The Ingredients You Should Add To Powdered Sugar For A Flavor Upgrade

It's amazing how a simple light dusting of powdered sugar can elevate even the humblest confection. From brownies to bundt cakes, desserts receive an instant upgrade with this minimalist method of creating a sweet visual appeal. However, many folks miss the opportunity to enhance the chalky ingredient from a flavor standpoint. Modest mix-ins can turn ordinary desserts like two-ingredient lemon bars into eye-catching, toothsome experiences. Choosing the right add-ins makes all the difference.

We wanted some pointers on what ingredients might work best for leveled-up powdered sugar, and Hana Dreiling came through. She is the founder and head baker of Holey Grail Donuts, with locations in Los Angeles and Hawaii, and she had expert advice for incorporating flavor into your confections while dressing them up. She first suggested some everyday baking staples most folks have on hand when the days turn cold, saying, "Try adding a pinch of cinnamon or cocoa powder for warmth and depth."

Around the holidays, a hospitable augmentation like this easily gives your baked goods a serious wow factor. However, we all occasionally like to break outside the box and make something that reminds us of summer as the nights become long. The next time you are experimenting with ways to elevate a boxed cake mix so it has summer vibes, you will want to reach for a flavorful but lesser-used ingredient to add to your powdered sugar: fruit powder.

Cinnamon and cocoa blended into powdered sugar give the ingredient a bit more personality, but if you want your dessert to really have character, Dreiling has just the right advice for the more adventurous types. "A hint of freeze-dried fruit powder can add a burst of color and flavor," she said. Think strawberry-flavored dust topping your boxed blueberry muffins or orange-flavored flecks of sweetness gracing a rich chocolate cake. If you let your imagination run loose, the possibilities are nearly endless.

That said, there are some additives you wouldn't want to put into powdered sugar. Anything wet will obviously make it clump up and prevent you from dusting your confections, but some other dry ingredients might also be overpowering. Cloves and allspice could work for specific treats in small doses, yet adding too much would likely put some folks off. It's best to carefully consider how you want flavors to complement each other in your dessert, making the confection shine as a whole ... as opposed to having single elements make their presence known too forcefully.