Running out of powdered sugar while cooking your dessert is nothing less than a nightmare. As we all know, powdered sugar renders a very sweet taste to all dishes. Thus if you are out of powdered sugar, look for a good powdered sugar substitute.
Powdered sugar is nothing but sugar in ground form. Unlike regular sugar, powdered sugar has a very fine texture to it. It is often used for baking and is also called confectioners sugar, icing sugar, or simply powdered sugar.
Wondering what could work as a powdered sugar substitute? Powdered milk, hot cocoa mix, powdered dextrose, xylitol, and stevia are some of the best-powdered sugar substitutes you can try!
These are just some of them. Knowing good substitutes for your regular kitchen ingredients can be helpful for you in many ways. Thus in this article, we are exploring the powdered sugar substitute.
12 Best Powdered Sugar Substitutes
Given below are some of the best-powdered sugar substitutes you can try! So next time you run out of powdered sugar, fret not! Read through the article and choose the apt one according to your convenience and recipe needs!
1. DIY Powdered Sugar
Powdered sugar is not something we have at home every day. But a pack of sugar is something most of us have at home. If you have normal sugar, try this method to make some DIY powdered sugar instantly.
All you need to make this DIY powdered sugar is some cornflour and some normal sugar. Use a tablespoon of cornflour for 1 cup of sugar.
Add them to a blender and blend them well. Your homemade powdered sugar is all ready to use!
For the perfect texture, sieve the powdered sugar to have a perfect consistency. This DIY powdered sugar will work well and can be used as a powdered sugar substitute.
2. DIY Powdered Coconut Sugar
We all love to have it, but not all of us can afford to use sugar in our daily diet. Choose coconut sugar if you are looking for a healthier powdered sugar substitute. Coconut sugar has a flavor profile that is similar to regular powdered sugar.
Coconut sugar is low in glycemic index and contains many nutrients like zinc, calcium, and potassium. It doesn’t spike sugar levels in the blood, so many people nowadays prefer coconut sugar.
Due to its high demand, coconut sugar is easily available in supermarkets. However, powdered coconut sugar is not that common.
For making DIY powdered coconut sugar, mix 1 teaspoon of cornflour with 1 cup of coconut sugar until you get a smooth texture.
3. Regular Sugar
Regular sugar is the most common thing all of us will have at home. It is the base with which we make the powdered sugar.
You can easily make powdered sugar from regular sugar, but even in the real form, it works great as a powdered sugar substitute.
Regular sugar might not be a great option if you are going to use it for baking. But if you are making a dish that needs cooking, you cannot find any difference between powdered sugar and regular sugar.
4. Powdered Milk
If you don’t have any kind of sugar at home, powdered milk is something you should try. It must sound a little unbelievable, but powdered sugar is one of the most reliable powdered sugar substitutes you can try!
Powdered milk has a very fine texture similar to that of powdered sugar. But the powdered sugar is not as sweet as that powdered sugar.
Then while using powdered milk as a powdered sugar substitute, use an additional sweetener like Splenda or stevia.
5. Hot Cocoa Mix
Hot cocoa mix has a fine texture and sweet aroma as powdered sugar. Thus, if you have a pack of hot cocoa at home, you can use that as a powdered sugar substitute. Most hot cocoa powder works just fine as powdered sugar.
However, unlike powdered sugar, the hot cocoa mix has a slight brown color and chocolate aroma, which might affect the overall flavor and aroma of the dish.
But if you are making any chocolate dishes or if you are bothered about the color, a hot cocoa mix is a perfect powdered sugar substitute.
Hot cocoa mix has larger particles than powdered sugar. Thus give it a good blend before using it as a powdered sugar substitute. While using the hot cocoa mix as a powdered sugar substitute, follow the 1:1 ratio.
6. Powdered Dextrose
Dextrose sugar refers to sugar that is derived from grain, especially from corn. Dextrose sugar has a similar sweetness as that powdered sugar, and thus powdered sugar works well as a powdered sugar substitute.
Powdered dextrose comes in a similar consistency as that of powdered sugar. Thus if you need it in a pinch, you can have it! Powdered dextrose is not as common as normal sugar and is hard to get.
There are some downsides to using powdered dextrose as a powdered sugar substitute. A powdered dextrose is not as sweet as powdered sugar. It absorbs more moisture than sugar and thus is not a great ingredient for baking.
Sugar-Free Substitutes
There are many of us who are avoiding sugar on purpose. If you are one of those, here are some sugar-free powdered sugar substitutes you can try!
7. DIY Powdered Monk Fruit
If you are looking for a sugar-free alternative to powdered sugar, then this DIY powdered monk fruit is the best option. It has a very delicious sweetness which is slightly different from the sweetness of regular sugar.
To make this powdered monk fruit, you will need 1 cup of monk fruit and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Monk fruit generally has a fine texture similar to that of powdered sugar.
8. Xylitol
The Keto diet is the talk of the town, and so is the xylitol. This sugar-free substance is the perfect sweetener for making everything from cakes to ice creams. Thus, xylitol can be used as a powdered sugar substitute.
While using xylitol as a powdered sugar substitute, follow the 1:1 ratio.
9. Erythritol
Like xylitol, erythritol is another sugar-free component that adds sweetness to baked goods and ice creams. Thus we can say that erythritol can be used as a powdered sugar substitute.
However, erythritol has some downsides. Erythritol cannot be caramelized as that normal sugar. Hence it is not good for dishes that require so much sweetness.
But if you are looking for sugar-free ingredients to make frosting or sprinkle on your doughnuts, erythritol is the best.
Erythritol is less sweet than regular powdered sugar. Thus when using erythritol as a powdered sugar substitute, use twice the amount of required amount.
10. Stevia, Splenda, And Swerve
These are some of the sugar-free powdered sugar substitutes you can use. Most of them are sweeter than regular powdered sugar. Hence, using stevia, Splenda, and swerve as powdered sugar substitutes, use half the amount as required.
11. Baker’s Sugar
If you love to bake, you must have come across baker’s sugar at some point or other. Baker’s sugar has a consistency between regular sugar and powdered sugar and can often be used as a powdered sugar substitute.
It works just like the powdered sugar in most dishes. Thus while using baker’s sugar as a powdered sugar substitute, follow the 1:1 ratio.
12. 6x / 4x Powdered Sugar
This is not a common ingredient we could find in a common kitchen. However, if you have them at home, swap them with powdered sugar. It works just as powdered sugar in most dishes and can be used as a powdered sugar substitute.
It works just like the powdered sugar in most dishes. Thus while using 6 x/ 4x powdered sugar as a powdered sugar substitute, follow the 1:1 ratio.
Short Recap Of Powdered Sugar Substitutes
Now that we have seen almost 12 substitutes for powdered sugar, you must choose one according to your convenience. If not, here is a little token of help from my side!
Easily Available Powdered Sugar Substitutes:
- Regular Sugar
- Powdered Milk
Most Suitable Powdered Sugar Substitutes
- DIY Powdered Sugar
- Xylitol
Substitute Options To Consider Last:
- Hot Cocoa
- 6 x/ 4x Powdered sugar
Best Sugar-Free Substitutes
- Xylitol
- DIY Powdered Monk Fruit.
Least Common Sugar-Free Substitutes
- Baker’s Sugar
- 6x/ 4x Powdered Sugar
How To Use Powdered Sugar Substitutes In A Recipe
12 Best Powdered Sugar Substitutes You Can Use!
Ingredients
- 6 x / 4x Powdered Sugar
- Baker’s Sugar
- Stevia, Splenda, And Swerve
- Erythritol
- Xylitol
- DIY Powdered Monk Fruit
- Powdered Dextrose
- Hot Cocoa Mix
- Powdered Milk
- Regular Sugar
- DIY Powdered Coconut Sugar
- DIY Powdered Sugar
Instructions
- Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
- Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
- Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.
Final Thoughts
Now that we have reached the end of the article, I hope your search for the best-powdered sugar ends here!
Powdered sugar is an amazing ingredient that is a must-have for making desserts. But not all people tolerate much sugar, and sometimes we will run out of this ingredient.
If you are any of these, then try our powdered sugar substitute. Most of the substitutes in this article are easy to get and work well, similar to that powdered sugar. Next time, if you are out of powdered sugar, try any of these!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What can I use if I don’t have powdered sugar?
Powdered milk, hot cocoa mix, powdered dextrose, xylitol, and stevia are some of the best-powdered sugar substitutes you can try!
Can you use regular sugar instead of powdered sugar?
Yes. Regular sugar can be used a powdered sugar substitute.
Can I make my own powdered sugar?
All you need to make this DIY powdered sugar is some cornflour and some normal sugar. Use a tablespoon of cornflour for 1 cup of sugar. Add them to a blender and blend them well. Your homemade powdered sugar is all ready to use!
Can I use brown sugar instead of powdered sugar?
Brown sugar does bring the sweetness to the dish. However, brown sugar is not a good powdered sugar substitute.
