At times, you may need to find a powdered sugar substitute for one reason or another. You have either run out of powdered sugar while baking or want to try a lower-glycemic-index alternative.
Fortunately, several replacements for confectioners’ sugar are available to you. This article will give you multiple picks for the same.
What Is Powdered Sugar?
Milling granulated sugar into powder results in powdered sugar, which is finely ground sugar. Other common names for it include confectioners’ sugar, 10X sugar, or icing sugar.
Powdered and regular white sugar is the same ingredients in granulated and powdered forms. It’s essentially superfine sugar ground into tiny granules like a fine powder.
Finely ground sugar easily dissolves and is suitable for icing, frosting, and adding glazes. As a result, confectioners use it extensively.
You’ll find it as an attractive snowy dusting on pastries and doughnuts. It’s usually dusted onto baked confections to add a subtle sweetness and delightful decoration.
Regrettably, its effects on health are many. Experts believe sugar consumption is a significant cause of obesity, type-2 diabetes, and many other chronic diseases.
6 Best Powdered Sugar Substitutes
You need to be in order if you have exhausted the stock of this fine-textured glazed sugar. It is easy to find a confectioners’ sugar substitute that you can use in its place.
1. DIY powdered sugar
Confectioners’ sugar is finely ground granulated sugar combined with a small amount of cornstarch.
You can make your own powdered sugar if you don’t have it.
One cup of powdered sugar recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch or arrowroot powder
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
To make powdered sugar, grind a cup of regular granulated sugar in a food processor or blender till it turns into a fine powder. Sieve the ground sugar to separate the more prominent granules that may still be left in the powder. Then thoroughly blend the mixture of powdered sugar and well-ground cornstarch. Now the confectioners’ sugar is ready, and you can store it in a tightly closed jar.
Homemade powdered sugar is a suitable replacement for any recipe for powdered sugar. Use it in a 1:1 ratio.
2. Powdered dextrose (D-glucose)
Dextrose monohydrate is one of the constituents of table sugar. Dextrose = D-glucose. Hence, the terms dextrose and glucose are used interchangeably. Usually, the packaged dextrose powder comes in finely ground crystal form.
This crystal sugar is similar to confectioners’ sugar in function and texture.
If you use dextrose in place of powdered sugar, you should be mindful of these features.
Dextrose absorbs more liquid than regular sugar, so use slightly more liquid to balance the consistency of your recipe.
Secondly, it’s less than 70 percent as sweet as regular sugar. You need to use more dextrose to attain the same degree of sweetness.
Apart from these, dextrose burns and melts more quickly than regular powdered sugar. Therefore, use the dextrose towards the end of your baking. Or after adding this sugar substitute, reduce the temperature below 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Studies suggest that dextrose may increase blood sugar levels and hyperosmolarity. Diabetes and high BP patients should be mindful of using it lavishly.
3. Powdered sugar in 6x or 4x size
Typically, confectioners’ sugar comes in 10X crystal size (fine powder).
But other varieties of powdered sugar come with a slightly bigger crystal size. The finest ground sugar is 10X, and those with more giant crystals come in a lower number.
If you don’t have confectioner’s sugar, you can still manage with 6X or 4X powdered sugar instead. Of course, it’s a little difficult to dissolve in the frosting. They work very well as dust toppings for desserts, cakes, doughnuts, and pastries.
4. Powdered coconut sugar
Ground coconut sugar blended with arrowroot powder is another excellent alternative to regular sugar. It is less sweet and has a lower glycemic index. In addition, its caramel-like flavor is genuinely delightful.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon of arrowroot powder
Thoroughly blend the mixture, and use this blend as a 1:1 ratio substitute for powdered sugar. Coconut sugar works well in dessert recipes and baking confections. This is an excellent choice for people who love the lower sweetness and a more caramel-like flavor.
5. Dry milk powder (a sugar-free substitute)
It’s a better and healthier option. Try substituting powdered milk for powdered sugar, which is also a fantastic way to reduce your added sugar intake.
What do you need to make this substitute?
- 1 cup of dry milk powder
- 1 cup of cornstarch
- ½ cup of Splenda or other sugar-free substances
Blend these ingredients well to a fine consistency. This substitute mixture works excellent for dessert toppings and icings. Use it in a 1:1 ratio instead of confectioners’ sugar.
Milk powder absorbs more liquid than powdered sugar. If you add blended milk powder to your recipes, use more liquid to achieve consistency.
6. Hot cocoa mix
The chief ingredients in the hot cocoa mix are melted chocolate or cocoa powder, heated milk, and usually a sweetener. You can choose a sweetened version of the hot cocoa mix to replace powdered sugar.
Blend this mixture into a powder-like consistency and use it in chocolate-flavored recipes. Usually, the substitute ratio is 1:1, but feel free to experiment to get the right amount of chocolate flavor and sweetness.
Related article: How Much Sugar Intake Per Day Is Too Much For You?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I substitute granulated sugar for powdered sugar?
Granulated sugar and powdered sugar have different textures and properties. If you use granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar in a recipe that calls for powdered sugar, the final output will have a grainy texture. For a better option, before use, you can grind the granulated in a blender or food processor until it becomes a fine powder. Substitute 1 cup of granulated sugar for every 1 ¾ cup of powdered sugar.
What are the sugar-free alternatives to powdered sugar?
Xylitol, erythritol, stevia, and monk fruit are sugar alcohols that add sweetness to baked goods without causing a sugar high. This sugar alcohol can be used as an adequate substitute for powdered sugar.
Can I use any type of sugar for making powdered sugar?
Traditional powdered sugar is typically made using white sugar. You can make powdered sugar using raw turbinado sugar, sucanat, maple sugar, or even coconut sugar raw turbinado sugar, sucanat, maple sugar, or coconut sugar. Brown sugar, due to its high molasses content and stickiness, is not a recommended option for making baker’s sugar.
Can I substitute powdered sugar for granulated sugar in lemonade?
Yes, you can substitute powdered sugar for granulated sugar in lemonade. However, powdered sugar is finer and more easily dissolved than granulated sugar. Thus, you may need to adjust the amount of sugar or liquid in the recipe to get the desired sweetness and consistency. Also, the cornstarch in the baker’s sugar may affect the texture of the lemonade.
Final Thought
It is easy to find an alternative ingredient if you run out of powdered sugar.
If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to powdered sugar, there are several options to consider. From natural sweeteners like stevia and erythritol to homemade sugar-free substitutes like ground oats or coconut flour. There’s no need to reach for traditional powdered sugar-laden with high amounts of refined sugar
All that matters is your baking skills. Rightly blended substitutions won’t even alter your recipes’ original taste and texture.
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