Healthy Homemade Powdered Sugar

Many of my past favorite recipes have used powdered sugar in some way for sweetness, and until I could find an acceptable alternative, these recipes where on the shelf.  But, not any more!  Here is a processed free, healthier version of this pantry staple.  You could actually make regular powdered sugar the same way, but we are of course not doing that. 

1 cup sucanat (or palm sugar or erythritol)
1 Tbsp. cornstarch or arrowroot

Put both ingredients in a food processor and pulse until everything is combined and very fine in texture. 

This is what mine looked like in my mini food processor.  Because the sucanat is brown, the powdered sugar is a light brown too.  If this throws you off, use the erythritol because it is white.  I personally like the whole food-ness of the sucanat or the palm sugar, so the brown shade of those doesn't really bother me.  I guess it may depend on what you are using it for.  I also prefer the cornstarch to the arrowroot, but you could use either.  I do however use organic cornstarch since corn is a highly genetically modified food (GMO) and I want to stay away from that as much as possible.  If you use the sucanat version for an icing or glaze where it's just milk and vanilla added, your glaze will be brown and have a little bit of a molasses flavor to it.  My kids absolutely love it!  One final note, if you use coconut/palm sugar or erythritol you may need to use a little more to achieve the same sweetness you want in your recipes.  I hope you like using a healthy powdered sugar.  Have fun with this! 

Sucanat

I have mentioned in some recipes that I use sucanat in place of refined white sugar.  I thought I should explain what it is and how to use it.  Sucanat stands for sugar cane natural - it is organic whole cane sugar.  Yes, it's sugar, but it is not processed the same way white sugar is.  This kind of sugar is dehydrated at low heat and contains the molasses still in the original cane juice.  The molasses is where many of the nutrients from the original cane juice are found, and what your body needs to properly digest sugar.  This is why it is brown.  You may wonder if brown sugar that has molasses added to make it that way is just as healthy as whole cane sugar, and it's not.  They add such a small amount of molasses that has been heated to kill most of the nutrients anyway that it is definitely not the same! 

You can find packages of sucanat in some health food stores or in their bulk food sections.  You can also buy it online, but make sure it is called sucanat, rapadura or organic whole cane sugar.  Use it cup for cup in your recipes that call for sugar.  The only noticeable difference is the color.  It may make some recipes look just slightly different if they are a light color, but for most, it won't matter.

This brings me to another point, there are several terms on the market that might make you think you are buying something healthy or the same as sucanat when they are really not.  Beware of "evaporated cane juice/sugar" or sugar in the raw.  These are almost identical to refined white sugar and NOT what you want to put in your body if you are trying to be processed free.

Coconut Sugar (Palm Sugar)

This has become one of my favorite sweeteners!  I can grab it and add it quickly to anything that needs a quick sprinkle of "sugar."  It's organic, raw, and low glycemic, so it's perfect for using in recipes!  It is brown in color and has a slightly brown sugar kind of taste.  This is one of my favorite brands, but you can find others or buy it in the bulk section of major health food stores.  It has become an absolute staple at our house!