Dessert decorating doesn’t need to be fancy, and it certainly doesn’t have to be complicated. One of the best ways to finish cookies, cakes, brownies, scones, and other baked goods is by dusting them with powdered sugar. However, attempting to shake it from a spoon usually results in uneven coverage and a big mess.
Home bakers and professionals often rely on flour sifters for uniform coverage when sprinkling powdered sugar. But we think another tool works even better: a snap-ball tea infuser.
Get Better Control With a Tea Steeper
Tea steepers (also called infusers or strainers) feature uniformly spaced holes that dispense powdered sugar evenly. Because they’re much smaller than flour sifters, they also offer more control over application.
All you have to do is fill one half of a snap-ball infuser (or any similar tool made of mesh or perforated metal) with a spoonful of powdered sugar, close it, and gently dust your baked goods. This trick also works well for lightly flouring surfaces, coating proteins in cornstarch, or dusting sourdough loaves with rice flour before scoring.
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Your Next-Best Sifter? An Empty Spice Jar
If you don’t have a tea steeper, you can use an empty spice jar to sift sugar, flour, cornstarch, rice flour, and other powdery ingredients. This works best with spice jars featuring small, evenly spaced holes rather than the larger openings used for chili flakes and other whole spices. Start by cleaning the jar thoroughly with hot water and dish soap — or run it through the dishwasher for fuss-free cleaning. Let it dry completely before adding your desired ingredient. Once it’s filled, snap the lid into place and give it a gentle shake to dust your baked good.
If you’re in a real bind, a fine-mesh strainer also works to top desserts with powdered sugar. It isn’t as precise, but it beats using a spoon or your fingers.
