Caster sugar is also called superfine sugar and is a well-liked baking ingredient throughout many elements of the world. It dissolves shortly, making it excellent for desserts, sauces, meringue, mousse, whipped cream and drinks.
Uncover the various kinds of caster sugar, it is makes use of, substitutes, dietary info and how one can make your individual selfmade caster sugar.
As an Australian meals blogger (and self-confessed candy tooth), caster sugar is a BIG factor in my life!
Right here in Australia, we use caster sugar in just about all of our baking recipes – in cookies, desserts, desserts… actually the whole lot!
It’s an extremely versatile ingredient that may be a staple in Australian, New Zealand and UK pantries.
Whereas quite common in Australia, there are different elements of the world the place caster sugar is much less well-known.
As lots of my recipes use caster sugar as an ingredient, one of the crucial frequent questions I get requested from readers internationally is, ‘What’s caster sugar?’
I’m going to clarify precisely what caster sugar is, the kind of recipes it is utilized in, substitutes you need to use, how one can make your individual caster sugar, in addition to the most typical questions I get requested relating to this candy little sugar!
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What Is Caster Sugar?
Caster sugar is a time period used for tremendous granulated sugar with smaller crystals with quick-dissolving properties.
It’s a fashionable baking ingredient with a texture that sits between common granulated sugar and powdered sugar.
Such a sugar is also called superfine sugar, baking sugar or castor sugar.
Caster sugar dissolves in a short time, making it excellent for dessert recipes that require whipping the sugar with egg whites to make ethereal desserts like meringue and mousse, whipped cream, or flaky pie crust, cookies, desserts, puddings, candy sauces and drinks.
Varieties
There are lots of various kinds of sugar. Right here, we’ll evaluate a few of these varieties.
White (Common) Caster Sugar
When the time period ‘caster sugar’ is used, it refers to white caster sugar or common caster sugar.
That is the most well-liked sort of caster sugar available on the market and is way extra available than golden caster sugar.
Golden Caster Sugar
Golden caster sugar is constituted of unrefined sugar cane or beets.
Throughout processing, it maintains a few of the molasses (like brown sugar). This offers the sugar a light-weight brown color mixed with a refined buttery caramel flavour.
Golden caster sugar is extra available within the UK than it’s within the US or Australia.
If a recipe requires golden caster sugar, you can substitute it for normal white caster sugar.
Caster Sugar vs Granulated Sugar
No.
The sugar crystals in caster sugar are rather more finely floor than common granulated sugar.
Due to its finer texture, it may be utilized in recipes that require the sugar to be dissolved, akin to whipped cream, meringues, creamed butter mixtures, souffle or sponge desserts.
It is also splendid to be used in cocktails or mocktails as a substitute for easy syrup.
Caster Sugar vs Powdered Sugar
No.
Powdered sugar is also called icing sugar or confectioners’ sugar. It’s rather more finely floor than caster sugar – to the purpose that it’s fairly actually ‘powdered sugar’.
Powdered sugar may be purchased in a pure type, which incorporates no anti-caking agent. Which means pure powdered (icing) sugar simply clumps and requires sifting earlier than use. It additionally units firmer than an everyday powdered sugar combination.
Powdered sugar combination, also called icing sugar, is the most typical type of powdered sugar obtainable.
Not like pure powdered sugar, powdered sugar mixtures include a small quantity of anti-caking brokers, akin to cornflour or cornstarch, which forestall the sugar from clumping.
Powdered sugar made with an anti-caking agent doesn’t set as agency as pure powdered sugar.
Makes use of For Caster Sugar
Caster sugar is broadly utilized in baking, desserts and drinks because it dissolves shortly.
It’s fashionable when making:
- sweetened whipped cream
- meringues – together with desserts akin to lemon meringue pie, pavlovas, baked Alaska, meringue trifles and extra
- sponge desserts
- cookies – the caster sugar dissolves shortly when creamed with butter
- desserts
- drinks – together with cocktails and mocktails
- souffle
- chocolate mousse
- shortbread
- sauces – akin to caramel or butterscotch sauce
Baking With Caster Sugar
There aren’t any suggestions or methods to baking with caster sugar!
It may be utilized in precisely the identical manner as common white granulated sugar.
There isn’t a have to sift earlier than utilizing. Merely measure the sugar after which add to the components identical to you’ll with common sugar.
How To Make Caster Sugar
Caster sugar may be made utilizing granulated sugar and a meals processor or a Thermomix.
The sugar is processed till it has a finer texture than granulated sugar however not as tremendous as powdered sugar or icing sugar.
The sugar granules in selfmade caster sugar is not going to be as uniform in dimension as store-bought caster sugar. Nonetheless, they’re completely tremendous to make use of in baking.
Scroll to the recipe card under for a step-by-step information to creating your individual caster sugar.
Diet Data
Let’s check out the dietary breakdown of caster sugar.
It’s just like granulated sugar in that it’s comparatively low in energy, is fat-free and is cholesterol-free.
Per teaspoon, caster sugar incorporates 16 energy, 4.2 grams of carbohydrates, and no protein or fibre.
Like all sugars, caster sugar ought to be consumed sparsely.
Well-liked Recipes Utilizing Caster Sugar
Caster sugar dissolves shortly, making it excellent for baking your favorite desserts, cookies, sponge desserts, cocktails and extra:
FAQs
Caster sugar has many various names – caster sugar, castor sugar, superfine sugar, baking sugar, baker’s sugar or casting sugar.
Caster sugar will get its title from a conventional kitchen shaker known as a ‘caster’. This was used to sprinkle sugar on high of fruits and desserts.
Caster sugar is utilized in a spread of baking recipes. It is fashionable for baked items and desserts as the feel is so tremendous that it dissolves when combined.
Caster sugar can be utilized in drinks akin to cocktails and mocktails as a sweetener – in lots of instances, it’s used instead for easy syrup.
For finest outcomes, retailer caster sugar in an hermetic container at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from warmth and moisture.
When saved accurately, caster sugar technically by no means spoils. Nonetheless, it is suggested that or not it’s discarded after two years.
When you’re within the UK, Australia or New Zealand, you will discover caster sugar within the baking aisle of any grocery store or grocery retailer.
It’s a quite common and fashionable sugar for desserts, cookies and desserts and is cheap to purchase.
Nonetheless, within the US, it may be harder to purchase caster sugar, and it’s possible you’ll want to go to a specialty grocer or baking provides retailer.
Alternatively, you possibly can order caster sugar on-line or make your individual (see recipe under).
As it isn’t as available, the price of caster sugar within the US is increased than in Australia, NZ and the UK.
Within the US, caster sugar is mostly often known as superfine sugar. It’s a frequent ingredient in lots of American recipes.
One of the best substitute for caster sugar is to make your individual selfmade caster sugar. Scroll to the recipe card under to discover ways to make your individual caster sugar.
Caster sugar is a well-liked sugar for baking as its tremendous texture implies that it dissolves when combined with different components.
For instance, when butter and caster sugar are creamed collectively for a cookie recipe, the caster sugar will dissolve into the creamy butter combination, leading to completely crunchy, candy cookies.
In case your caster sugar has small lumps in it, it has been uncovered to water or moisture.
The caster sugar remains to be okay to make use of – merely take away the small lumps and discard.
Caster sugar has a candy style, identical to white sugar. Nonetheless, it has a finer texture than common white sugar. When a small quantity of caster sugar is positioned on the tongue, it dissolves simply.
Caster sugar is constituted of granulated sugar that has been processed or pulverised to a finer texture.
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How To Make Caster Sugar
Make your individual selfmade caster sugar in simply 2 minutes utilizing granulated sugar and a meals processor.
Servings: 1 serve
Energy: 916kcal
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Directions
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Place the granulated sugar right into a meals processor, blender or Thermomix.
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Use the heartbeat or mix perform to pulverise the sugar granules till they resemble very tremendous grains of sand. If utilizing a Thermomix, press the Turbo perform for 1 second at a time.
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Pour the caster sugar into an hermetic container and retailer in a dry, cool place.
Notes
Tools – use a meals processor, blender or Thermomix
Granulated sugar is also called uncooked sugar.
The feel of caster sugar ought to be finer than granulated sugar however not as tremendous as powdered sugar.
Retailer in an hermetic container in a dry, cool place for as much as 2 years.Â
Diet
Energy: 916kcal | Carbohydrates: 237g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 5mg | Sugar: 236g | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 1mg
