Grocery
Finely Ground Powdered Sugar
What it is
This is a very fine sugar, also known as icing sugar or powdered sugar. It is made by grinding granulated sugar into a powder. A small amount of cornstarch is often added to prevent clumping and ensure a smooth texture. Its delicate consistency makes it ideal for specific culinary applications where a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture is desired.
How people cook with it
Powdered sugar is essential for creating smooth icings and delicate baked goods. Its fine texture dissolves easily and creates a silky finish.
- Dusting pastries
- Making smooth frostings
- Creating glazes
- Sweetening whipped cream
Powdered sugar is primarily used in baking and dessert making. It is the base for many frostings, glazes, and icings, where it dissolves readily in liquid to form a smooth, spreadable consistency. It's also used to dust finished desserts like cakes, cookies, and doughnuts, providing a decorative and subtly sweet finish. In some recipes, it can be creamed with butter to create light and airy fillings or incorporated into doughs for a tender crumb. Its fine texture ensures it blends seamlessly without grittiness.
How it differs from similar foods
Unlike granulated sugar, powdered sugar is much finer. This difference in particle size means it dissolves more quickly and creates a smoother texture in mixtures. Granulated sugar can leave a gritty feel in frostings or icings, whereas powdered sugar produces a silky, velvety finish that is preferred for delicate confections.
Who it is for
Bakers and home cooks often use powdered sugar for its ability to create smooth, elegant finishes on desserts.
How to keep the rest
To keep this sugar from clumping, store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Ensure the lid is sealed tightly after each use. If it does clump, you can sift it to break up the hardened bits before using it in your recipes.