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11 Healthy Substitutes for Powdered Sugar

by Marko

Also called confectioner's sugar or icing sugar, powdered sugar is granulated sugar that has been ground down to a fine powder. Sugar in its powdered form is very fine and easy to dissolve, and therefore most often used in baking. Some popular uses for this sweetener are making frostings and glazes.

We have eleven of the best substitutes for you to try, both homemade and ready-to-use artificial sweeteners.

What Exactly is Powdered Sugar?

Powdered sugar is granulated sugar pulverized to a very fine dust. Most regular powdered sugar you purchase in the store has corn starch added to it to prevent clumping.

Did you know you can make your own powdered sugar at home? It is also possible to use sugar substitutes when making homemade powdered sugar.

How is Powdered Sugar Used in Baking?

Powdered sugar adds sweetness to any recipe. It can be dusted on top of a baked good, such as a brownie or donut.

Powdered sugar also works as a tenderizer in baked goods.

What are Healthy Substitutes for Powdered Sugar?

  1. Cane Sugar: Sugar cane can also be ground into powder using a food processor or blender, making a fine powder suitable for a powdered sugar substitute.

  2. Coconut Sugar: If you take one cup of coconut sugar, add a tablespoon of cornstarch, and blend well, you have created a healthy powdered coconut sugar substitute.

  3. Monk Fruit Sweetener: Our favorite brand is Lakanto Powdered Sugar Substitute. It has zero sugar and tastes delicious.

  4. Raw Turbinado Sugar: Blend it up for three to four minutes until it is a fine powder.

  5. Powdered Milk: One cup of dry milk powder can be mixed with one cup of cornstarch, blended, and used as a powdered sugar substitute. (That is not a misprint. It really is one cup of each.)

3 Ways to Convert Sugar to Powder

  • Blender: A traditional blender can be used to make sugar a powder.

  • Coffee Grinder: Electric coffee grinders are excellent for DIY powdered sugar.

  • Food Processor: Food processors are also great tools for turning regular granulated sugar (or a substitute) into powder.

Once you make your sugar into powdered sugar, it should be used immediately or stored in an airtight container.

Alternatives to Cornstarch

When converting table sugar to powdered sugar, what if you want to use something other than a corn product or simply lack corn starch? What can you use for alternatives?

  • Arrowroot powder

  • Potato starch

  • Tapioca starch

Many people are shocked to learn that they can make powdered sugar at home without using any type of starch at all, as long as you are using the sugar you have ground into powder right away.

What about Sugar-Free Substitutes?

You may want to try powdered sugar substitutes that do not have sugar. There are options, and the best store-bought substitutes for those eating sugar-free include:

What About Chocolate Powdered Sugar?

Whether baking brownies or looking to add chocolate flavor to your favorite buttercream frosting, we have a great chocolate powdered sugar alternative for you.

You can mix hot cocoa and blend it just like in the powdered sugar recipes seen above.

Can you Substitute Powdered Sugar and Granulated Sugar?

You can substitute 1 3/4 powdered sugar for 1 cup of table sugar in quick breads and muffins.

However, if the recipe calls for creaming butter and sugar, the recipe may not work if you substitute these 2 types of sugar. You should not replace more than 2 cups of regular sugar in any recipe.

What Can You Use if You Don't Have Powdered Sugar?

  • Table sugar (1 cup table sugar for every 1 3/4 cup of powdered sugar)

  • Hot cocoa mix

  • Dry milk powder

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