How to Make Icing Sugar

Icing sugar is a must as a baker. Find the recipe for icing sugar below!

Do you remember how I was really sad when we first moved to Thailand because I couldn’t find icing sugar? Essentially, before I realized that I had to be creative to be creative?  If you’ve traveled abroad, or have lived abroad, there is a good chance you know precisely what I’m talking about!

Well, turns out, there was no reason to be sad as I eventually got lucky and found icing sugar!

If you ever find yourself in a similar situation with no icing sugar available, or, you simply ran out and have no time to go to the store, you don’t have time to despair—not even to be sad or cry.

You can make icing sugar at home from scratch!

All you need is:

-granulated sugar

-a blender, a grinder or even a food processor

This will make pure icing sugar, but if you’re looking for the commercial quality that you know from the store, you can also add one teaspoon of corn starch per cup of sugar. The corn starch will make the sugar, turned icing, much fluffier and more like the store brands you might be used to.

Icing Sugar Recipe

Here is how you make the powdery goodness we all know and love as icing, from regular granulated sugar:

To get started, first add a cup or two of granulated sugar to the blender and allow it to be mixed and blended until the sugar becomes a powdery texture.  As the blender or food processor mixes the sugar, I would suggest stopping the blender or food processor every 10-15 seconds to check its texture.  If it still seems a bit grainy, continue blending it a bit longer.

However, you won’t want to blend it too long because if your machine starts getting too warm it might melt the sugar and it will get stuck to the blades.  Additionally, if the machine you’ve chosen to use gets too hot, there is a chance you’ll end up stripping or burning out the motor and thus, ruining your blender or food processor all together. I would say, you should blend the granulated sugar for no more than 2 minutes at a time.  At this point, if the sugar hasn’t created the type of icing you’re looking for, go ahead and add the corn starch.  Remember to only add one teaspoon of corn starch per 1-2 cups of granulated sugar.

Finally, once the sugar has been mixed to a point where all the granules of sugar have been dissolved and have formed a luscious, creamy, fluffy and sweet icing consistency, you’ve done it!

Another thing to consider, is that the sugar crystals might scratch a plastic blender or food processor. If you’re afraid of that, use a grinder or blender with a glass jar.

Icing Sugar Can Save You in a Pinch

Even if you’re currently traveling, working or living abroad and struggling to find ingredients to suit your baking needs, now you can solve one small dilemma!  This icing sugar is homemade from scratch but nonetheless, delicious!  Enjoy this new-found discovery of sugary goodness!

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