How To Make Homemade Powdered Sugar
Out of powdered sugar? Avoid a trip to the grocery store and make it at home with just two ingredients!
Don’t you just hate it when you’re about to start cooking or baking, and you all of a sudden realize that you’re missing one crucial ingredient?
It’s not such a big deal when that certain ingredient isn’t the star of the dish.
But when you can’t make the dish without it – like in a homemade buttercream frosting – nothing is more annoying.
In these cases, it’s good to have a few food substitution tricks up your sleeve.
One such trick I learned a few months ago was to make my own powdered sugar (confectioners sugar). This technique has come in handy several times, specifically when I’ve needed powdered sugar for frosting and cookie recipes.
What Do I Need To Make Powdered Sugar?
Three things:
- Granulated sugar
- Corn starch
- A blender (or a food processor or even a coffee grinder)
The next time you find yourself in need of powdered sugar but don’t feel like running to the store, give this a try.
A Note About Corn Starch
I have made this several times without corn starch, and it works just fine. The texture is slightly different with the corn starch, more like what you buy in the store.
But for all intents and purposes, you can make homemade powdered sugar with just granulated sugar.
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Homemade Powdered Sugar
The texture of this homemade powdered sugar is slightly different than powdered sugar you buy in the grocery store. It is slightly more grainy, but works all the same in a recipe. The trick is to blend or puree it long enough. I recommend using a four-blade device (such as a blender) instead of a two-blade device (like a food processor) for better texture and results.
Ingredients
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
Instructions
- Place sugar and corn starch into a blender or food processor. Process until sugar becomes powdery, approximately two minutes or more.
- This recipe makes slightly more than two cups.
I have been wanting to try this because I think C&H powdered sugar taste like chemical. This just seems like a small amount of cornstarch per 2 cups of sugar. Would you reconfirm the ratio is correct?
Actually, I have made my own powdered sugar several times without using cornstarch. So technically, you don’t really even need it. But I think a little bit of cornstarch helps with the texture. Thanks for asking!
Oh, thanks! I didn’t know I wanted to know this but I’m so pleased I do now. It will sure save me space if I don’t need to have two products.
This is really good news to me. I wish I had known this sooner. Thank you so much.
I do this in a coffee grinder that I reserve for this purpose and spice grinding (so no coffee flavor). Much easier if you only need a small amount of powdered sugar.
how can i make the powdered sugar using just granulated sugar.?
Just follow the directions in this post and omit the corn starch. The corn starch is not necessary – just recommended.
How much butter would I need for 2 cups to make the actual icing sugar? Overall, this looks like a brilliant method and I am very excited to try it. 🙂
To make frosting you mean? I’d start with maybe 4 tablespoons plus some cream or half-and-half for traditional buttercream.