentially, powdered sugar is just granulated sugar that has been ground down and milled into a very fine powdered form. Since it’s so fine, it dissolves much more easily than regular sugar crystals, making it ideal for frosting, icing and glazing baked goods (that’s why you’ll see it referred to as confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar). When you see a white dusting on top of sweets, that’s likely powdered sugar, there to add a bit of sweetness and decoration. How to make powdered sugarIf you’re a seasoned baker, you probably have powdered sugar in stock at home. If you don’t, or you’ve run out with no time to run to the store, there is a way to make your own powdered sugar. All you need is regular granulated sugar, cornstarch and some sort of grinding mechanism, like a blender, food processor or even a coffee grinder. Ingredients:
Simply grind the granulated sugar until it becomes a fine powder, sift out any larger particles with a fine mesh strainer or sifter if possible and thoroughly combine with ground cornstarch. Be sure not to grind the sugar for longer than a minute at a time, as it tends to generate heat. Then use the same amount of this mixture as the recipe calls for powdered sugar. Powdered sugar substitutesDepending on your reason for needing a powdered sugar substitute, there are a variety of options that serve as adequate replacements. Coconut Sugar If you’re looking for a healthier option, coconut sugar is a bit less sweet and has a lower glycemic index than traditional white sugars, and can serve as the primary swap ingredient. Just combine 1 cup of coconut sugar with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch or arrowroot powder and blend if possible. Hot Cocoa Mix Got any hot cocoa mix lying around? Ideally for chocolate desserts, you can use those packets in a one-to-one trade for powdered sugar. You may want to grind it if you have the tools, just to make sure it’s as fine as possible. Dry Milk Powder For a powdered sugar alternative that will achieve a similar texture but with far less sugar, try dry milk powder. Blend 1 cup of dry milk powder with 1 cup of cornstarch, add sweetener if desired and use this mixture in the same amount as powdered sugar. Just be aware that milk powder absorbs more liquid than powdered sugar, so you may want to add a bit more liquid to the recipe for an ideal consistency. Granulated Sugar Don’t stress if you find yourself in a pinch with no blender, cornstarch or anything that can help you carry out one of these swaps. It is possible to simply use granulated sugar in a slightly smaller amount, though you’ll have to accept that the texture may not be ideal, especially for icing or other recipes that are supposed to be super smooth. Just substitute 1 cup of granulated sugar for every 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar and proceed as directed. Loren Cecil joined the Good Housekeeping team as a freelance contributor in November 2021 after interning in the Test Kitchen while in graduate school. She has an undergraduate sociology degree from Tulane University and a Masters in Journalism from NYU. Her gourmet mom and four years in New Orleans fostered her passion for food and cooking, which she uses to craft mouthwatering write-ups for the Food Department. This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Here’s what to do if you run out of powdered sugar.Published on December 9, 2021 It's easy to take powdered sugar for granted...until you don't have it. The quietly dependable ingredient can add just the right touch of airy sweetness to your baked goods and frostings. When it isn't there, it really puts a damper on your baking plans. This is especially true when you're pressed for time and can't drop everything for an emergency trip to the store. If this has ever happened to you, you probably eyeballed your pantry in search of any easy substitution. If you're out of powdered sugar but you've got regular sugar on hand, you may be wondering if the two are interchangeable. To find out if you can substitute powdered sugar and regular sugar, we consulted with Felicia Howard of Felicia's Cake Factory in Macon, Georgia, and Will Drake of Hero Doughnuts and Buns with locations in Birmingham, Atlanta, and Charleston. What is the Difference Between Regular Sugar and Powdered Sugar?According to Howard, powdered sugar (sometimes referred to as confectioners' sugar) is a form of sugar that has been crushed very finely. The result, as the name implies, is a fluffy substance much more powdery than gritty regular or granulated sugar. The texture of powdered sugar is perfect for frosting or dusting the top of pastries. Can You Substitute Regular Sugar for Powdered Sugar?Drake says substituting regular sugar for powdered sugar isn't ideal. "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. You'll end up with a grainy, unappealing texture. Lastly, store-bought powdered sugar generally includes corn starch, which prevents it from caking together. This can lead to unpredictable outcomes when you interchange the two. Can You Make Powdered Sugar From Regular Sugar?If you find yourself in a pinch and in need of powdered sugar, it's easy to convert regular sugar into powdered sugar. According to Drake, simply take regular sugar and run it through a blender or food processor until it's fluffy and fine. When you're through, take a small amount and rub it between your fingers to make sure the grit is gone and you've achieved the right consistency. "You can sub this out for any recipe calling for powdered sugar if you need to" he says. "I've done this before and it really works." What is the Best Substitute for Regular Sugar?If you've run out of regular sugar, the best substitute is brown sugar. Brown sugar can be substituted for regular sugar on a one-to-one basis, so no fancy math or guesswork is necessary. Be aware, however, that brown sugar has a rich, molasses flavor. It lends itself beautifully to chocolate chip cookies or even banana bread, but may not work as well for lighter, delicate recipes like tea cakes or lemon bars. What is a good substitute for powdered sugar?Splenda: This alternative does work, but because Splenda is so very sweet you will want to make a few adjustments for the best outcome. First, blend ¾ cup of Splenda with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Then only use ½ cup of this Splenda powdered sugar substitution for every 1 cup of regular powdered sugar.
What's the difference between powdered sugar and confectioners sugar?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.
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Can i use confectioners sugar instead of powdered sugar
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