Icing sugar

Icing sugar, also known as powdered sugar or confectioners' sugar, is a finely ground granulated sugar. It is made by milling granulated sugar into a fine powder, often with a small amount of anti-caking agent like cornflour or tricalcium phosphate to prevent clumping.

Manufacturers add icing sugar primarily as a sweetener and texturiser. Its fine powder form allows it to dissolve easily, making it ideal for creating smooth icings, glazes, and frostings for cakes and biscuits. It is also used to dust baked goods and in confectionery.

Icing sugar is a form of sugar and therefore a source of energy. The UK's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommends that free sugars should not exceed 5% of total dietary energy. Icing sugar is not regulated as a food additive in the UK, as it is a form of sugar itself. While high sugar intake is associated with various health concerns, typical consumption levels in baked goods are generally considered within the context of a balanced diet.