Sanding sugar is a type of coarse-grained sugar made of extremely pure sucrose crystals that is used for decorating cookies, muffins and other baked goods and confections. It's often, but not always, colored in bright colors.
Fast Facts
- Coarse-grained sugar crystals
- Available in various colors as well as white
- Used for decorating
- Usually not vegan
What Is Sanding Sugar?
Sanding sugar is a type of decorative sugar made from coarse-grained sugar crystals that have been refined to a high state of purity. Raw sugar, which is a brown crystalline product, is melted into a liquid, which then goes through a process of clarifying and decoloring. This clarified liquid is then boiled once more to concentrate it. The resulting syrup is then recrystallized and dried in large tumble dryers. At this point the crystals are around 99.96 percent pure sucrose.
Next, the crystals are poured through a series of screens to separate them by size. The crystals used for making sanding sugar need to measure 0.6 to 0.7 millimeters (around the size of grains of sand, hence its name), as compared with 0.3 to 0.4 millimeters for ordinary granulated sugar. Finally, the sugar crystals have food-grade coloring added to them, and a polish made of carnauba wax and a substance called confectioners' glaze is applied. This polish is what gives sanding sugar its distinctive shine.
Carnauba wax is obtained from the leaves of a tropical palm. Confectioners' glaze, however, is made from a resin secreted by a species of tree beetle. Therefore, fun (or maybe not so fun) fact: sanding sugar most often isn't vegan. Be sure to check the ingredient label is this is an issue for you. If it lists confectioners' glaze, it is not vegan.
What sanding sugar brings to your baking is a coarse crystal that provides sweetness and crunch, will not dissolve when sprinkled over royal icing, will not melt when baked, and imparts a colorful sparkle to cookies, muffins, cupcakes, candies and other treats.
Sanding Sugar Vs. Sparkling Sugar
There is a similar product called sparkling sugar which is sometimes confused with sanding sugar. Sparkling sugar is another coarse-grained sugar that shares many of the same properties as sanding sugar: its crunch, its resistance to melting and dissolving, and its sparkle and shine. The crystals of sparkling sugar are usually slightly larger than sanding sugar, like 0.65 to 0.75 millimeters, and are likewise available in various colors, as well as white. While both products are sparkly, sparkling sugar sparkles a bit more due to its larger size.
How to Cook With Sanding Sugar
Unlike granulated sugar, which is used as the primary sweetener in sweet dishes, sanding sugar is a decorative sugar that is sprinkled over cookies or muffins before baking them, or onto the icing of cookies or the frosting of cupcakes. What it adds, in addition to its colorful, sparkly appearance, is a crunchy texture along with a hit of pure sucrose sweetness. There are endless ways of decorating with sanding sugar, including dredging the edges of cookies in the sanding sugar, or using small cookie cutters to help apply the sanding sugar in shapes to the tops of cookies.
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What Does It Taste Like?
Since it consists of 99.96 percent pure sucrose, sanding sugar has a sweet flavor. And because it's a decorative sugar, the crystals don't dissolve on the surface of whatever sweet treat it's sprinkled on, which imparts a pleasant sugary crunch as well.
Sanding Sugar Substitute
If you can't find sanding sugar, sparkling sugar, pearl sugar or any other decorative sugar will work just as well. Other decorative sprinkles, such as nonpareils, sequins, jimmies and edible glitter are also good alternatives. Raw sugar, which has larger crystals, will also work, though it has a brown color. And you can make your own colored sugar by adding a drop of gel food coloring to coarse-grained sugar and shaking it up in a plastic bag.
Sanding Sugar Recipes
Here are a few recipes you could prepare and decorate using sanding sugar.
Where To Buy Sanding Sugar
Sanding sugar is widely available in supermarkets, in their baking aisles, as well as in baking supply stores, specialty food stores, and online.
Storage
Sugar doesn't spoil, so its shelf life is effectively infinite. Over time, however, sugar can become clumpy due to moisture, which can interfere with how easily it sprinkles. Therefore it's best to keep it tightly sealed and store it in a cool, dry place.
As a seasoned enthusiast with a deep understanding of the culinary world, particularly in the realm of baking and confections, let's delve into the intricacies of sanding sugar and related concepts outlined in the provided article.
Sanding Sugar: Unveiling the Sweet Brilliance
Sanding sugar is not just any sweetener; it's a carefully crafted decorative sugar made from coarse-grained sucrose crystals. What sets it apart is its exceptional purity, with crystals reaching around 99.96 percent purity. The meticulous process involves melting raw sugar into a liquid, clarifying, decoloring, concentration through boiling, recrystallization, and finally, drying in large tumble dryers.
The distinctive feature of sanding sugar lies in its coarse crystals, measuring between 0.6 to 0.7 millimeters, akin to the size of grains of sand, hence the name. These crystals, larger than those of ordinary granulated sugar, contribute to the sugar's unique texture. Food-grade coloring is added to the crystals, and a final touch of polish, consisting of carnauba wax and confectioners' glaze, gives sanding sugar its characteristic shine.
It's worth noting that the inclusion of confectioners' glaze, derived from a resin secreted by a tree beetle, renders sanding sugar non-vegan. This fact underscores the importance of checking ingredient labels for those adhering to a vegan lifestyle.
Sanding Sugar vs. Sparkling Sugar: A Crystal Clear Distinction
Occasionally, confusion arises between sanding sugar and sparkling sugar, two products sharing similar properties. Sparkling sugar, like its counterpart, boasts coarse-grained crystals with resistance to melting and dissolving. However, the crystals of sparkling sugar are slightly larger, measuring between 0.65 to 0.75 millimeters, providing an extra sparkle due to their size.
Cooking with Sanding Sugar: A Delightful Art
Unlike granulated sugar, sanding sugar is not a primary sweetener but a decorative delight. It finds its place as a finishing touch, sprinkled over cookies, muffins, or onto the icing and frosting of various treats. The result is not only a burst of color and sparkle but also a delightful crunchy texture, thanks to the pure sucrose sweetness that doesn't dissolve during baking.
Tasting the Brilliance: Pure Sucrose Sweetness
With its impressive 99.96 percent sucrose composition, sanding sugar offers a sweet flavor. The crystals, undissolved on the surface, add a sugary crunch to the treats, enhancing the overall sensory experience.
Sanding Sugar Substitute and Recipes: A World of Options
For those unable to find sanding sugar, alternatives such as sparkling sugar, pearl sugar, or other decorative sprinkles can step in seamlessly. Raw sugar, albeit with larger crystals and a brown color, can also serve as a substitute. Adventurous bakers can even create their own colored sugar by adding gel food coloring to coarse-grained sugar.
Where to Find Sanding Sugar: Widely Accessible Brilliance
Sanding sugar is readily available in supermarkets, baking supply stores, specialty food stores, and online platforms. Its enduring shelf life, practically infinite, ensures that this dazzling sugar is always within reach for your culinary adventures.
Storage Wisdom: Preserving the Brilliance
Sugar's resilience against spoilage doesn't mean it's exempt from clumping over time due to moisture. To maintain its sprinkle-friendly texture, store sanding sugar in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place.
In conclusion, sanding sugar transcends the realm of sweeteners, bringing a colorful, sparkling, and crunchy dimension to the world of baking and confections.
