/ 400 g confectioner's sugar
Confectioner's sugar is essentially pure refined sugar with minimal nutritional value beyond carbohydrates; the cornstarch additive contributes negligible nutrients or calories. It provides no fiber, vitamins, or minerals in significant quantities.
About
Confectioner's sugar, also known as powdered sugar or icing sugar, is a finely ground refined cane or beet sugar combined with a small percentage of cornstarch (typically 3-5%) to prevent caking and clumping. This ingredient is produced by grinding granulated sugar into an extremely fine powder, resulting in a product that dissolves rapidly and creates smooth, lump-free mixtures. The cornstarch addition serves as an anti-caking agent and improves flow properties, making it ideal for applications requiring a uniform, fine texture. Confectioner's sugar is sweeter by volume than granulated sugar due to its reduced density, though it contains an equivalent amount of sugar by weight.
Culinary Uses
Confectioner's sugar is essential in pastry work and dessert preparation, primarily used for dusting baked goods, creating glazes, frostings, and icings for cakes and cookies. It is the preferred sweetener for royal icing, fondant, and buttercream frostings due to its fine texture and ability to create smooth, elegant finishes. The ingredient dissolves readily into icings and ganaches without grittiness, and is commonly used to dust pastries, churros, and doughnuts. In beverage applications, it dissolves more easily than granulated sugar, making it suitable for cold drinks and cocktails. Confectioner's sugar is also used in candy-making, meringues, and whipped cream toppings.