powdered sugar
Noun: * Finely granulated sugar, typically mixed with a small amount of anti-caking agent (like cornstarch) to prevent clumping. It is used primarily for making icings, frostings, and as a decorative dusting on baked goods and desserts.
Powdered sugar is a specific type of sugar defined by its texture and culinary application. It is not typically used as a general sweetener for beverages or cooking but is reserved for specific tasks where a smooth, dissolvable texture is required.
- Noun:
- The recipe calls for two cups of powdered sugar to make the glaze.
- Dust the top of the doughnuts with powdered sugar before serving.
- For a smooth buttercream, you must use powdered sugar, not granulated sugar.
- "To sift powdered sugar": To pass powdered sugar through a fine mesh sieve to remove any lumps before use, ensuring an ultra-smooth texture in icings or a light, even dusting.
- Always sift powdered sugar when making royal icing to avoid lumps.
- Confectioners' sugar (n): A common synonym for powdered sugar, especially in American English. The terms are often used interchangeably.
- Icing sugar (n): The common term for powdered sugar in British English and other Commonwealth countries.
- 10X sugar (n): A professional or industrial term indicating the finest grade of powdered sugar.
- Confectioners' sugar
- Icing sugar
The term "powdered sugar" refers specifically to this one product. It is not used to describe sugar that one has personally ground into a powder at home unless it is explicitly stated (e.g., "I powdered the sugar in a blender"). In a culinary context, it is understood as the commercially prepared product.
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sugar granulated into a fine powder
