Homemade Powdered Sugar
You’ll never run out again once you learn how to make homemade powdered sugar! This simple tutorial will save you money and time.
Homemade powdered sugar is a convenient substitute for store-bought—in fact, you might never buy powdered sugar from the grocery store again! It’s made by blitzing regular granulated sugar in a blender until it forms a fine powder. That’s it! You can add cornstarch if you’d like—most store-bought confectioner’s sugar has cornstarch added to prevent clumping, but I keep it out and just sift the sugar to remove any lumps.
Why You’ll Love Homemade Powdered Sugar
- No need to run to the store. Isn’t it the worst when you’re in the middle of making a recipe and realize you’re out of an essential ingredient like powdered sugar? With this homemade powdered sugar recipe, you can whip some up in minutes without leaving your house.
- Use it all the ways you use store-bought. Homemade powdered sugar can be used in all sorts of baked goods and desserts, from vegan lemon poppyseed muffins to cookies, donuts, and more. Any way you’d use store-bought, you can use this recipe.
- Saves money. By grinding sugar into powder in your blender, you won’t have to purchase separate bags of powdered sugar for baking.
Notes on Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- Sugar – You can use any kind you like, even coconut sugar for a more natural option!
- Cornstarch, optional – I never add cornstarch, but it is found in store bought powdered sugar. Cornstarch is added to prevent clumping, keep the powdered sugar from melting into baked goods and to thicken frostings and fillings. If you plan on using your sugar for dusting muffins and brownies, or thickening icing, you might want to add the cornstarch.
How to Make Homemade Powdered Sugar
- Add to the blender. Dump the sugar (and cornstarch, if you’re using it) into your blender. A high-speed blender is best.
- Process. Blend on high for at least 1 minute, or until it’s ground into a fine powder.
- Sift. Use a strainer to break up lumps.
Tips for Success
- Blend in batches. If you’re making a large quantity of powdered sugar, blend in smaller batches to make sure it’s all ground finely and evenly.
- Sift for consistency. After blending, I like to sift the powdered sugar to make sure there are no large lumps.
- Let it settle. Before opening up your blender, let the powdered sugar sit for a bit. Otherwise, it’s likely to billow up from the blender when you open it, and if you’re standing too close, you’ll probably inhale some of it!
My Favourite Ways to Use This Homemade Powdered Sugar
- Dusting baked goods. Like these double chocolate banana muffins and vegan brownies.
- Frostings and icing. Use homemade powdered sugar as a base for vegan buttercream frosting.
- Homemade sprinkles. Yes, I make my own homemade sprinkles! Powdered sugar and water are the base, then I add food colouring.
- Pancakes and waffles. I add vegan butter to pumpkin waffles then once it melts, sprinkle on powdered sugar. So good!
How to Store
Always store your powdered sugar in a clean, dry, airtight container to protect it from humidity and moisture. Store it in a cool dry place and use it within 6 months. Stir or shake it before using, or sift it if it seems like there are some clumps.
Enjoy friends! If you make this homemade powdered sugar, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!
Homemade Powdered Sugar
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar, use any kind you desire, white and cane will give you the best results, but you can also use coconut sugar or brown sugar (it’ll be a darker colour)
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch, optional – I never use this, but it’ll help prevent clumping and melting. It also helps with thickening.
Instructions
- Blend sugar (and cornstarch, if using) on high until powdery for at least 1 minute in a high powered blender, or slightly longer in a regular blender. Watch for the texture to change from a fine sugar to a powdered sugar as seen in the video.
- If you notice clumps, use a sift to break them up.
- Enjoy immediately where you’d use powdered sugar!
Notes
Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
will this damage the container if it’s not made of glass? thank you for any response.
Hi Omarina,
Like a plastic blender? It hasn’t damaged mine, so I don’t think it should yours. Of course it’s hard to give you a 100% answer without knowing yours so let me know!
Wow! I knew how to make powdered sugar, but clicked the recipe, just to see if I’d missed anything…and while reading it thought…”I wonder if it works for brown sugar”? and then you wrote about coconut and other sugars! What a fun new way to change a recipe slightly…I’m excited, Jessica! Thanks so much. I have to travel 180 miles round trip to get organic powdered sugar. This is a reminder and a great way to use one of my pretty containers instead of another plastic bag!!!
You are inspiring!
Awww I appreciate your comment so much and it’s so good to hear from you Randy!! I’m so happy this post has been so helpful – I know it helps me all the time haha! Also, brown sugar powdered sugar is so tasty!! Enjoy so much!