Is Superfine Sugar Really Necessary?

I’ve recently run across three recipes calling for superfine sugar: one a delicate cake, one a soufflé, and one a pudding. Each recipe had enough details to consider as it was. Did sugar really have to be one of them?

The answer is, for the most part, yes. If a recipe calls for superfine sugar, there’s generally a reason. The most common reason is that it’s going to melt faster and incorporate itself into sauces, creams, and bases much more quickly and smoothly since it’s finer than regular granulated sugar. This is why some bartenders swear by it in making simple syrups and cold beverages. If you go ahead with regular sugar, you will often end up with a grainy dessert. It will be the proper sweetness, but the texture will be off.

What should you do if you don’t have superfine sugar at home? As we discussed a few years ago, to make superfine sugar at home simply run one cup plus two teaspoons of white sugar in the food processor for 30 seconds. This gives you one cup of superfine sugar, all with little hindrance or hassle!

Related: Sugar Substitutes: For or Against?

(Image: Anjali Prasertong)