Powdered sugar is one of the bakers’ essential ingredients in the pantry. If you have ever baked a cake or made a dessert, you have realized you need different sugars for every type of end product. Different recipes also require different sugars such as coconut, sanding, white, brown, granulated, or pearl sugar. This can make it even more complicated to know when and how to use all these varieties of sugar, especially powdered sugar.
Health and diet are among the most important topics that come along regarding food consumption. We all have our concerns with our dietary options. Everyone can eat healthily or indulge in sneaky sweet snacks during the day. Over-consumption of dairy could be a health hazard, and dairy-free ingredients are usually preferred to those that are not. Powdered sugar is used in common baking practices, and that is why the common question arises, Is powdered sugar dairy-free?
What is powdered sugar?
Powdered sugar, also called icing or confectioners’ sugar, is finely ground sugar produced by milling granulated sugar into powder. An additional anti-caking agent like potato starch, tricalcium phosphate, or cornstarch may be added during processing to absorb moisture, improve flow, and prevent clamping. Although most of it is mass-produced in factories, it can also be homemade. Powdered sugar can be ordinarily made in a coffee grinder, blender, or pestle and mortar.
Powdered sugar is available in different varieties, most commonly 3X, 4X, and 10x. The greater the number of x’s, the finer the particles. Finer particles absorb more moisture making them ideal for caking.
Is powdered sugar dairy-free?
The simple answer; Yes, it’s dairy-free. Why should it be a major concern? People keeping their health status in check may pop up this question before attempting to bite that cheesy and appetizing cake. This may also result from dairy or lactose intolerance experienced by some people. Lactose is the sugar in milk and can also be found in milk products. Lactose intolerance individuals experience discomforts such as skin allergies, diarrhea, and blotting.
Eating healthy is currently a common habit due to increased lifestyle diseases. You may be on a healthy eating journey trying to lose weight or keep fit, and you are typically avoiding excess dairy in your diet, which can be a great concern.
Powdered sugar has always been mistaken for ice cream or milk, but the truth is this confectioner’s sugar has no dairy. It is of a healthier quality and low fat. This is the solution to your tooth and health issues. Powdered sugar is one ingredient that turns up in nearly all of your caking. From topping donuts, cakes, and sweetening deserts to meal dusting.
Powdered sugar is so easy to make, and you do not need to queue in the supermarket to get one. Besides, it’s the only way you are certain of eating something healthy with no secret additives. Only two main ingredients are granulated sugar and cornstarch or other caking agents. This makes it very healthy for consumption.
There are other more healthy alternatives to making dairy-free powdered sugar. Soy milk powder and coconut milk powder are some dairy-free ingredients that one can use to make this delicious product.
Powdered sugar nutritional facts
True it is that you can make your own powdered sugar at home, but, on this section of the article we are going to find out the nutrititional profiles of some brands who sell their own powdered sugar.
| Nutrition facts | Wholesome Organic Powdered Confectioners Sugar | Domino Confectioners Sugar | C&H Powdered Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Units | 1/4 cups (30g) | 1/4 cups (30g) | 1/4 cups (30g) |
| Calories | 120 | 120 | 120 |
| Total Fat | 0g | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0mg | 0mg |
| Sodium | 0mg | 0mg | 0mg |
| Carbohydrates | 30g | 30g | 30g |
| Protein | 0g | 0g | 0g |
| Vitamin D | 0mcg | 0mcg | 0mcg |
| Sugars | 30g | 29g | 29g |
| Fiber | 0g | 0g | 0g |
| Iron | 0mg | 0mg | 0mg |
Is powdered sugar vegan
Powdered sugar is dairy-free but is it vegan? Depends. Lactose intolerant individuals have to keep it healthy due to allergic reactions which may arise from consuming dairy products. The only way is to keep it vegan. Sugar is entirely made from plants, so I can consider it a dairy-free product. However, the problem arises from how this sugar is refined. A lot of sugar is refined to give it a natural white color. Much cane sugar goes through refining with a material known as bone char, which can filter impurities and other constituents that make sugar brown.
Unfortunately for vegans, this may or may not be considered healthy depending on how strict or serious they take their diet. Bone char is made from animal bones. These animal bones are heated and turned into a substance similar to charcoal used in the refinement process. None of these bone chars ends up in sugar. However, this might be quite irritating for vegans since we all know vegans are solely on a meat diet or for animal protection. Since this product involves animal products, the food is no longer vegan.
Not that other refining methods do not involve animal products, making it more vegan. Beet sugar is a healthier version for vegans. It doesn’t go through any refinement process right from farming to production. It is produced when finely sliced beets are stepped into hot water, extracting the juice, a strong sugar solution. The liquid sugar is then purified using calcium carbonate and later crystallized.
Nutritional benefits of powdered sugar
- Beneficial to the brain. The brain needs sugar to perform normally. Lack of sugar causes a blackout caused by insufficient sugar supply in the body and brain.
- Healing properties. Sugar has healing properties, and now you do not have to worry about your wounds.
- Source of carbohydrates. Sugar has extra carbohydrates stored in the body in the form of energy when the body experiences less food supply. These macronutrients are converted into glucose which is crucial for normal body functioning.
What is powdered sugar used for?
Powdered sugar has a wide array of uses. The most common use is icing. The sugar is beaten into powder to make a creamy frost used for frosting cakes. Frosting adds flavor and adds to its natural appeal of it.
Powdered sugar is a fine grain that allows it to dissolve quickly. Some recipes require specifically powdered sugar. This gives texture to your baking experience more than regular sugar.
Things like meringues need confectioners’ sugar for sweetness but could collapse under the weight of common granulated sugar. It will merge effortlessly with the ingredients in meringue and the tiny amount of cornstarch that help support that meringue so that it does not sag.
Summary
Excessive sugar consumption deteriorates your health. This is because sugar has a lot of calories, which is one cause of terminal illnesses.