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Learn how to make homemade powdered sugar in under 3 minutes! Making powdered sugar without cornstarch is affordable for use in your favorite recipes like frosting, icing, or whipped cream. You’ll never need to buy icing sugar again.
Have you ever been in the middle of making a delicious dessert, only to realize you’re out of powdered sugar? Doh! The good news is, you can totally make your own.
Making your own powdered sugar could not be any easier. And I’m going to teach you to do it in your own kitchen…in just three minutes. Seriously, you’ll never run out again.
Once you tackle homemade confectioner’s sugar, you’ll want to learn how to make brown sugar. Pretty soon, you’re going to be a pantry staples master.
How to Make Powdered Sugar Without Cornstarch
Simply place your sugar of choice in a food processor, high-powered blender, coffee grinder, or magic bullet.
Process it until it’s fine and fluffy, which should take about three minutes depending on your device.
Uses for Powdered Sugar
When you learn how to make icing sugar at home, you can use it in Overnight Cinnamon Rolls, Pumpkin Spice Cookies, Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting, Homemade Marshmallows, Mocha Frosting, or Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls, Chocolate Whipped Cream, or homemade royal icing.
It’s also great sprinkled over Frozen Berry Cake or a stack of Sour Cream Pancakes.
Powdered Sugar vs. Confectioner’s Sugar
Powdered sugar is a regional term and might be called confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar in other countries. If you have a recipe that calls for any of these sugars, the quantities will be equivalent.
You might stumble onto a recipe that calls for super fine or baker’s sugar. These are not the same as powdered sugar as the texture is halfway between granulated and powdered sugar.
How to Store Homemade Powdered Sugar
You will want to store homemade powdered sugar in an air-tight container; I prefer a mason jar.
If you’re using the homemade confectioner’s sugar the same day, you do not need to add anything to the mixture. If you want to store it for longer than a week, adding 1 tbsp of cornstarch or arrowroot powder will help keep the mixture clump-free.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- If you are using this sugar for frosting, I highly recommend making it an hour or so before you need to use it. The sugar will become warm during the processing, thus making it harder for the frosting to set. You need the sugar to be at room temperature before adding it to recipes.
- If you’re making more than 2 cups of sugar, separate it into multiple batches for processing.
- If using a blender or food processor, I find it best to place a damp towel over the top to catch any escaping powdered sugar.
- Stay in the same room with the blender while it is processing. You want to make sure you don’t have any issues with your blender overheating.
More DIY Pantry Staples Like This
- Check out my Homemade Seasonings page
- Homemade Vanilla Extract
- Stovetop Candied Pecans
- Homemade Peppermint Extract
- Honey Simple Syrup
- Homemade Mayo
- Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning
- Gluten-Free Teriyaki Sauce
- Homemade Cinnamon Almond Butter
- Sugar-Free BBQ Sauce
- Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing
- Homemade Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
How to Make Powdered Sugar
Equipment
Ingredients
- sugar {as much as needed}
Instructions
- Place the desired amount of sugar in a food processor, high-powered blender, or Magic Bullet.sugar
- Process for 1-3 minutes, or until it has reached your desired consistency. {Do stay near the blender while it is processing.}
- Finished powdered sugar should be fine, and easy to sift.
Notes
- If using a blender or food processor, I find it best to place a damp towel over the top to catch any escaping powdered sugar.
- If you’re making more than 2 cups of sugar, separate it into multiple batches for processing.
- Stay in the same room with the blender while it is processing.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
sometimes I think you’re nuts for making the most simple things. But then I realize that it is pretty darn simple and I save myself a couple $$.
I had no idea it was this easy!
I use a coffee grinder, it works very well. (don’t grind coffee in it) Use it for only sugar…
Wow I love powder sugar on my french toast and this will be so much cheaper. Thanks also.
Awesome! I make my own frosting and white sugar in bulk is cheaper than powered, Thanks!!
Good to know, I had no idea. Thanks for linking up to Frugal Tuesday Tip!
How did I not see this yesterday? I LOVE this!!!!
I seriously love you & all these awesome make it yourself stuff.
^just sugar and maybe a little bit of love @Tree Huggin Momma!
Wait so your powdered sugar contains no corn starch? LOVE THIS!