The Best Powdered Sugar Substitute Cheat Sheet for Home Cooks

Powdered sugar is a staple ingredient in countless desserts and sweet recipes. Unfortunately, this ingredient contains lots of carbs and calories, which can be detrimental to your health.

That's why numerous bakers and home chefs continuously seek substitutes that provide a similar sweetness but are less harmful.

Today, I was able to unlock these hard-to-find alternatives. I'll let you decide. Which among the replacements below is the best powdered sugar substitute?

Jump to:

• Understanding Powdered Sugar
• Best Substitutes for Powdered Sugar
• Sugar-Free Powdered Sugar Substitutes
• What to Consider When Using a Powdered Sugar Substitute
• Powdered Sugar Substitutes FAQs
• Keeping Your Recipe Sweet
• Recipe

Understanding Powdered Sugar

Sorry for interrupting your excitement for a bit. I just want to ensure we're on the same page before proceeding to the list of powered sugar substitutes.

If you don't know what powdered sugar is and why we should replace it in our recipe, don't skip the next parts!

What's Powdered Sugar?

Powdered sugar is a finer version of granulated sugar. Refineries mill granulated sugar multiple times (usually around 10 repetitions) until it turns into very fine powder.

This is also how it earned the nickname "10X." Some people also call powdered sugar "icing sugar" or "confectioners sugar" because of how often it's used in icings and glazes for candies and desserts.

Since it's still technically regular granulated sugar (just finer), its origin remains the same, which is sugar cane. However, most brands throw some cornstarch or arrowroot powder into the mix.

This prevents the sugar from clumping, thus maintaining its powder texture.

Why Replace Powdered Sugar in a Recipe?

We replace powdered sugar in a recipe for the same reasons we avoid consuming sweet treats and desserts frequently.

The sugar content in these types of food can raise our blood sugar levels, significantly increase our weight (which can lead to obesity), and heighten the risk of tooth decay.

While replacing powdered sugar with a substitute will not always guarantee avoiding these negative side effects, it helps reduce the risk.

Best Substitutes for Powdered Sugar

This brings us to the question, what's the best substitute for powdered sugar? It always depends on your needs, but here are the ones I found.

1. Homemade Powdered Sugar

The good news is that you can make your own powdered sugar at home, but remember that this is not the healthiest substitute.

Just mix a cup of granulated sugar and a tablespoon of cornstarch or arrowroot powder in a blender.

Process it for a few minutes or until you get the same texture as regular powdered sugar. Just like that, you have your own homemade powdered sugar.

Use this DIY powdered sugar as a substitute in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for any recipe that calls for powdered sugar.

Try it on this Lemon Meringue Tart recipe.

2. Powdered Coconut Sugar

From coconut milk to coconut cream, there is no stopping the products we get from coconut trees. We can even get coconut sugar from them to replace powdered sugar.

Its texture is between powdered and granulated sugar, but its color is similar to brown sugar. The taste, however, is similar to white sugar, albeit a little nutty.

But despite having a lower glycemic index, powdered coconut sugar contains the same amount of carbs and calories as powdered sugar, so it's not the healthiest alternative.

If you can't find powdered coconut sugar, just blend one cup of regular coconut sugar with 1 tablespoon of tapioca flour until its texture resembles powdered sugar.

Use the fine powder as a substitute in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for baked goods (especially those with nuts).

3. Cocoa Powder

To make chocolate, we extract cocoa butter from raw cacao beans. This leaves behind clumps of solid by-products, which we grind into cocoa powder.

Numerous brands often sell this in two versions: sweetened and unsweetened. So, be mindful of that, as it can alter the taste of your recipe.

Since its origin is similar to chocolates, it adds a similar rich chocolate flavor to your recipe. However, you can't use it for frosting because its texture differs from powdered sugar.

For other recipes that need icing or glaze, cocoa powder is one of the best options. Substitute powdered sugar with cocoa powder in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for chocolate cake and chocolate desserts.

Here's a Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe to test it on.

4. Hot Cocoa Mix

If you can't find cocoa powder anywhere, the good old hot cocoa mix will do! It's similar to cocoa powder, except it contains milk powder and sugar.

Think of it as chocolate-flavored powdered milk. However, its texture is a mix of fine powder and granules, so try blending it first before using it as a substitute.

Because of its flavor, it's not a suitable substitute for powdered sugar in every recipe. Nonetheless, chocolate cake, chocolate frosting, and brownies would greatly benefit from this alternative.

It's also relatively easier to find than cocoa powder, and you don't need to mix it with anything else to make it sweeter! Just use it as a substitute in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for brownies and chocolate-flavored baked goods.

5. Dry Milk Powder

It may not be as sweet as powdered sugar, but powdered milk may work as a substitute (with a few tweaks).

One thing I love about this alternative is that it has a consistency similar to powdered sugar. The only thing missing is consistency and extra sweetness.

To keep this substitute healthy, combine dry milk powder with arrowroot powder and a sugar-free sweetener in a 1:1:½ ratio.

Use the final mixture to replace powdered sugar in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for baked goods and sauces.

Check out this Authentic Italian Tiramisu recipe.

6. Raw Turbinado Sugar

If you haven't gotten it by now, you can turn most types of granulated sugar into powdered form by blending it or using a food processor.

This means raw turbinado sugar should also work as a powdered sugar substitute. Just be mindful of the caramel-like flavor it adds to your recipe since turbinado sugar tastes just like brown sugar.

Pro-Tip: You can't use the same technique for brown sugar because of its molasses content. This significantly adds to its moisture content. Therefore, it won't become powder even if you blend it for hours.

Since turbinado sugar is less sweet, use 1 ¾ cups to replace every cup of powdered sugar the recipe calls for.

Best for caramelly desserts and baked goods.

7. Caster Sugar

Caster sugar is otherwise known as baker's sugar. Its texture sits between powder and granules, but its origin and nutritional content are similar to regular sugar.

This alternative is not something you seek out intentionally. Instead, it's something you'd use in a pinch. Based on my experience, the only people that have these are bakers, hence the name.

So, if you regularly bake at home, check your shelves. You might have some of this lying around. You can replace powdered sugar with caster sugar in a 1:1 ratio.

While the consistency and texture of these sugars may not be the same, you won't notice the difference once you mix caster sugar with other ingredients.

Best for any recipe that calls for powdered sugar.

Here's a Tiramisu Cake recipe to try it on.

8. Maple Sugar

Maple syrup is a common sweetener in many recipes and a regular substitute for sugar and other sweeteners. Its powdered version works just as great for replacing powdered sugar.

One thing I love about this is it already has a similar texture to powdered sugar, even without blending and cornstarch.

Despite that, it behaves identically to powdered sugar and is perfect for glazing, frosting, or icing. However, maple sugar tends to release moisture under heat.

So, if you want to bring it even closer to powdered sugar, I suggest adding a tablespoon of cornstarch to every cup you use.

You may then use this mixture as a substitute in a 1:1 ratio.

Best for French toast, icing, glaze, and frosting.

Here's how you can make the best Air Fryer French Toast.

Sugar-Free Powdered Sugar Substitutes

I have the best news for you if you're trying to lower your blood sugar levels but still want to enjoy sweet treats, desserts, and baked goods.

There are several sugar-free substitutes that can save your recipe.

1. Stevia

Stevia is a type of plant native to Brazil and Paraguay. Its leaves can be used to produce stevia sugar, which is a sugar-free sweetener.

Despite not coming from cane sugar, stevia tends to be extremely sweeter than granulated or powdered sugar. So, ensure that you use less than what the recipe calls for.

Other sugar-free sweeteners of the same caliber as stevia include brands like Splenda and Swerve. These should also work as substitutes for powdered sugar.

These sugar-free sweeteners are multiple times sweeter than powdered sugar, so reduce the ratio to ½ for every cup of powdered sugar the recipe calls for.

Remember that these substitutes will have a slightly different taste than regular sugar, which can be quite exotic at first.

Best for candies, desserts, and baked goods.

2. Monk Fruit Sweetener

Monk fruit, or luohan guo, is a type of fruit that often grows in China. Nonetheless, several manufacturers turn it into powder and sell it in the US (albeit quite challenging to find).

The best thing about this substitute is that monk fruit is already sweet, which means powdered monk fruit sweeteners often don't include sugar to elevate their flavors.

In other words, you can say goodbye to sugar spikes! Its texture is similar to powdered sugar, but its flavor is a little sweeter.

I suggest you start with ¾ cup of monk fruit sweetener for every cup of powdered sugar the recipe calls for and increase the proportions based on taste.

Best for any recipe that calls for powdered sugar.

Try it on this Air Fryer Lava Cakes recipe.

3. Xylitol Powder

Have you ever heard of sugar alcohol? That's xylitol powder. It's a type of sugar that comes from grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Xylitol powder is a popular sugar substitute in numerous healthy diet plans because of its low-carb and low-calorie content.

If you only have granulated xylitol, you already know the drill. Toss it in the blender until it turns into a powdery substance.

It's one of the healthiest powdered sugar substitutes, and you can use it in a 1:1 ratio. Just an important reminder, though. Xylitol is extremely toxic to cats and dogs, so store it properly.

Best for cakes and jams.

4. Erythritol

Erythritol is one of the most popular artificial sweeteners that will not increase your blood sugar levels or cause blood spikes. However, it's less sweet than powdered sugar.

Additionally, it will not melt or caramelize like powdered or granulated sugar, so you should only use it as a topping to sprinkle over baked goods.

Start by using it in a 1:1 ratio and increase the proportions if it lacks sweetness. If you need accurate measurements, use 1 ⅓ cups of erythritol for every cup of powdered sugar the recipe calls for.

Best for baked goods as a topping.

Use it as a topping on this Chocolate Cream Puffs recipe.

What to Consider When Using a Powdered Sugar Substitute

As always, I want to ensure your substitute blends perfectly with your other ingredients. I'll leave you some tips on how to pick a powdered sugar alternative.

Texture

One of the most important aspects of powdered sugar is its texture. Otherwise, why not just use granulated sugar, right?

So, when choosing a substitute, look for something with a similar powdery texture. If all you have are granulated substitutes, use a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder to achieve the right consistency.

Sweetness

The next thing you must consider is the sweetness of the substitute. For instance, erythritol is not as sweet as powdered sugar, so you must increase the proportions.

On the other hand, stevia is multiple times stronger than regular sugar, so you must use less of it to avoid an extremely sweet product.

Consider the sweetness level of an alternative to determine the appropriate ratio when using it as a substitute for powdered sugar.

Additional Flavor

Lastly, be mindful of additional flavors. Some substitutes like cocoa powder, coconut sugar, and turbinado sugar will add distinct flavors to your recipe.

You shouldn't use them in recipes where the extra flavor doesn't blend well with the other ingredients. Hint: cocoa powder in Spanish flan.

Consider your recipe and the overall flavor profile you're trying to achieve before choosing a powdered sugar substitute.

Powdered Sugar Substitutes FAQs

Keeping Your Recipe Sweet

There are many ways to keep your recipe sweet without powdered sugar. Using any of the substitutes above should help you achieve that.

Nonetheless, I recommend trying the sugar-free sweeteners first for a healthier recipe. You should only turn to sugar-based substitutes if you don't have any other option.

For more tips on how to keep your recipes delicious but healthy, visit Also The Crumbs, Please. I have a long list of substitute articles that should help improve your culinary skills.

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