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Making your own homemade powdered sugar is one of the easiest things you will ever do in the kitchen! Never buy it again!
What I’m about to tell you might just change your life: You do not have to buy powdered sugar.
As in, you never, ever have to even think about it. Cross it off your shopping list this Christmas and…forever!
You will never, ever have to run to the store at the last minute to get more confectioner’s sugar to frost that cake or ice those cookies.
Because making your own powdered sugar is one of the easiest things you can ever learn to do in the kitchen.
I am so not kidding!
I feel funny even writing a whole blog post about this because it’s just that easy to make homemade powdered sugar.
But after doing a live Periscope of me making my own yesterday (when I decided to make some Christmas goodies on a whim!), I decided I ought to publish this post because, lo and behold, so many ladies had never heard of this little trick!
Ready?!
Homemade Powdered Sugar
Ingredients
- granulated sugar (any kind--white sugar, cane sugar, sucanat, coconut sugar--whatever floats your boat!)
- a blender
Instructions
- Pour sugar into the blender.
- Start the blender.
- Watch your granulated sugar turn into sand (a.k.a. powdered sugar).
Now, I do have a high-powered blender, but I promise you it does not matter what type of blender you use.
In fact, I’ve had some friends tell me they have actually seen better results making their own powdered sugar in cheaper blenders.
For years, I used a cheap blender I had gotten as a wedding gift. I don’t even remember the brand; it obviously did not make that big of an impression on me!
It could not grind ice worth a flip, but when I poured granulated sugar into it, it worked its magic and turned it into powdered sugar in a flash.
Now why would you want to make your own powdered sugar?
1. It eliminates unnecessary trips to the store.
In case you didn’t know, I hate shopping.
The only place I like to shop is ALDI, and I even like to keep my trips there to no more than once a week.
Anything that eliminates the need for me to get out to the stores any more than I already do is a huge win in my book!
2. It’s healthier for you.
Now, sugar in general is not healthy at all.
BUT, if you use organic cane sugar instead of plain white sugar (which is most likely made with GMO beets), then you are making a healthier choice.
Sucanat (unrefined sugar) and coconut sugar are even healthier choices. Yet, it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to find all of these in powdered sugar form. So, make your own!
In addition, most store-bought powdered sugars come with anti-caking agents, like cornstarch. Making your own powdered sugar is the best way to guarantee that it’s 100% pure!
3. It is possibly cheaper.
Since I haven’t bought powdered sugar in so long, it’s hard for me to state this as a fact, but when I did a quick Amazon search, powdered sugar was coming up as slightly more expensive than regular sugar.
If you buy regular sugar, then, and just make your own powdered sugar, you will save a little money in the process.
It really is this easy to make your own powdered sugar! Give it a whirl…no pun intended!! 😉
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
This is all I do too! I just buy a big bag of organic sugar from Costco, and use it for brown sugar and powdered sugar. It really is so easy and keeps my grocery shopping more simple.
Kristi
How do you do that to make brown sugar? I use so little of both brown and powdered, it makes no sense to have all 3 in my house!
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
It’s really easy Kristi. Basically you just mix together sugar and molasses in a stand mixer until it’s blended. I have a post about it here: http://www.thispilgrimlife.com/simplified-grocery-shopping-sugar-three-ways/
LA
All you need is a bowl of sugar, molasses and a wooden spoon or stiff rubber spatula. I like using Non GMO raw cane sugar and organic unsulphured blackstrap molasses. Which I buy it in bulk. Under $3 for a 1lb tub! Put sugar in bowl. Make well and a little molasses. Spin sugar with spoon or spatula until well blended.
Jennifer
Mix molasses in with regular sugar
Rina
I never knew it was this easy!!! Thank you for sharing, it’s a must try!!
Edna
Can i use my food processor instead of a blender?
Shannon
That may work for sprinkling on crepes and cakes, but when it comes to making a glaze or icing this method doesn’t work. The sugar chops up a bit but it is not powdered enough. It makes everything grainy.
Will O
We have used it for all of those things, and It has worked great. We have a Blendtec that does the job. We just make sure and let it pulverize the sugar for a several seconds. It might take longer with less powerful blenders.
Gaylene
How do you make brown sugar?
Patricia S brayboy
Take granulated sugar and add Black Molasses to it and just mix it well
Sarah@TheOrthodoxMama
How have I never heard of this trick? I can’t believe I’ve never tried this before! I don’t use powdered sugar very often, so I usually forget I need it until I’m in the middle of a recipe. This will definitely save a trip to the store. Thanks!
Sue
Thank you for this tip! You have made a big difference in my baking routines.
Megan
Wow, can’t believe I’ve never heard/thought of this! Are the measurements the same (I.e. 1 cup granulated sugar blended yields 1 cup powdered sugar)?
LA
I have successfully used my coffee/Spice grinder to make small amounts of powdered sugar! It works like a champ. Happy baking everyone!
Teresa Thompson
Our local grocery store just had sugar for .99 cent for 4 lbs. I was able to get 4 pks. I did so
because of all the baking I will be doing for Christmas. Thank you for this idea because I do
need powdered sugar, now I don’t have to buy it!
Kathy
If you want the powdered sugar to be a special color first color the sugar. I made pink powdered sugar by adding a toothpick dipped in pink icing color to a zip bag of sugar. Mix well then remove the toothpick. Then continue as instructed. Learned to do this as a child from my mother.
Maren
How much granulated sugar makes about 1 cup powdered sugar? This sounds like something I want to try.
Thanks!
mike
I tried this once and my blender got hot and smelled like smoke and little pieces began falling out of the bottom. cuisinart powerblend blender
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
Erin, I have the same blender! Like you, I hate shopping so this is going to come in handy. Before I got the Blendtec, I had a horrible blender that was so difficult to clean that I never used it. Now that I have a great blender and keep it on the counter, I’ll give this a go!
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
Erin, your answer to Keelie was right. I’ve tried it in food processors (good ones), too, and it doesn’t really do the job!
Jill York
Totally marking powdered sugar off my list now. 🙂
Diane
I’ve made it in a Vita-Mix and the blender got hot and even though it looked powdered, it was still grainy, as was my buttercream frosting.
Morgan
Same! Ruined buttercream! I turned it into brownies though =)
Erin
It works perfect for buttercream for me! The trick is to always use your blender. It won’t work in a food processor, unfortunately. 🙁
Shannon
I used my blender and when that didn’t work I used my food processor. It didn’t work either.
Sue
I’ve made it aseveral years ago and it was grainy. I probably made it in my Vita-Mix. Store bought powder sugar has cornstarch mix in, doesn’t it?
Erin
I do believe store-bought has the cornstarch in it to help against clumping. It is helps, a very basic blender has been the best for me to use. My Blendtec does fine, but I started making this when I had a very basic (i.e. CHEAP! Ha!) blender.
Vicky
I also made it in my vitamix. I also found it and the frosting I made with it (buttercream) grainy. I’ve since switched to Swiss meringue buttercream. It uses granulated sugar. It comes out fine because it gets heated with the egg yolks.
Morgan
I tried doing this a while ago with my cuisinart food processor. It never got fine enough, even after 10+ minutes. My boyfriend was like “you’re going to burn out the motor”. So maybe the trick is a blender instead?
Erin
It’s all in the blender. It won’t work in a food processor.
Shannon
I used my ninja blender and it still didn’t work.
Alicia
Doesn’t powdered sugar have a dash of corn starch in it for stiffening up frosting so it’s easier to pipe onto cakes and such? Maybe it’s only certain kinds of powdered sugar, but we learned this the hard way when we tried to use powdered sugar to sweeten our ice tea when we were out of regular sugar… Definitely some corn starch in there! ? (undrinkable!)
I don’t know the ratios though, it may be worth googling.
Erin
I think you’re right, but we have used this as a 1:1 sub and haven’t had any issues yet. If anyone does, they might want to try to add a little cornstarch or arrowroot!
Sarah
I have wondered about doing this in the past but never tried it. I am glad that you tried it out and posted it. Thank you so much!
Jen
Brilliant! I ran out of powdered sugar halfway through a recipe and almost headed to the store, but my husband insisted that he could make it. He poured regular sugar into a coffee grinder and wah-lah! I was amazed! I was sure other people have figured this out, but just wanted to share that it really works!
Erin
YAY! I’m so glad you found it helpful!
Tammy
If you are worried about clumps, why not put it through a flour sifter? I haven’t tried this yet but definitely sounds worth a try!
Carrie
Oh my wow! Never knew this! So glad I know now! Thank you!!
Vi
Store-bought powdered sugar also contains 1 tablespoon of cornstarch for every cup of sugar to keep it from clumping. So if you’re making up a batch to store for later, you might want to add cornstarch.
Nancy E All
All of my kitchen appliances are KitchenAid. I have been making my own brown sugar for years. Make a huge batch about 6 big ball jars. Use stand mixer with the wire whip. Makes short work of 10 cups of sugar and molasses. Can’t wait to try this
April
I have a ninja blender and use it for many cycles and several minutes. It is still grainy even used a softer after .
What else do I do????