Hello from Israel! I am having the greatest time exploring the country with Lee, Emily, Ben and Jessa and the wonderful people who run Vibe Israel, the non-profit organization that invited us over. I’ve been sharing photos on Instagram if you’re interested!
Since I’m away from my kitchen and the holidays are fast approaching, I thought I’d share a super simple tutorial on how to make your own powdered sugar out of less refined sugars. It’s a great option for vegans or anyone who needs powdered sugar in a pinch!
It’s ridiculously easy to make powdered sugar at home in your blender or food processor. Powdered sugar (which you may know as confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar) has a bad reputation because it’s usually made out of super refined sugar and mixed with corn starch to prevent caking. You can skip the corn starch when you make it at home.
You can use any granulated sugar you have in your cabinets, like the coconut sugar I bought recently at Trader Joe’s. Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than other sugars and actually contains trace minerals like iron and zinc, so it’s a slightly less unhealthy sugar than regular table sugar.
I don’t usually advocate for sugar consumption buuuut I firmly believe that life’s too short to go without the occasional glazed treat. My favorites include this maple tea cake and these vegan pumpkin scones. Oh so good!
How to Make Powdered Sugar
- Author:
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 3 minutes
- Yield: Varies
- Category: Tutorial
- Method: Blended
Homemade powdered sugar is so easy to make! Learn how in this simple tutorial. Use any sugar you have on hand (healthier options like coconut sugar and turbinado sugar work great!).
Ingredients
- Approximately half as much granulated sugar as you need powdered sugar (I’ve had best results with cane sugar, turbinado sugar and coconut sugar but even brown sugar and sucanat work!)
Instructions
- Pour granulated sugar into a blender or food processor. Blend the sugar until it is a fine, fluffy powdered sugar. The more refined, whiter sugars make the fluffiest powdered sugars. Use powdered sugar immediately or save it for later. You may want to sift the sugar before use for clump free, super fluffy sugar.
Notes
Make it vegan: Use sugar that is labeled vegan/hasn’t been filtered through bone char.
▸ Nutrition Information
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Emily
Goodness, I’ve never even thought to try this! What a great idea and just in time for the holidays. Thank you! Israel looks fantastic!
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
How have I not done this before?! I was totally creeped out when I found out how/why some sugars aren’t vegan, so this is a perfect solution!
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
Amazing trick! I’ll remember this the next time I run out :)
dixya | food, pleasure, and health
if you are using it instantly, like you said there is no need for corn starch, i have used it several times and it works like a charm. i cant wait to hear about your trip.
Tobie
I’ll be in Israel in just a few weeks. I’d love to hear more about your trip.
Kate
Hey Tobie! Where are you going in Israel? We spent most of our time in Tel Aviv, but spent a couple of nights up north in a beautiful resort, and also visited the Dead Sea. If you’re going to Tel Aviv, I definitely have some restaurant recommendations for you. I wish we could have gone to Jerusalem, but it was a little too tumultuous for our tour guides’ comfort.
Melanie
This is brilliant! I have been avoiding conventional icing sugar, thereby not making some of our favourite recipes. Thank you!
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Kate
You’re welcome, Melanie! Enjoy. :)
Pamela
Exactly, I can’t stand supermarket confectioner’s sugar. It’s horrifying, and never ceases to amaze me the people that eat it in frostings like it’s manna!
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Elizabeth
I love this! I wanted to prepare a recipe the other day but was totally out of powdered sugar. Next time I will just make my own! Loving the pics on Instagram by the way. :)
Rachael
This is so cool! I might never buy powdered sugar again… yay! I can’t wait to try it, it looks SO simple!!! P.S. Have fun in Israel! :)
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Kate
Thanks, Rachael! :)
Holly
This worked in a pinch, thank you. However, the sugar was not as fine as powdered, so the recipe was a little grainy. I used white sugar. Maybe I should of blended it longer?
Kate
Hey Holly! Yes, it sounds to me like your powdered sugar could have used some more time in the blender.
Dorrian Winton
How long? I’m making it now and it’s taking a really long time
John
It takes a really really long time to make. Not one minute.
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Kate
That really depends on your equipment. My fancy blender (Vitamix) turns sugar into powder in just 1 to 2 minutes.
lisa @Garlic+Zest
I’ve seen this done before, but have never had the occasion to do it myself. I do have a big thing of turbinado sugar in my pantry. Hmmm. What can I glaze?
Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits
Thanks for this post! I have been avoiding recipes that call for powdered sugar because I don’t want to buy a whole box of something I rarely use. This will be perfect for those occasions!
Kate
You’re welcome, Lisa! Glad you appreciate it!
Midge
Hi, I’m going to try your recipe.
Now I’m wondering if you have a good substitute for corn syrup?
Thanks
Kate
Hi Midge, corn syrup has some unique properties that make it difficult to replace, so I just avoid recipes with corn syrup altogether. You might be able to substitute honey or maple syrup in some recipes.
john holm
Talk about perfect timing! Christmas is right around the corner, so I’ll definitely do this! Thanks for sharing :)
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Valerie
Have a wonderful time here! If you get a chance – go to Meshek Barzilay in Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv. It’s a wonderful vegan/vegetarian restaurant based on organic produce – delicious!
Kate
Thanks, Valerie! I was on a tour with no free time and they didn’t take us to Meshek Barzilay. :( I want to go back to Israel, so I’ll save it for next time!
Leigha @ The Yooper Girl
It’s this easy?!?! Wow! Can’t wait to try it!
mrsdmk
Between finding out a few days ago how to make my own tomato paste & this…easy DIY powdered sugar lately I’ve been coming across some great cooking tips this week! Like someone else in the comments I am planning to make a recipe that needs powdered sugar & am all out. It’s been snowing all day /evening and I already walked to the nearest store twice today and definitely don’t want to do it tomorrow either so will be using this tip…hope this is as easy as it looks!
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Kate
Glad you found it! Hope your powdered sugar turned out great.
Jackie
I sue this method and it tastes great and there no additives which i love .
Kate
Thank you, Jackie!
Clara
This recipe is amazing! My sister can’t have sugar, but this makes it possible to make sugar-free powdered sugar and opens up so many new recipes for me to make her!
Teresa
yeh, so you basically just saved Christmas for me! i doubt any stores are open and i ran out. thank you so much from Maryland USA.
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Kate
Happy to help, Teresa! Happy holidays. :)
Robin M Poe
I am going to try this today. From a fellow Marylander :)
FRANCESCA
Great recipe :)))
Kate
Thank you!
Terry
Great trick. I was about to make a recipe this morning and it called for powered sugar like icing sugar which I do not have. So I looked up how to make powered sugar and came upon this site. I used raw cane sugar. Worked like a charm.
Kate
Thank you, Terry! Glad it worked for you!
Mickey Smith
I was looking for a recipe for red powdered sugar or different colors to make puppychow for different holidays but cannot find one. Any ideas? Mickey
bea
maybe you can get sanding sugar (cake supply stores usually have it in lots of colors) and imitate this process :)
Rebekah
How long should I have the coconut sugar in the food processor before it is considered powdered? I’ve been running it for a few minutes and it doesn’t look much different.
Minna
Thanks so much for this! I’m looking for sugar alternatives for baking, and am going to try this with Natvia (erythritol/stevia blend) to see how it works for frosting. Thanks again! :-)
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Zai Dimaandal
Yeys i made it!and it’s perfect for my choco crinkles…thanks to my blender :-D and #cookieandkate ..god bless
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Mimi
Just made powdered sugar according to your directions! Thanks so much for saving me a trip to the store! It was also interesting to learn about coconut sugar’s lower glycemic level. Good info!
Kaeli Davis
Wow! That is incredibly simple. I just ran out of powered sugar, and needed some for a recipe. Now I don’t have to run to the store. Thank you, I will definitely use this again.
Is it healthier than store bought?
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Kate
It could be, depending on the sugar you used! I use organic cane sugar, so I end up with higher quality powdered sugar.
Bess
So this absolutely did not work with regular granulated white sugar. I poured in about a cup or so while the processor was on high, let it go for over 5 minutes and still had granulated sugar. So bummed!
Paige
Try using a blender or I used a NutriBullet and it worked great.
Paige
I was out of powdered sugar, and I needed a quick frosting. I have made brown sugar before so I got to exploring if you could make powdered sugar. Thank goodness I found your recipe, it worked out great!!!!!!
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Neha Ahmed
I always do this but it doesn’t turn out so fluffy, it’s still a little rough and nor that fine even after passing it through a sieve.
Akiva
I used my coffee grinder for this purpose and it worked perfectly just like the stuff from the store
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chromosone
yummy psui
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Angela
Thanks for taking the time to post. One question is HOW LONG should I let the sugar process in the food processor? I left it about 10 minutes on high, and while it got finer than refined cane sugar, it wasn’t nearly as fine as powdered. Any tips for next time?
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Jean P
Many thanks for sharing. I’m allergic to corn& only partially able to skip sweets. Extra thanks for the TJ tip.
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Debbie
Did this in a pinch yesterday to top my Jelly Doughnuts. (Try getting confectioners sugar on Christmas Day. Nope – the convenience store was out. It worked beautifully. Question: If using corn starch, how much per cup of sugar and how long will it keep? Should it be refrigerated? Thank you.
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Nikki
This dosent wreak your blender? I have a Ninja. Will it work with that ?or should I use the bullet single serve blender attachment that came with the blender?????
Kate
Sorry, I have never used a Ninja, but I don’t think that sugar will wreck your blender.
Leeroy mudhikwa
Great. Worked perfectly
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Kate
Awesome!
Terri Sortor
Worked like a dream in my VitaMix!
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Kate
Yes! I’m glad.
leona
Why when I do this it comes out somewhat grainy? No matter how long I blend it. I have also tried a food processor.
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Kate
Hi Leona, I’m sorry to hear that. I’m not quite sure what to suggest since I’ve never encountered that issue. Some other sites suggest adding a bit of cornstarch to the sugar to help preserve its fluffiness over time, but I’m not sure that would help your blending issue. Wish I knew what to suggest, short of buying new equipment!
Kate
I have always used the organic turbinado sugar. Will be using this to make my powdered sugar!!
Thank you
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Kate
Yes! Who knew it was so simple? Thanks, Kate.
Trisha
Awesome! Thank you!
Kate
You’re welcome, Trisha!
Mary
Do you think I could make powdered sugar out of Splenda? Or some other artifical sweetener?
Kate
I’m not sure, Mary! I haven’t tried that.
Mary
Good morning from PA! Wondering if I should add arrowroot powder to the sugar to
Prevent clumping? Thanks,Mary
Sibyl Brown
Thank you so much. Making Peanut Butter pie for my son, he turns 50. Only need 1/4 cup powdered sugar. Thought it would work, but didn’t know if additives would be needed. I will let you know.
Kate
Please do!
Patti Conklin
Have you ever tried this with Monk Fruit sugar? Wondering if it would work?
Kate
I haven’t, so I’m not sure.