🌍 American vs British · vocabulary

powdered sugar vs icing sugar

Sugar ground to a fine powder, used for icing and dusting desserts.

American
powdered sugar

“Dust the cake with powdered sugar before serving.”

British
icing sugar

“Dust the cake with icing sugar before serving.”

Good to know

Americans say "powdered sugar" (or "confectioners' sugar"), while Britons say "icing sugar." They all refer to the same finely milled sugar.

Related comparisons

ground beef/minceoatmeal/porridgejelly/jamcan/tin

🌍 Is your English British or American?

Take the British vs American English Test — 20 word pairs, instant result.

Take the test

Built by the team behind Deep In.