Here’s an easy tip for making powdered sugar from regular granulated sugar. It’s not perfect but in a pinch it will work.
How many times have you decided to make something, only to discover that you are missing an ingredient? Before I hop in the car and go to the store, I try to figure out how to modify a recipe so that I don’t have to use that ingredient. If I determine that the missing ingredient is essential and no substitutions will do, then I try to figure out a way to make that ingredient.
I had just left the grocery store and was driving home when my oldest son called to tell we had an unexpected visitor. He informed me that he had started making a cake for our guest but was afraid that we didn’t have enough powdered sugar to make frosting for the cake. I was torn between turning around and going back to the store and rushing home. Since I had my youngest son with me, I decided there was no way that I could quickly get in and out of the store and decided to improvise when I got home.
When I got home I discovered that my son opted to make a plain vanilla cake and was too far along for me to turn it into a flavorful snack cake. A substitution would not do; I needed powdered sugar to make Mocha Fudge Frosting. So I used granulated sugar to make powdered sugar.
Powdered Sugar Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
Directions:
- Place sugar in a blender or food processor. Blend on high until it begins to look powdery.
- Add cornstarch and then blend for one more minute until it is light and fluffy.
Repeat until you have as much powdered sugar as you need for your recipe. Use as directed in your recipe.
Printable Recipe for Powdered Sugar
Powdered Sugar Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
Instructions
- Place sugar in a blender or food processor. Blend on high until it begins to look powdery.
- Add cornstarch and then blend for one more minute until it is light and fluffy.
Recipes That Use Powdered Sugar
Royal Icing Recipe and Instructions for Decorating Sugar Cookies
Easy Sugar Cookies and Butter Cream Frosting
How to Make Homemade Marshmallows
How to Make Fluffy Dairy-Free Frosting
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Barbara Swearingen says
Thanks for the tips. I wanted to make flaxseed meal, but I have learned so much more. No more running for
powdered sugar for me! I should know these things since I have been cooking since I was a child – too many
years to count!
K. says
Corn starch does not need to enter. Simple sugar grind and you have powdered sugar.
Sara @Learning the Frugal Life says
I have heard of this before but have never tried it. Will keep it in my list of substitutes. Thanks for linking up to the Frugal Tuesday Tip!
http://learningthefrugallife.blogspot.com/
Elsa says
I made this by mistake once. I over blended sugar (I can’t remember why I was blending it to begin with) and when I opened it up, powder flew everywhere. I didn’t realize you had to add cornstarch though. I will remember this! 🙂
Tamilyn says
I know I had read that somewhere, but I don’t remember corn starch in it-but makes perfect sense to get it fluffy. And way cheaper than buying a bag of powdered sugar.
Mama Eva says
NOTE! when you blend it, let it rest a bit before opening! if you open the blender right after stopping, you will have a dust cloud escape 😉 we’ve done this before….
Candace says
No way! I had no idea. Thank you for sharing this great tip!
Swathi says
I heard about powdered sugar contains cornstarch now I know how much it has.
Kitchen Belleicious says
amazing! are you kidding me- this tip has been lurking around forever and I never knew about it! Genius i tell you and a lifesaver! Love this post to pieces!