What is Caster Sugar?

Caster sugar is simply normal white sugar that has been ground down to a super-fine crystal size.

• It is not a powder, but its crystals are much, much smaller than regular table sugar.
• Why use it?: Because the crystals are so tiny, they dissolve almost instantly in butter, egg whites, or cold liquids. This makes it the absolute best sugar for baking light sponges, meringues, and making cocktails.

To avoid baking disasters, understand the difference:

1. Granulated Sugar (Normal Sugar): Large, coarse crystals. Takes a long time to dissolve in cold mixtures.
2. Caster Sugar: Super-fine crystals (halfway between normal sugar and powder).
3. Icing Sugar (Powdered/Confectioner's Sugar): Completely crushed into a fine dust, mixed with a little cornstarch to prevent clumping. Used for frosting.

Caster sugar is expensive and hard to find in regular Indian grocery stores. But you can easily make it at home:

• Put your regular, dry white sugar into a mixer grinder.
• Pulse it (grind it) for just 3 to 5 seconds.
• Check the texture; it should feel like fine sand, not a cloud of dust. Your homemade caster sugar is ready!