Let’s first do a quick sucanat/sugar review for those of you who are new to these ingredients:
Sucanat: Organic dehydrated cane sugar juice – my favorite form of natural, unrefined sugar to use in cookies and cakes. Recently I learned that you can use sucanat to make your own powdered sugar. It’s very cool! You can substitute sucanat one for one when a recipe calls for brown or white sugar. Rapadura is the same thing as sucanat…just with a fancier name. Rapadura is usually a little more expensive.
White Sugar and Brown Sugar: Refined sugars that have been stripped of most their nutrients.
You can read more about natural sugars and sweeteners I recommend (and don’t recommend) here!
Well…I wish this frosting was a little less…tan. But, what can we expect when we make frosting from our homemade sucanat powdered sugar? The darkness of the sucanat is easily disguised in this Chocolate Fudge Frosting, but there’s no way to make “white frosting” unless you use regular powdered sugar.
Oh, except that Baking Mama mentioned in my Cream Cheese Frosting post that you use honey granules to make powdered sugar, which makes an unrefined, but whiter frosting. I’ll have to look into honey granules.
I did find that this Sucanat Powdered Sugar Frosting worked great for Gingerbread Men. I’ll share a recipe for those fellas later! I think this frosting would also be good on just about any cake you make…it has a very rich flavor.
Sucanat Powdered Sugar Frosting
1/3 cup melted butter
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4-4 1/2 cups sucanat powdered sugar
Blend all ingredients together with beaters, adding your sucanat powdered sugar a bit at a time until your frosting is the consistency you would like it to be.
Be sure to check out our other recipes using Sucanat Powdered Sugar:
I hope you’re having a lovely time at our brunch. If you haven’t had a piece of Easy Breakfast Casserole, go ahead and help yourself. Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win one of our Christmas Brunch Presents! Coming up next on the menu: It’s Gratituesday time…which will hopefully offer you a little Christmas Brunch encouragment during this busy time of the year!
Lauren@BaseballsandBows says
These look yummy!
Chris says
Frosting looks very good. I want to make some cake balls, I think I will use this frosting for them!
I use the honey granules as well, they are very good. I use them in my coffee and recipes.
DorthyM says
Those gingerbread men look delicious!
Tracey says
I’d like to try this frosting! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Johnlyn says
I haven’t ever heard about honey granules – I’ll have to look into that. Thanks for the heads up!
Laurie Plath says
I can’t wait to try making my own powdered sugar.
Jessica says
I haven’t tried making my own powdered sugar yet but every time you show it it always looks really good.
Stefanie says
Those look yummy!
Anne says
Yummy!
Deanna says
I too will have to look into honey granules as I like using honey as a sweetener better than sugar – processed or unprocessed:)
Blair says
Those lil men look yummy! And thankfully my husband and kids like “healthy tasting” things and I don’t have to make cookie from some refridgerated dough!!
Danielle says
These look great!
Deanna says
Waiting on the gingerbread man recipe to try with the frosting
Katie says
Excellent idea on the sucanat powdered sugar!
Katie says
Excellent idea on the sucanat powdered sugar! Question though, does it last unclumpey and still fresh and all? How long have you stored it?
Laura says
I have only made the powdered sugar RIGHT before I needed it, then I used it all right away. I’m not sure how well it would store without clumping.
Heather says
I still haven’t tried changing my sweeteners yet…other than using honey more often and working on building up a stash of that instead of white/brown/powdered sugar. One of the many steps I’ve got left!
Kuddos to you for making so many changes and sticking with them!
Heather
Pam F. says
I like the way this looks on the gingerbread men better than the white frosting!
Camille says
We pipe frosting on to our cookies and then dip them in sprinkles so you don’t usually see the color of the frosting. I’ll try this to see if it works! :-)
Andrea says
Do you get your Sucanat in bulk from Azure or someplace else? I’ve been looking for a good, affordable place for bulk items…
Laura says
I do order mine from Azure, in bulk, when they put it on sale. I try to get it for under $2/pound if possible.
Annie says
I’m with Andrea. I’d love to switch to a healthier sugar, but have no idea where to get it or what a good price would be.
Laura says
I order mine from my food co-op, Azure Standard, in bulk, when they put it on sale. I try to get it for under $2/pound if possible. You can get it from Amazon as well.
teresa says
We love gingerbread cookies. Can’t wait for the recipe.
Jessica Bish says
Those look so yummy!
Lesley Wert says
I tried powdering my sucanat for your cinnamon roll recipe. It didn’t turn out perfect, but it was my first try so I think I might try again sometime. The cinnamon rolls are great though and I have made them several times. They are on our Christmas breakfast menu :)
Bonnie says
Excited to try this! Love all the new recipes :)
Courtney Wagner says
Yum! These look delicious!
Blessings,
Courtney
Staci says
Can’t wait to get my first order of sucanat
angela rose says
Yummy! Thanks
susan says
can’t wait to see the recipe for those guys. they look delish!!
Nora@ The Dollar Hollering Homemaker says
I’ll have to try the honey tip out because sometimes you just need to have white icing.
Briana says
I haven’t switched my sugars over to unrefined options yet, but am hoping to do so in the New Year.
Lenetta says
I gotta admit the sugar overload I’ve been experiencing makes me want to look away from this post. But I’ll be ready to check it out soon! :>)
Kristen B says
These look WONDERFUL! I am suddenly inspired to make MORE xmas cookies! You can’t ever have enough holiday treats!
Brooke says
I love to use sucanat, though I haven’t had any for a while. I did the same thing with the agave nectar…didn’t read up enough on it before we started using it for everything in place of sugar, maple syrup, and often honey. Looking forward to ordering some more sucanat to make it powdered!
Lori says
Cute gingerbread men!
Aya says
Those are cute gingerbread men!
Tara says
Great recipe with natural products.
Sweetpeas says
Yum! As if I didn’t have enough to do in the next few days, now I want to make frosted gingerbread men!!
Shonda says
Cute gingerbread men!
Donna W says
Sure would love to try your frosting on those cookies……
Beth says
wishing I had an easier way to get sucanat here in Central Minnesota…
Penny says
I just read your description of sucanat to my hubby. He has been wondering, “what really is sucanat?” Thanks for the good explanation! LOVE your blog!
Kim says
So glad to get some healthier frosting recipes! I hate making a “healthy” cake, just to put shortening on it!
Christy says
Your little gingerbread guys are adorable!
Sally says
Can’t wait to try. We use both honey granules and the other sugar. I find them pretty interchangeable.
Cathy says
Hmmm…I’ve never heard of honey granules before. I recently bought some organic dehydrated cane sugar from Trader Joe’s, but it wasn’t called Rapadura or Sucanat. I wonder if it’s the same thing. At any rate, your cookies look quite yummy, and the frosting color is great for gingerbread men!
Christina says
I would love gingerbread men if only they wern’t so gingery when I use the family recipe. Love your brunch giveaway!
deanna says
I have not tried making powdered sugar from sucanat yet though I really want to, but several of the things I needed it for recently needed white frosting. I have made a white one using cream cheese (or yogurt cheese) and honey and vanilla. it is not as stiff as making it with powdered sugar (though it will stiffen in the fridge) but very tasty…and whiter…is that a word?? anyway, thanks for all the great tips and recipes, I use them almost every day :)
Katie Duffy says
Can’t wait to try it!
Beth says
Do you know of a way to make straight cane juice into a sucanat? I live overseas and can’t get anything like that here, but we can buy cane sugar right off the street! I just have no idea how to use it. Any ideas?
Martha says
The frosting looks delicious. Great recipe!
Leah says
cute gingerbread boys!
Joanna S. says
They may be tan, but they sure are cute! :) (They must be part of the crowd of people that go to Florida over the winter)
Scarlet says
Yum and Fun, Thanks!
Sheila says
Those cookies sure look yummy!
Lisa says
Thanks for such a “sweet” post!
Katie M. says
This looks delicious!
McKinsey says
Yum, I’ll have to try this soon with the kids.
Heather says
Holy Cow – this looks delicious!!
Gigi says
Is there a difference in the way that refined and unrefined sugar tastes?
Lisa says
This looks great. I will have to try it.
Sarah DJ says
I can’t wait for the gingerbread man recipe!
Michele Hughes says
Looks great, yes. I have to wonder about the honey granules, and if I can make my own. There is a honey farm in the next town and we buy it by the gallon.
Holly in Virginia says
they look good enough to eat! :)
Sara A in SC says
Yummy!! My son calls it stinky sugar we are still trying to transition form “Raw sugar”…
Susan says
I’ll be happy to have one of the gingerbread men with that cup of cocoa. I always try to have a smile on my face and words of encouragement for people who work at stores during this time of year. It is too easy to get so busy that we want it ‘done and over with’. Enjoy the blessing of sitting there watching those precious little ones during these concerts and Christmas programs. They grow so fast. Mine are now 19 and 22. I miss those days. ;)
Jean says
The gingerbread cookies look very nice! I am really enjoying your brunch! :o)
Laura says
Okay, one little question about succanat. How do you pronounce it? We’ve been saying ‘suck-a-naut,’ like astronaut. Not sure if that is correct. Thanks for educatin’ me!
Laura says
You’re pronouncing it just right. Unless I’m pronouncing it wrong. :)
Heather says
I am really enjoying this series.
Pam says
I’ll have to try making my own powdered sugar one of these days!
Maren Lee says
Thank you!
TAB says
Hi! I love your blog! I’m always inspired.
In my quest to rid out refined sugar/s in our families diet I was wondering if you could give me a place to start in finding a reliable company to buy raw honey from?
I bet you’ve already covered this in a related post but can’t remember. If you can help in any way that would be much appreciated! Thanks for all your help.
Trevor says
Looking good!
Erin S says
I have no problem with the color – chocolate is the only flavor I like!
April says
I’ll have to try this! :)
AudraG says
Your frosting is perfect for the gingerbread cookies!
Cheri says
They are little cuties with their brown frosting- great job!
Baking Mama says
You can find honey granules on the Becker website at http://www.breadbecker.com. I haven’t seen them for sale anywhere else, but haven’t looked extensively since I am part of a co-op. From what I understand, honey granules are made from a combination of dehydrated honey and dehydrated cane syrup. I love them as a substitute for white sugar in recipes where liquid honey doesn’t work. I also get honey from the Beckers. They sell huge jugs of raw wildflower honey at a very good price, but I believe local honey sources are best if you can find them.
Jami says
Looks yummy! Still need to try the chocolate frosting!!!
Kris Mays says
Itchin’ to try this in my new Vitamix!
Lorinda says
Yum! Real gingerbread cookies. My mom used to decorate each of us kids a gingerbread girl or boy. The cookies were wrapped in clear plastic and hung on the mantle, in the greenery. Then when it was time to take down the tee, we got the big cookie. She didn’t have to worry about where we were, so she could dismantle the tree.
April says
Now if I could just get my husband to like Sucanat.
Tiffany says
Looks delicious! I’ll have to try it on our GF holiday cookies this year!
Priscilla F. says
Oh the things I learn on here, homemade “healthy” powdered sugar, and honey granules – never heard of them before.
Cheryl says
I do like the flavor of raw sugar in my morning coffee. I’d like to start using it more and would love to try making my own powdered sugar!
hartlandmama says
Thanks for all of your wonderful ideas on how to make everyday pantry items with items we already have (or hope to have soon)…can’t wait to get my hands on some sucanat.
Christina says
I think we all just have to get used to seeing things that aren’t white. Oh, and get used to things having FLAVOR instead of just sweetness. :)
Krista says
These look very yummy! I was wondering if this frosting gets hard/crusty as it sits like regular cookie frosting, or if it stays soft and gooey?
Katie says
Looks delicious! Might have to try this!
Jacqueline H. says
Thank you for the info on sucanant and sugars.
Kori Ireland says
Yum, maybe these can join our list of to do for tomorrow. They sound yummy!
Kori
casie says
Looks yum! I made the chocolate fudge frosting for my daughter’s bday and we loved it! Can’t wait to try this one!
Amanda Desnoyers says
Yum!
Brighid says
I have gingerbread cookie dough in the freezer – now we have a color-coordinated frosting recipe.
Cheryl says
These look delicious. I just love your blog.
Jacque says
Looks fantastic!
Janeen says
I really look forward to getting around to making this someday! Thanks!
Misty says
Your ‘tan’ gingerbread Men/Boys/Girls/People/Cookies made me think of being somewhere tropical and now I have ‘Mele Kalikimaka’ stuck in my head.
AllieZirkle says
These special guys make me think of stars, jumping into the sky. Thanks for linking to the caramel frosting. That’s exactly what I needed!
Cali says
I wondered if anyone else had problems with the taste of home blended sucanut? I tried it the other day and it has a sort of metallic taste.. maybe from the blender blades?? not sure though. It didn’t seem as sweet as regular powdered sugar either which didn’t make any sense to me either…
Abby says
Mmmmmm… frosting!!! Haha!
Beth says
The cream cheese frosting I made using your idea of sucanat powdered sugar came out tan but was perfect for her ocean-themed cake. The sand was just right. The blue took on an odd color but was more realistic after all was said and done. It was also the first time I was using natural food coloring.
kristin says
I made this recipe for cinnamon rolls and didn’t like it so much, so the next time I used honey granules…holy cow, it’s AMAZING. I also made it runnier so it would drizzle over the rolls. Today, the first thing my son said when he woke up was “I want to make a cake” Random! So we’re making your chocolate cake and using this recipe with the honey granules so I can use food coloring, he wanted to make a guitar cake (he had that for his 3rd birthday), but I’m not doing that again! So we’re going to do a color with some sprinkles instead.