powdered sugar for icing

Powdered sugar, also known as confectioners' sugar, icing sugar, or 10X sugar, is granulated white sugar that has been finely ground into a powder and mixed with a small amount of cornstarch (typically 3%) to prevent caking. Produced by milling refined white sugar crystals to a fine consistency, this ingredient is distinguished from other sugar forms by its impalpable texture and rapid dissolving properties. The addition of cornstarch serves as an anti-caking agent, ensuring free-flowing powder suitable for immediate use in recipes. Powdered sugar is nearly pure sucrose with minimal nutritional complexity, making it primarily valued for its culinary functionality rather than nutritional contribution.

Powdered sugar is the essential ingredient for royal icing, glace, buttercream frostings, and fondant, where its fine texture dissolves smoothly without graininess. It is dusted over baked goods such as doughnuts, pastries, and cakes for decoration and sweetness, and incorporated into frostings, icings, and glazes for pastries, cookies, and confections. The cornstarch component aids suspension in wet applications, while the fine particle size enables quick incorporation and smooth texture in both whipped and poured preparations. It is also used to coat confections and create piping-suitable buttercreams.