It might be packaged as castor sugar. It's the C&H in the green box. It's not new at all. The word "castor" is very old. A castor one of those old fashioned silver sugar shakers that they have at antique stores. (As opposed to the modern kind you use to dust things with confectioner's sugar.)

Superfine is granulated sugar that dissolves quickly, and dissolves cold.

I've never done it, but you could probably smash regular sugar with a mortar and pestle, or maybe a food processor.

I had a neighbor give me some when they where moving. I didn't know about it either but then started noticing references to it. I read somewhere you can grind regular sugar finer if you want. Maybe a coffee grinder?

Hmmm. I don't think I've ever seen Castor sugar either, though I'll look for it next time I'm at Kroger. But my Dad had a spectacular collection of antique sugar shakers--glass, silver, pewter, copper.

I've never seen it at a store, and have always used a mini-FP to make it. Coffee grinder would be fine as well for smaller "batches." Pulse until it's a powder. Takes just seconds.

I can remember seeing it in yellow boxes in stores (Domino, perhaps?). FOAS has good advice about using a mini fp, or even a blender will do the trick. I try to use it for meringues, but sometimes I just use regular.

Jo

We can get it here easily but all it is is a super finely ground sugar so I do as FOAS suggests and use the FP. I'd be leery about the coffee grinder as I can never to manage to get mine coffee free.

Caster sugar is a British term, I think. Superfine sugar is what I have seen occasionally in stores here. Icing sugar is also another term, perhaps British. This is the sugar used in many bars for making cocktails because it dissolves more easily.

I would suggest processing regular granulated sugar in a food processor to make it finer - over a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle.

Teresa

I don't remember having a problem finding superfine sugar when I lived in the US. I know that Wegman's carried it. It might also be called Bakers sugar. In Canada it is often called "Berry" or "Fruit" sugar. I buy it around Christmas time to use in Shortbread cookies.

Ann

I've also seen it as "superfine" sugar and occasionally I've seen it called "bar sugar". It is what we used when we owned the bar to make fancy mixed drinks.

Annie

I've found it in Superfresh, but not Safeway, in the past. It's hit or miss, sometimes it's at Giant Food or Shoppers Food Warehouse, local grocery stores here. It may also be with the mixers and other things used to make mixed drinks - like grenadine and lime juice and swizzle sticks. You might find it at a liquor store

I use it for creme brulee.

I always have it/caster sugar on hand for iced tea, whipped cream, and other non-heated recipes. It's a little pricey from Whole Foods so I usually order if from Amazon.

Here is a link that might be useful: Caster Sugar

Don't pulse regular sugar to a fine powder, that would be confectioner's or icing sugar, which is way finer than caster sugar. While finer than regular sugar, the grains of caster sugar are easy to see.

I don't know if we have it here in our Superstore because I have never looked for it. I always make it using my coffee grinder. Just grind enough for the recipe for the day. Is it any more expensive at the store compared to regular granulated sugar?

Al

What I have in my pantry is Dixie Crystals extra fine sugar. I don't recall what I used it for but it has been opened so I obviouly used it for something. LOL You have to understand that I rarely bake so the reason for my lapse of memory (at least one of the reasons).

jude

Colleen - The times I've seen superfine called for it's because it disolves more easily than granulated, or carmelizes more easily. (Like Momj47 I use it for creme brulee.) So, I don't see where being too fine would be a problem. Confectioner's sugar also has corn starch in it, at least here.

I blend regular sugar in the blender....
I haven't seen it in the stores in years...

Al, they have it in our superstore. It is in every grocery store here on the west coast of Canada and I don't remember ever having a problem finding it when I lived in Ontario. I've been making the same shortbread recipe for over 35 years and have always used this sugar in that recipe.

It is packaged in one kilo bags.

Ann

Caster sugar/superfine sugar/fruit sugar is not the same a s icing sugar/confectioners sugar.

As FOAS say icing sugar/confectioners sugar has cornstarch in it and cannot be subbed for super fine sugar.

Thanks Ann_t! I don't plan on buying any but it's good to know that the Superstore carries it. Are they with the regular sugar or do you find them among the baking items i.e. baking powder & soda?

Al

I have some! Since there is a price sticker on it, I can tell you I bought it at Meijer's here in Michigan. It was $2.99 for 4lbs. It's made by C+H Sugar Co. It is in a carton with a pour able spout like a 1/2 gal of milk. They call it Baker's Sugar. There's even a Kitchen Aid mixer pictured on the carton front with somebody adding sugar to the bowl. They describe the sugar as "Ultrafine Pure Cane Sugar for Baking, Blending & Beverages". I'm sure I found it in the baking aisle.

Nancy

Holy mackeral Nancy-- $2.99 @ 4#s! That's worth bringing home from my next trip to Michigan.

Caster sugar dissolves a little more easily than granulated, but less easily than confectioner's sugar. But the biggest difference is that 1 cup of caster sugar is not necessarily the same amount by weight as 1 cup of sugar as fine as confectioner's sugar- and this could affect the recipe adversely. We can get both "icing sugar"- with cornstarch added- and "pure icing sugar"- cornstarch free.

When was the last time anyone had a price sticker on a product at the grocery store?????????

Good observation Peppi!

Actually I do occasionally purchase from a store that has price stickers. I pull them off as I put the items in the pantry because---well because that's what I feel compelled to do.

Here's what I use. I'm think it's the same thing you're looking for--Baker's Sugar: Ultrafine Pure Cane Sugar. I got this at the local Ralph's or Albertson's, a bit ago, but can't remember what I paid for it. Hope this helps!

I haven't been able to find it here under any name. I just process regular sugar until it's finer.

I make mine in a blender. It doesn't turn out like confectioners sugar and confectioners usually have a small amount of cornstarch in it. It still has a fine grit to it if you don't over blend. And let it settle for a moment after blending as it makes a lot of dust, very sticky dust.

Yes, you can make really fine sugar in your blender. It is almost like powdered sugar. I haven't done that in years.

Sue

I made these Vanilla Pistachio Crescents at Christmas where you scrape vanilla beans and then process the bean scrapings with sugar in a food processor. The texture does become finer, but not like powdered sugar. The recipe originally called for processing for 5 min. If I do it that long, the powder starts wafting out of the processor and inhaling it makes you cough!

Grocery stores here in northern Virginia carry Domino's superfine, or bar, sugar. Sometimes, it's with the drink mixes and such.

Peppi, everything I buy here has a price sticker on it, nearly. Not just at my little independent grocery either, even WalMart, Meijer, etc. If there's a big display with a special price, you probably won't find price stickers but otherwise, they are there.

Annie

Not sure if it was just Michigan or if it was National, but stores were told that a certain percentage of mdse had to be maked with prices. Walmart was one that was cited.
That was 10-15 years ago I think... but all the stores around here started making sure products were priced.

Cathy....I'm lucky to get groceries put away promptly. No way would I ever have time to remove all the sticky price tags... :))

Nancy

I've always just zapped up a batch in the food processor. Pulse a bit till it gets finer than regular. Very easy and a lot less expensive than buying it 'pre-zapped'. As has been said, it's just so it dissolves easier/quicker. You're not looking for a powder or close to it, just somewhat finer than usual.

I was in the store for grocery this morning. Was curious about the price so went to look. Found berry sugar and it was $4/kg. Ouch! Will definitely continue to use my coffee grinder.

Al