Is Confectioner’s Sugar Gluten Free?

Is confectioner’s sugar gluten-free? Almost always, in the US. Most powdered sugar is just sugar plus cornstarch, and both are gluten-free. The one thing to watch is which starch is used, and the major brands make that easy. Let’s take a look.

What Is Confectioner’s Sugar?

Confectioner’s sugar goes by a few different names. Confectioner’s sugar, icing sugar, powdered sugar – they’re all the same thing! It’s granulated sugar milled into a very fine powder, usually in a factory, but you can even make it yourself.

You can use confectioner’s sugar for:

• Making icing
• Making frosting
• Decorating a cake
• Dusting over baked goods
• Recipes that need sugar that dissolves quickly

It’s sweet, and let’s be honest – downright delicious!

Is Powdered Sugar Gluten-Free?

You might think sugar is the only ingredient in confectioner’s sugar, but most brands add a little starch to stop it from clumping. Whether it’s gluten-free depends on which starch is used. Starches you might see include:

• Corn starch (the most common in the US)
• Tapioca starch
• Potato starch
• Rice starch
• Arrowroot starch
• Wheat starch (less common)

Corn, tapioca, potato, rice and arrowroot starch are all gluten-free. More on corn in Does Cornstarch Have Gluten?

Wheat starch is less common in powdered sugar, but it does happen. In the US, if wheat starch is used, the label has to say so, because wheat is a major allergen that must be declared. So read the ingredient list and the “Contains” statement. If anything about the starch is unclear, choose a different brand.

Also, cross-contact is always possible when a product doesn’t make a gluten-free claim. That means a product with no gluten ingredients could still have come into contact with gluten during processing. The safest choice is a powdered sugar labeled gluten-free.

Gluten-Free Confectioner’s Sugar

Let’s take a look at some of the safest options out there, so we can enjoy confectioner’s sugar just like everyone else!

Domino Confectioners Sugar

Domino says none of its sugar products contain gluten, and that includes its powdered sugar. The only ingredients are cane sugar and cornstarch. Cornstarch is naturally gluten-free.

Domino is easy to find in most grocery stores and is one of the leading US sugar brands. (Not to be confused with Domino’s, the pizza chain!)

C&H Powdered Sugar

C&H Powdered Sugar is also made with just cane sugar and cornstarch, and grocery listings show it as gluten-free. Check the bag for the gluten-free claim.

Great Value Powdered Sugar

Walmart’s own brand is a budget-friendly option. The ingredients are sugar and cornstarch – much like Domino – and Gluten Free Watchdog reports a gluten-free claim on the back of the package. It isn’t certified gluten-free, but a gluten-free label means it must meet the FDA’s standard of under 20 parts per million of gluten. Check the current bag for the claim.

Make Your Own Powdered Sugar

If you’d like to be as careful as possible, why not make your own? Power Hungry has a great Grain-Free Powdered Sugar recipe. A blender or coffee grinder makes it easy, but a good old-fashioned mortar and pestle will work too (just be prepared for an arm ache after!).

The recipe is corn-free too, which is handy if you also avoid corn. You just need sugar and tapioca starch (or arrowroot or potato starch). It takes about 2 minutes – it really is that easy! I may be a novice in the kitchen, but even I can handle this one. If you use a blender or grinder that’s also used for wheat products, wash it well first.

The Bottom Line

The best advice I can give is:

• Choose a powdered sugar labeled gluten-free when you can
• Read the ingredients and the “Contains” statement, and skip anything with wheat starch
• Cornstarch, tapioca, potato, rice and arrowroot starch are all gluten-free
• Make your own if you want full control

For more baking basics, see Does Brown Sugar Have Gluten?, Is Meringue Powder Gluten Free? and our gluten-free baking supplies hub.

Read more about: Krusteaz Gluten-Free Flour Recipes

Sources: Domino Sugar FAQ; Domino Powdered Sugar; C&H Powdered Sugar listing; Gluten Free Watchdog (Great Value); Beyond Celiac on powdered sugar; FDA gluten-free labeling Q&A.

Club Gluten Free

Club Gluten Free shares practical, well-researched guides to gluten-free ingredients, products, restaurants and recipes. We check manufacturer statements and celiac organization guidance, and update our guides when products change.