How to Make Homemade Pearl Sugar: Perfect for Pastries and Panettone

Pearl sugar is a simple yet elegant decoration for various types of baked goods such as Easter cakes (paska), panettone, colomba, buns, croissants, and other enriched dough products. This homemade pearl sugar topping is thermostable, meaning it can be applied before baking, and the sugar pearls will remain white and crunchy on the finished pastries.

I was asked a lot about pearl sugar before Easter, and it’s really not that easy to find on sale, but as it turned out, it’s quite possible to make it yourself at home.

While homemade pearl sugar might not be as perfectly shaped as store-bought versions, they perform similarly. They won’t lose their white color, won’t melt during baking, and will remain crispy on the finished product.

For one batch of panettone (recipe linked here), you’ll need an amount of pearl sugar made of about 30-40g of powdered sugar. However, you can make extra and store the sugar pearls in an airtight container for a long time, as they have a long shelf life and are used sparingly.

Ingredients for Homemade Pearl Sugar

• powdered sugar
• room temperature water (filtered or boiled)

Step-by-Step Method for Making Pearl Sugar

1. Mix Powdered Sugar and Water:
   • Rub the powdered sugar and water together until you have a white sugar paste.
2. Prepare Baking Tray:
   • Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Press the sugar paste through a fine-mesh sieve or strainer (any device with holes of about 3 mm will do) directly onto the parchment. Work the paste into several areas of the parchment, as it is best not to touch or move the wet paste around on the baking sheet, as it can easily deform.
3. Dry the Sugar Pearls:
   • Allow the sugar pearls to air-dry in a dry environment, or place them in a convection oven at 30-40°C for 40–60 minutes. Let them cool completely.

Storage: Store the homemade pearl sugar in an airtight container in a dry place at room temperature.

If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out! Share your experience or any creative twists you made in the comments below. Let me know if you have any questions. Your feedback helps me create even more delicious content. Enjoy your homemade treat and happy baking!