You’ve seen them—those adorable 8-ounce boxes that look like they belong in a dollhouse. Those contain about 1 ¾ to 2 cups unsifted. Honestly, they’re fine for a tiny batch of glaze or if you’re making a single cupcake for yourself (no judgment). But for serious baking, grab the pounder. It’s the heavyweight champion of confectioners’ sugar.
And don’t even get me started on the bags that look like pillows of sugar. A standard 2-pound bag is basically a cloud of happiness, but it will settle more than a box due to being squishy. When in doubt, spoon and level. Your measuring cup is your truth.
Wait, What About Weight?
If you’re a fan of kitchen scales (nerd alert, but I love you), one pound of confectioners’ sugar equals exactly 16 ounces by weight. So a recipe that says “1 pound” is telling you to use the whole box. Easy peasy. But most of us measure by cups, which is why we’re here having this little chat.
Here’s a fun fact: Confectioners’ sugar is just regular granulated sugar that’s been ground to a powder and mixed with a little cornstarch (about 3%) to keep it from clumping. That cornstarch is the reason you can’t just whiz regular sugar in a blender and call it a day—it’ll be gritty. Trust me, I’ve tried. My coffee was not the same.
How Many Cups Are in 2 Pounds of Powdered Sugar
