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By Tiffany Published • Last Updated: December 7, 2023 9 Comments
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Make your own confectioners sugar with only 2 ingredients! Learn how to make powdered sugar yourself using a blender or coffee grinder. Use for baking or sprinkle on your favorite treats!
I love it when I’m able to do something myself and save tons of time and money.
Like cutting a whole pineapple? That’s $5 saved.
Or making my own oat flour – that’s 30 minutes AND $3 at least because I’m not driving to the supermarket through busy traffic.
Even Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar. What else are you going to do with apple cores and peels other than throwing them away?!
For the same reasons, I’ve been making another baking staple for years – here’s how to make powdered sugar!
WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE POWDERED SUGAR
One of the best reasons to make powered sugar is that you likely already have the two ingredients that you need to make it, so why not save yourself the money? Plus, it’s a great kitchen trick to have up your sleeve when you need it. It’s also:
- Fast
- Easy
- Healthier than store-bought
- Cheaper than buying it at the store…
- And did I mention you only need two ingredients?
I’ve used this recipe for years in all sorts of recipes like Healthier Sugar Cookies, or No-Bake Brownie Bites and it turns out perfectly every time!
As we’ve lessened our sugar intake, we mostly stick to treats we make ourselves, and keep them for special occasions. Sometimes it’s so nice to sprinkle a little powdered sugar on warm and toasty waffles as a special treat, don’t you think?!
INGREDIENTS FOR HOMEMADE POWDERED SUGAR RECIPE
- granulated sugar (white table sugar, turbinado sugar, raw cane sugar, and even coconut sugar work)
- cornstarch (or tapioca starch)
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1. Combine the sugar and cornstarch in a high-powered blender, food processor, or coffee grinder and blend until the sugar is superfine and a fluffy powdered sugar.
Step 2. Use the sugar immediately or store it in an airtight container in the pantry for later.
Note: The more refined, whiter sugars make the fluffiest powdered sugar.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE ICING SUGAR WITHOUT A BLENDER
USE A FOOD PROCESSOR FOR CONFECTIONERS SUGAR
If you don’t have a powerful blender, a food processor will work too. Depending on the capacity of your machine, you might have to make a bigger batch at one time.
HOW TO MAKE ICING SUGAR WITH A COFFEE GRINDER:
Another option is a coffee grinder or spice grinder!
Follow the same steps as above, although adjust the quantity to fit your coffee grinder. Be sure you clean your coffee grinder beforehand to avoid the transfer of flavors!
HOW TO MAKE POWDERED SUGAR BY HAND (WITHOUT A MACHINE):
A mortar and pestle would be the best option, but that’s very labor-intensive and time-consuming! It’s probably doable, but this isn’t going to be the best route.
POWDERED SUGAR TIPS
- The sugar will increase in size after blending. If you start with 2 cups of granulated sugar, you’ll end up with 3 to 3 ½ cups of powdered sugar.
- You CAN make powder sugar using just granulated sugar and skip the corn starch IF you are using it right away. The corn starch prevents it from clumping if you are storing it for later use.
How to Use Confectioners’ Sugar
- Healthier Sugar Cookies
- Lemon Blueberry Scones
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
- Strawberry Poke Cake
- Quick 1-Hour Cinnamon Rolls
- Sprinkle over the top of Cinnamon Oatmeal Blender Waffles or Sheet Pan Pancakes
- Also used for glazes, whipped cream, cream cheese frosting, and buttercreams!
CONFECTIONERS SUGAR FAQS
Are confectioners sugar and powdered sugar the same thing?
Yep! The two names are interchangeable.
What are the ingredients for confectioners sugar?
You only need two ingredients to make it – granulated sugar and cornstarch.
What is confectioners sugar?
Confectioners sugar is another name for icing sugar or powdered sugar.
How many cups in a pound of powdered sugar?
One pound (which is 16 ounces) contains approximately 3 ½ cups of powdered sugar.
Can I substitute brown sugar for powdered sugar?
Probably not. Brown sugar contains molasses, which adds a dark, rich flavor to your baked goods. If a recipe calls for brown sugar, there’s likely a reason why!
Can you use regular sugar instead of powdered sugar in baking?
Not always! It really depends on what you’re baking, but as a recipe developer myself, there’s a reason why I would call for it in a recipe. For example, the royal icing in my sugar cookie recipe would not have the right consistency if you were to use regular sugar. The same goes for a cream cheese frosting!
Fortunately, you can make your own powdered sugar in a jiffy!
MORE KITCHEN HACKS AND TUTORIALS
- How to Make Brown Sugar
- Homemade Oat Flour
- DIY All-Purpose Flour
- How to Make Flour Without a Grain Mill
- 24 Time-Saving Kitchen Hacks
- 14 Easy Baking Hacks for the Home Baker
- 30+ Creative Ways to Use a KitchenAid Mixer
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How to Make Powdered Sugar
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Make your own confectioners sugar with only 2 ingredients! Learn how to make powdered sugar yourself using a blender or coffee grinder. Use for baking or sprinkle on your favorite treats!
- Author: Tiffany
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: About 1.5 cups 1x
- Category: Kitchen Hacks and Tutorials
- Method: blend
- Cuisine: American
Instructions
- Combine the sugar and cornstarch in a high-powered blender, food processor, or coffee grinder and blend until the sugar is superfine and a fluffy powdered sugar.
- Use the sugar immediately or store it for later.
Notes
- You can use just about any granulated sugar, although sugar that doesn’t contain a lot of molasses – like white granulated sugar, cane sugar, coconut palm sugar, and raw sugar (Turbinado) – typically works best.
- The more refined, whiter sugars make the fluffiest powdered sugar.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 467
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Reader Interactions
9 Comments
ChloeHello, Thank you for recipe. I thought raw cornstarch can give you food poisoning? Doesn’t it need to be cooked before consuming? Thanks
Reply to this comment
- Karen @ Team Crumbs
Hi Chloe,
If you are planning to use the powdered sugar right away, you don’t need to add cornstarch. The small amount of cornstarch is listed in this recipe for texture / consistency if you don’t use it right away. Hope this helps.
Reply to this comment
- No Name Please
Do i have to add cornstarch if i am using it for buttercream frosting and using it 4 days
Reply to this comment
- SJ - Team Crumbs
Hi there, If you’re using this right away, you can skip the cornstarch! It’s there to prevent clumping over time from moisture. But if you don’t like corn, you can also try using arrowroot starch as well. Let us know how that goes for you!
Reply to this comment
- Ale
Can I replace cornstarch with regular all purpose flour..I just dont have cornstarch now
Reply to this comment
- Tiffany
If you’re using this right away, you can skip the cornstarch! It’s there to prevent clumping over time from moisture. 🙂
Reply to this comment
- Kim
How long should I have to blend it? It’s been going for several minutes and hasn’t really changed???
Reply to this comment
- suz
Thanks for the recipe! Just curious, any thoughts on why corn starch is added?
Reply to this comment
- Tiffany
Cornstarch is in store-bought powdered sugar, and it helps to prevent clumping. 🙂
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