Here’s what to do if you run out of powdered sugar.Published on December 9, 2021 Show
It's easy to take powdered sugar for granted...until you don't have it. The quietly dependable ingredient can add just the right touch of airy sweetness to your baked goods and frostings. When it isn't there, it really puts a damper on your baking plans. This is especially true when you're pressed for time and can't drop everything for an emergency trip to the store. If this has ever happened to you, you probably eyeballed your pantry in search of any easy substitution. If you're out of powdered sugar but you've got regular sugar on hand, you may be wondering if the two are interchangeable. To find out if you can substitute powdered sugar and regular sugar, we consulted with Felicia Howard of Felicia's Cake Factory in Macon, Georgia, and Will Drake of Hero Doughnuts and Buns with locations in Birmingham, Atlanta, and Charleston. What is the Difference Between Regular Sugar and Powdered Sugar?According to Howard, powdered sugar (sometimes referred to as confectioners' sugar) is a form of sugar that has been crushed very finely. The result, as the name implies, is a fluffy substance much more powdery than gritty regular or granulated sugar. The texture of powdered sugar is perfect for frosting or dusting the top of pastries. Can You Substitute Regular Sugar for Powdered Sugar?Drake says substituting regular sugar for powdered sugar isn't ideal. "Regular sugar has a larger crystal size than powdered sugar," he explains. "This means, cup for cup, there would be more sugar in a cup of powdered sugar than in a cup of regular sugar." In addition to inconsistent measurements, regular sugar won't dissolve and mix as well into recipes like frosting and icing. You'll end up with a grainy, unappealing texture. Lastly, store-bought powdered sugar generally includes corn starch, which prevents it from caking together. This can lead to unpredictable outcomes when you interchange the two. Can You Make Powdered Sugar From Regular Sugar?If you find yourself in a pinch and in need of powdered sugar, it's easy to convert regular sugar into powdered sugar. According to Drake, simply take regular sugar and run it through a blender or food processor until it's fluffy and fine. When you're through, take a small amount and rub it between your fingers to make sure the grit is gone and you've achieved the right consistency. "You can sub this out for any recipe calling for powdered sugar if you need to" he says. "I've done this before and it really works." What is the Best Substitute for Regular Sugar?If you've run out of regular sugar, the best substitute is brown sugar. Brown sugar can be substituted for regular sugar on a one-to-one basis, so no fancy math or guesswork is necessary. Be aware, however, that brown sugar has a rich, molasses flavor. It lends itself beautifully to chocolate chip cookies or even banana bread, but may not work as well for lighter, delicate recipes like tea cakes or lemon bars. Unlike granulated sugar, powdered sugar dissolves easily at room temperature, with no real agitation needed. That makes it great for glazes, buttercreams, frostings, icings, mousses—basically anywhere where the mixture won’t be cooked or where a smooth texture with no hint of graininess is especially vital. Some of our most beloved royal icing and glaze recipes, in fact, are simply a combination of powdered sugar and a small amount of liquid. Sometimes that liquid is milk or cream or buttermilk, other times it’s water or lemon juice or strong coffee or tea. When you whisk these two ingredients together, a marvelously viscous, shiny, pourable glaze forms, aided by the thickening, gelatinizing power of cornstarch, one of two essential ingredients in powdered sugar. (Ever played the Ooblek game and made that mysterious cornstarch-and-water concoction? Well, some genius put all those childish science experiments to use and invented The Glaze. Props.) Powdered sugar is what brought you the glaze on that lemon pound cake. Photo by Caleb AdamsPowdered sugar also comes in handy in no-bake candies (fudge or Buckeyes, for example), where it brings that melt-in-your-mouth sweetness, and you’ll also see in some meringue recipes, where, thanks to the cornstarch, it acts as a stabilizer. How to make powdered sugarNow to answer the burning question: Can you make your own powdered sugar if you don't have any lying around? The answer is YES! To make homemade powdered sugar, you’ll need two ingredients: granulated sugar and cornstarch. The magic ratio is 1 cup granulated sugar to 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Combine the two in a high-powered blender like a Vitamix, a food processor, or spice grinder, then blitz away until you have a soft, powdery consistency—the total time could be several minutes, depending on the power of your machine. I wouldn’t recommend using a spice grinder to make larger batches of the powdery stuff, as it can get a bit messy, and in most instances where you’ll need several cups, it’s probably worth it to go get yourself a box from the grocery store. But when you only need a few tablespoons for dusting over brownies (yet another great use for the powdered stuff), this trick will save you from an unnecessary trip. Can you use granulated sugar in place of powdered sugar?In most cases, no. If you’re making a recipe in which powdered sugar is a vital ingredient (cookie dough, for example), stick with powdered sugar or risk getting a final product that doesn’t meet your expectations. But if you are going to try your hand at substituting, you’re more likely to get decent results if you substitute by weight rather than by volume. (Powdered sugar weighs 113 grams per cup whereas granulated sugar weighs 200 grams.) One last thing! You can absolutely forego powdered sugar altogether for sweetened whipped cream. I don’t know about you, but my mother always swore by adding powdered sugar to her cream before whipping it. And as is the case with most mothers, she is always right, so I never gave it another thought. Until one day I grew up, started to use all my powers of critical thinking, and realized that there is absolutely no reason granulated sugar doesn’t work just as well when whipping cream. Assuming that you're going to Whip It Good, there’s no chance the granulated sugar will remain undissolved, and therefore will sweeten your cream just as well as powdered. I promise. So yes: You need it. Sometimes. And yes, you can you forego in some situations. AND you can make it yourself if you have to. Now you have all the answers. So what're you waiting for? Go make those outrageously good Brown Butter Wedding Cookies already! The cookies in question:
Six-ingredient cookies for people who don't think they can bake cookies. View Recipe This article was originally published in 2018 and was updated by Sarah Jampel in 2021. How much powdered sugar is equivalent to granulated sugar?How to Substitute Powdered Sugar for Granulated Sugar. You can also use powdered sugar to replace up to 2 cups of granulated sugar, using 1 3/4 cup unsifted powdered sugar for each cup of sugar.
Can I replace powdered sugar with granulated sugar?It is possible to simply use granulated sugar in a slightly smaller amount, though you'll have to accept that the texture may not be ideal, especially for icing or other recipes that are supposed to be super smooth. Just substitute 1 cup of granulated sugar for every 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar and proceed as directed.
Does granulated sugar measure the same as powdered sugar?Powdered sugar and granulated sugar are measured the same way. Granulated and powdered sugar should be spooned into a dry measuring cup and leveled off with a straight edge.
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How much granulated sugar is equal to powdered sugar
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