Avoid A Common Mistake For Perfect Homemade Powdered Sugar

From dusting golden cakes to whipping up rich ribbons of buttercream, any avid baker knows that powdered sugar is a key ingredient for some of the most delicious treats and confections. This sweet powder is needed for tangy, easy 2-ingredient lemon bars, decadent frostings, silky glazes, melt-in-your-mouth candies, and more. But in case you find yourself without this pantry staple, you can make your own with just two simple ingredients. Just make sure you've carefully cleaned and dried your kitchen equipment.

Simply blending granulated sugar with cornstarch will give you powdered sugar. Expert Hana Dreiling, the founder and head baker of Holey Grail Donuts shared the most common mistakes for making powdered sugar, which can "include not blending long enough, which can result in a gritty texture, and using a wet blender. Always make sure your equipment is dry and blend thoroughly." Creating homemade powdered sugar is simple as long as you follow the instructions perfectly. Since sugar is hygroscopic, meaning that it is a substance prone to absorbing water, using a wet blender or food processor will cause problems. In other words, damp equipment will create hard clumps in the sugar that just won't turn into powder. 

While they may have different names, powdered sugar, confectioners sugar, and icing sugar are actually the same thing. Consisting of finely ground sugar and an anti-caking agent like cornstarch. Cornstarch helps absorb moisture, making it perfect for getting crispy roasted veggies and, with sugar, prevents clumping for a smooth, soft texture. While it is more commonly bought from a store, powdered sugar can be made in a pinch at home. Similar to how you can make your own brown sugar, you'll only need two ingredients.

To make powdered sugar from scratch, follow a ratio of one cup of granulated sugar to one tablespoon of cornstarch. Add ingredients to a dry, high-powered blender and blitz until you have a soft, white powder. Remember, any amount of water in the blender will cause the sugar to harden and you'll have to start from square one. It may take several minutes for the sugar to reach the ideal powdery consistency, depending on the strength of your device. Once the sugar is fully blitzed, use it in your favorite recipes and know that you'll practically never run out of powdered sugar again.