Here’s what to do if you run out of powdered sugar.Published on December 9, 2021 Show
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. Are confectioners’ sugar and powdered sugar the same product? While the two might be colloquially interchangeable, they’re not actually the same thing! To the general public baking treats at home, there may not be an important difference, so most people have never given the differences between confectioners’ sugar and powdered sugar any thought. But in the baking, food production, and restaurant industries, the nuances are important. Knowing which type of sugar is best for your products can really take flavors over the edge, and can even help your foods last longer! Read on to learn the differences between confectioners’ sugar and powdered sugar. What is Powdered Sugar?Powdered sugar is granulated (think table) sugar processed and milled several times until it has ultimately been ground into a very fine powder. You can purchase powdered sugar that has been processed 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, or even 14 times. That’s what the 10x label, for example, refers to on a package of powdered sugar. 6x is the most commonly used type. In stores or even in warehouse clubs, you are not likely to find anything finer than 10x powdered sugar. In a pinch, this might do for most products, but superfine sugar is best in products like whipped cream. At Indiana Sugars, we carry 14x powdered sugar, considered “superfine” – the finest powdered sugar available. This type of very fine powdered sugar is used by fine decorating artists, who employ very small icing tips. When decorating, it’s crucial to not have any clumps of sugar that could subtract from the artistry or integrity of the designs. What is Confectioners’ Sugar?Is confectioner’s sugar powdered sugar? Confectioners’ sugar is almost only offered in 10x grades or higher. 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. It also helps confectioners’ sugar sit on pastries and cakes when it’s been dusted over top for aesthetic purposes, whereas strictly powdered sugar may just absorb into the product itself. Confectioners’ sugar is less likely to melt into different sweets and breads than powdered sugar is. In confectioners’ sugar, a very small amount of cornstarch—just about 3 to 5 percent of the weight of the granulated sugar—is added to the sugar before it is processed. In the creation of meringues, cornstarch helps support the sugar by stabilizing the meringue. This helps mitigate the problem of the meringue becoming over-processed when the sugar is mixing with the egg whites. When Should I Use Confectioners’ Sugar?The use of confectioners’ sugar in baked goods can produce slight taste differences, although most consumers simply can’t tell the difference. A key area where powdered sugar is preferred to confectioners’ sugar might be in the creation of beverages, including distilled alcohols and in restaurant beverages. The fresh, clean sweetness and fluffy texture of both powdered and confectioners’ sugar is excellent in food industry products such as confections, icings, frostings, glazes, and fillings. Industrial food production uses powdered and confectioners’ sugar for quick-dissolving applications. Bulk Powdered Sugar for Food IndustriesDrivert® SugarDrivert sugar is the most refined grain of all powdered sugars, typically used in icings, frostings, fondants, fudges, and pan-coated confections. You can use Drivert sugar to create superior food products with a perfectly smooth finish, and no trace of grain or grittiness. Milliana Powdered Sugar®Milliana Powdered Sugar is a product of premium quality due to its finely pulverized sucrose. It is carefully produced from the finest sugar to resist caking and provide consistent flavor. Its fresh, clean flavor tastes great in various products such as confections, icings, frostings, glazings, and fillings. When an order is placed at Indiana Sugars, we’re able to provide fresh powdered or confectioners’ sugar quickly. We produce our bulk powdered sugar to order and can always make products to our customer’s unique specifications. When we receive a request, we produce the powder a few days prior to delivery. Our mission is to deliver the freshest, fluffiest powdered sugar to the buyer, eliminating extraneous time between sugar creation and customer use. Even though we produce powdered sugar upon request, our shipments are timely and reliable. We understand that downtime is not an option for food industry leaders. We consistently meet and exceed expectations, addressing every customer’s ordinary and extraordinary needs with phenomenal customer service. Within a 300-mile radius, we deliver within 24 hours. Why Choose Indiana Sugars for Bulk Sugar?At Indiana Sugars, our powdered and confectioners’ sugar is available in 50 lb bags, 100 lb bags, and 2,000 lb totes. We can also deliver by truckloads. Indiana Sugars is a multi-generational, family-operated business with over 90 years of experience. For decades, we have provided excellence in the manufacturing and distribution of a variety of sugar, sweetener, and related products – and we continue to provide excellence today. In fact, before a customer receives a shipment, it must pass our laboratory testing for premium quality. Product freshness is equally important to our team as it is to our customers. Therefore, we strive to provide the highest distribution and manufacturing standards, committed to excellence. At Indiana Sugars, above all, we strive to always meet our customers’ needs and exceed their expectations, both immediate and long-term. Our timely shipments allow for limited downtime and maximized operation. Contact Indiana Sugars today by giving us a call at (630) 739-9151. You’ll always talk to a human, and we’ll always do our best to make your experience as sweet as possible! Can I substitute powdered sugar for granulated sugar?Can powdered sugar be substituted for granulated sugar in recipes? A. It is not recommended to substitute powdered sugar for granulated sugar. Since powdered sugar has a much finer texture, and it contains a small percentage of cornstarch to prevent caking, substituting can give you unexpected results.
Why use powdered sugar instead of granulated?Confectioners' sugar behaves differently than other forms of sugar in recipes and there's generally a reason it's used instead of granulated sugar. For instance, icings, frostings, and candies use confectioners' sugar because it dissolves easily and provides a smooth consistency.
Is powdered sugar better than granulated?To be very precise, powdered sugar sometimes contains an anti-caking agent like corn starch to prevent clumping but as far as nutritional values go, treat it like ordinary sugar. So: Powdered sugar is no sugar alternative because it is simply sugar.
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Difference between powdered sugar and granulated sugar
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