HomeBrowseNewslettersContestsAskShare 
AllGuidesQuestionsVideosBy DateRecent Feedback My AccountAbout Us
Food and Recipes > Food Tips > Baking on August 20, 2012

How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

A sugar mill making powdered sugar.You don't need to run to the store to buy powdered sugar for the recipe you are making; make your own. This is a guide about how to make confectioners (powdered) sugar.
     

Solutions: How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

Read and rate the best solutions below by giving them a "thumbs up".

Homemade Powdered Sugar

I make my own powdered (confectioner's) sugar. I whirl it in small amounts (1/2 cup or less) for a few seconds, maybe a minute, in the blender or food processor. I think it's cheaper than buying it. Since I always have sugar, I don't have an "extra box" sitting around, either.

By thriftyvicki from Dallas, TX

4 0SharePrintFollow6 Feedbacks

How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

To save some money during the holidays; Bubba's Quick Confectioners Sugar mixture!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup regular table sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. cornstarch

Directions:

Pour sugar and cornstarch in to food processor, food chopper or blender. Turn on high until mixture is a fine powder.

Note: If your recipe calls for more than a cup, make some more!

Source: My Kitchen (and billfold!)

By johnluse from Columbus, GA

0 0SharePrintFollowPost Feedback

Substitute for Powdered Sugar

If you are out of powdered sugar, put regular sugar in the blender and process on high until it turns powdery. Be sure to stir up the sugar on the bottom a couple of times so it all turns out to be the same consistency.

Read More...

0 0SharePrintFollow17 Feedbacks
Share Your Feedback: Once you try any of the above solutions, be sure to come back and give a "thumbs up" to the solution that worked the best for you. Do you have a better solution? Click "Share a Solution" above!

Questions

Here are questions related to How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar.

Make Powdered Sugar from Granulated Sugar

How do you measure homemade powdered sugar? That is, when you grind up one cup of granulated sugar does it equal one cup of powdered sugar?

By Carole from Surprise, AZ

SharePrintFollow5 Feedbacks

Most Recent Answer

By jillykay2 11/26/2010

Wow. Did I learn a lot today! I was trying to save money by making my own powdered sugar and what I learned is that it's more money, and here's why! I learned this after I just went out and bought 6 bags on sale! The reason is because a 4 pound bag of granulated sugar would yield 10 cups of powdered, figuring your yield will be approx 25% more after blending, and a 2 pound bag of powdered sugar has 7.5 cups.

Let's take Aldi, for example. A 2 lb. bag of powdered goes for $1.29 which makes each cup worth slightly over 17¢. A 4 lb. bag of granulated goes for $2.49, which makes each cup worth just slightly under 25¢. Plus, the added cost of corn starch, electricity, and blade wearing on your blender. So, you're paying 33% less for the ready made. I never knew, and now I'm stuck with 6 bags of granulated, but at least it was on sale on the cheap for $1.69. Me and my crazy knack for figuring! Mad, at myself! Hehe!

But this is great to know in case you're in a pinch and the store is closed or you simply don't want to go to the store for one ingredient! The pic is some of the cuppycakes I make with my homemade buttercream frosting with powdered sugar!

RE: Make Powdered Sugar from Granulated Sugar

Making Powdered Sugar for Commercial Use

How can I make powdered sugar for commercial purposes? What anti-caking agent can I use? I would also like to preserve the powdered sugar for up to 2 years. Any suggestions?

By Ekas from Lagos, Nigeria

SharePrintFollow1 Feedback

Most Recent Answer

By Anonymous 04/13/2010

Can you explain in more detail what you mean for commercial use? I am fairly sure you can find out about making powdered sugar by doing an online search. I do know that powdered sugar is simply granulated sugar very finely sifted. Also, what do you mean by no caking agent? As for preserving it for up to two years it needs to be kept in sealed containers of some sort and completely kept away from moisture.

Archives

Here are archived discussions related to this page.

Homemade Confectioner's Sugar or Powdered Sugar

Use equal amounts of granulated sugar for the amount of powdered sugar you want to make. Place the granulated sugar in a blender container and blend till fine. It's ready to use immediately.

There is no need to rush to the grocery just because you have no powdered sugar at home, for your recipe, just make it yourself!

By Terri H.

Responses:
RE: Homemade Confectioner's Sugar or Powdered Sugar 02/18/2005
i havnt heard this about confectioners sugar. i had about superfine sugar. put it in the blender for about 5 mins and it hadnt changed at all.
By sandy (Guest Post)
RE: Homemade Confectioner's Sugar or Powdered Sugar 02/28/2005
Is Confectioner's Sugar really the same as Powdered Sugar? I heard it contains some corn starch in it. I live in Germany, love american recipes and would LOVE to know what I can use instead of Confectioner's Sugar because I can't get it here. Thanks for any help!:)
By Anja (Guest Post)
RE: Homemade Confectioner's Sugar or Powdered Sugar 03/11/2005
Hi, this was my original post. I've never heard of powdered sugar or confectioners sugar having any cornstarch in it. I, personally, haven't ever made this product in my blender, but my Aunt has made it and says it's just as good as the boxed, store bought stuff.
By badwater
Out of Confectionary Sugar (Powdered Sugar)? 05/13/2005
Here is a quick solution. Take granulated sugar and add 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar, and place in blender at high speed, until it reaches a powdery texture.
By RSocash
RE: Homemade Confectioner's Sugar or Powdered Sugar 01/02/2006
Confectioners & Powdered sugar are the same, just depends upon what part of the country your from. I added about 1 tbsp per cup of sugar to my blender and it worked perfectly for my cream cheese frosting!
By Beth (Guest Post)


How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

If you run out of confectioners (powdered) sugar. Take granulated sugar and pour in blender, and blend until it is powdery. You can do a cup or 2 at a time. Editor's Note: You need to add 2 Tbsp. of corn starch per cup of granulated sugar.

By Sassy


RE: How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

I had to add about 2 tbsp of corn starch per cup of sugar to it to make it the same consistency as Confectioners and i couldn't tell the difference after my frosting was made. Thanks for posting!

By Beth

RE: How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

All the powdered sugar you buy has corn starch already added to it. That is why you don't get the same result just by blending sugar in the Kitchen Aid. (01/18/2006)

By Jess

RE: How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

IMPORTANT NOTE: Actually, its not just about making the sugar into a fine powder in your blender and voila: for confectioner's sugar you must also add 3% corn starch to your mixture, not just to prevent caking (as some have mentioned) but also because it helps make your icing congeal (come together) and stay as firm as you desire, holding its shape. It would otherwise be too thin and runny without it and your icing would dribble all over, and eventually off of your dessert (after all, corn starch is a thickener and binder). (09/28/2007)

By ladybugjane

RE: How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

Is there anything else you can add to it besides corn starch? My daughter is allergic to corn? (12/28/2007)

By Risa

RE: How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

Risa, we also have a food- and sugar-sensitive household, so I've been making powdered erythritol (of all exotic things). If you can't use corn starch, any form of powdered starch will work: potato starch, arrowroot, tapioca starch. You should be able to get any of this in a health-food store, if you can't find it in the regular grocery store. About a tablespoon of any starch per cup of sugar will do it. Starch keeps the sugar from getting all burnt and melty too. You can also whip this up in a small food processor, if you prefer. (01/13/2008)

By McJohn


How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

I want to learn how to make confectioners sugar.

Brenda


RE: How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

I just put regular sugar in the blender. (01/08/2009)

It seems to have the same consistency to me. I use a vitamix so that might make the difference. (01/08/2009)

By Thursday_Next

RE: How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

Put regular sugar in a coffee grinder and whirl away. I have an extra grinder for pulverizing things that are not coffee. Or just wipe out the coffee in your grinder before you make the powdered sugar. For chocolate frosting, the coffee residue could enhance the flavor. (01/08/2009)

By pigeon toes

RE: How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

Just use granulated sugar and grind it. I use it for black powder and it works fine, don' know if it works for frosting but you can try if you want to. (02/19/2009)

By fossildog

RE: How to Make Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar

I have made powdered sugar this way many times, As my husband and many friends are diabetics, I use Splenda instead of sugar, wonderful results. (10/08/2009)

By knsabear


Make Powdered Sugar from Granulated Sugar

Powdered sugar can be made from regular sugar in a conventional blender. This way you don't have to buy two types of sugar or make a special trip to the store!

By Diane from Chicago


RE: Make Powdered Sugar from Granulated Sugar

Commercial powdered sugar contains cornstarch; you may not get the same results in your recipes by "powdering" granulated sugar yourself without adding cornstarch to it. (11/12/2008)

By Guest

RE: Make Powdered Sugar from Granulated Sugar

I never bothered to measure, I just did about a cup at a time and used what I needed for the recipe. I didn't realize there was corn starch in powdered sugar! I checked it out and you should add 2 tbsp to 1 cup of sugar.

Diane from Chicago (11/12/2008)

By bebhinne

RE: Make Powdered Sugar from Granulated Sugar

Mix one cup of granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons of corn starch. Put them in the blender, cover and blend on the highest speed until it looks like confectioners sugar. It's really that simple. (11/15/2008)

By bebhinne


Homemade Powdered Sugar

Ingredients

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

Directions

Blend 1 cup of granulated sugar in blender until desired powder is produced. Easy and much less expensive than store bought powdered sugar!

By Karen from NH


RE: Homemade Powdered Sugar

i'v tried this a few times. Yes, it does work but it has a funny taste to it every time. (06/16/2006)

By annspam

RE: Homemade Powdered Sugar

First, yes boxed has corn starch in it to keep it loose not clumpy. It is also called icing sugar in some places. Maybe that will help the German cook. But you can process it, it just takes forever and if you blender isn't strong enough will burn it out. Also I have never had luck getting it fine enough for frosting but I am trying again as my children cannot tolerate corn products. (09/18/2006)

By Melanie

RE: Homemade Powdered Sugar

That was so easy! I will never buy powdered sugar again. Thank You (03/07/2007)

By Terri

RE: Homemade Powdered Sugar

Thank you all for the information. Could not believe how easy it was to make this inexpensive powdered sugar. (09/21/2007)

By Antoinette

RE: Homemade Powdered Sugar

Very cute. However, powdered or confectioner's sugar has 3% cornstarch in it. It's not just table sugar in a very fine powdered form. Therefore, it has a different consistency and is used differently. (12/10/2007)

By Tracey

RE: Homemade Powdered Sugar

My son is allergic to corn and I have to make powdered sugar for recipes as all commercial brands have cornstarch. I've found that a coffee grinder works very well. You have to make small batches and can't use one that has been used for coffee unless you want coffee flavored powdered sugar. (12/11/2007)

By Leanne

RE: Homemade confectioner's sugar

G-ma said the same thing a lil cornstarch and a tad bit flour. and wallah or however its spelled. Have fun. (12/27/2007)

By T-mony German decendant

RE: Homemade Powdered Sugar

Thanks. You saved the day! (01/13/2008)

By C Silvia

RE: Homemade Powdered Sugar

Thanks for the hint. It is Easter morning and the nearest grocery store is 20 miles away and I didn't have enough powdered sugar. You saved my Easter cake. (03/23/2008)

By robinw

RE: Homemade Powdered Sugar

Thanks so much, it saved my cookies! (05/08/2008)

By stephanie

RE: Homemade Powdered Sugar

I tried that advised and it worked, thanks so much =] (06/26/2008)

By Olivia

RE: Homemade Powdered Sugar

This worked so well but don't use a blender, use a coffee grinder (12/06/2008)

By suzzy

RE: Homemade Powdered Sugar

Thank you! It's Christmas morning and I am making cinnamon rolls and I forgot powdered sugar for the frosting. (12/25/2008)

By Sheila

Follow ThriftyFun