confectioners' sugar

American  

[kuhn-fek-shuh-nerz shoog-er] / kənˈfɛk ʃə nərz ˈʃʊg ər /

noun

1. an extra-fine variety of powdered sugar, with cornstarch added to preserve dryness, used in icings, confections, etc.: it is graded from XXX to 14X, with a higher number of X’s corresponding to a more finely ground product.

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confectioners' sugar British  

noun

1. the US term for icing sugar

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Etymology

Origin of confectioners' sugar

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

One of the recurring tropes in “The Things We Never Say” is of a younger Artie spying his sister Maria eating confectioners’ sugar.

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

Serve them with a quick homemade blueberry syrup, regular maple syrup or loads of melted butter and confectioners’ sugar so their lightly sweet citrus flavor can really shine.

From New York Times • Jun. 17, 2023

Place on a cake plate or stand and dust with confectioners’ sugar.

From Washington Times • May 16, 2023

Our confectioners' sugar in the U.S. has 3% corn starch in it.

From Salon • Feb. 3, 2023

“You can start with the gold. Take that rolling pin, and roll it out like dough. Sprinkle some confectioners’ sugar on the table first.

From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks