How to Make Your Own Copycat McCormick Finishing Sugars in 6 Delicious Flavors
If you’re a fan of McCormick Finishing Sugars, you know how fun it is to add that final touch of sweetness and flavor to your desserts or beverages.
But did you know you can easily make your own copycat versions at home? Whether you’re sprinkling them on cookies, cupcakes, or hot cocoa, these homemade finishing sugars are sure to elevate any treat!
In this blog post, I’ll show you how to make six irresistible flavors: Gingerbread Spice, Hot Cocoa, English Toffee, Salted Caramel, White Frosting, and Candy Cane.
These recipes are quick, simple, and perfect for holiday baking or everyday indulgence!
Gingerbread Spice Finishing Sugar
Bring the cozy warmth of gingerbread to your baked goods with this aromatic blend.
- Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground allspice
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Store in an airtight container. This sugar is perfect for sprinkling on cookies, muffins, or even lattes for that holiday flair!
Hot Cocoa Finishing Sugar
Who doesn’t love a cozy cup of hot chocolate? This finishing sugar takes it to the next level.
- Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp powdered milk
- 1/4 tsp vanilla powder (or a few drops of vanilla extract)
Instructions: Mix the sugar, cocoa powder, powdered milk, and vanilla together until well combined. Store in a dry container. This is perfect to sprinkle on whipped cream-topped hot chocolate, brownies, or chocolate chip cookies!
English Toffee Finishing Sugar
Add a rich, buttery sweetness to your treats with this English Toffee-inspired sugar.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp toffee bits (finely ground in a food processor)
- 1/4 tsp butter extract
Instructions:
Stir the sugar and ground toffee bits together. Add butter extract and mix until evenly combined. Let it air dry for a couple of hours before storing.
This sugar is fantastic on cakes, caramel-flavored desserts, or even sprinkled over pancakes.
Salted Caramel Finishing Sugar
Sweet and salty, this finishing sugar is irresistible on almost anything!
- Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp caramel flavoring powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions: Combine the sugar, caramel powder, and sea salt. Mix well and store in an airtight container. Try this on chocolate brownies, ice cream, or your favorite coffee drink.
White Frosting Finishing Sugar
Capture the essence of rich vanilla frosting in sugar form!
- Ingredients:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp butter extract
Instructions: Mix the powdered sugar with the vanilla and butter extracts. Let it air dry until it forms small clumps (similar to a frosting texture), then break it up into a fine sugar texture.This is perfect for dusting on sugar cookies, cupcakes, or even popcorn!
Candy Cane Finishing Sugar
Peppermint lovers, this one’s for you! Perfect for the holiday season or whenever you’re craving that cool, minty flavor.
- Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup crushed candy canes (or peppermint candies)
Instructions: Blend the sugar and crushed candy canes together. Store in a sealed container to keep it fresh and crunchy.This sugar works wonders on cupcakes, hot cocoa, and even on the rim of a holiday cocktail glass!
Finishing Sugar v.s Sanding Sugar, is there a difference?
The main difference between finishing sugar and sanding sugar lies in their texture, appearance, and purpose:
Finishing Sugar
- Texture & Size: Finishing sugar is typically finer and more powdery compared to sanding sugar. It is often mixed with flavorings like cinnamon, cocoa, or vanilla to enhance the taste of baked goods.
- Appearance: Finishing sugars are generally smooth and can have added flavors and colors that blend well into desserts.
- Purpose: It’s used as a final dusting on top of desserts, beverages, or baked goods to add both sweetness and flavor. Think of it as a flavorful enhancement to the finished product.
Sanding Sugar
- Texture & Size: Sanding sugar is coarser, with larger granules that don’t melt easily. The sugar crystals are typically more visible and have a sparkling effect.
- Appearance: It often comes in bright colors and maintains its texture after baking, giving a decorative and sparkly finish.
- Purpose: Primarily used for decoration, sanding sugar adds crunch and visual appeal to cookies, cupcakes, and other baked items. It’s popular during holidays for adding a colorful, glittery touch.
In short, finishing sugar enhances flavor and sweetness with a more delicate texture, while sanding sugar is mostly decorative, adding crunch and sparkle.
Final Thoughts
Making your own copycat McCormick Finishing Sugars is a fun, easy way to add an extra layer of flavor and texture to your favorite treats.
Whether you’re baking for the holidays or just want to make your everyday desserts a little more special, these finishing sugars will do the trick.
Plus, you can customize the flavors to your liking or even create new ones!
Try one (or all!) of these recipes, and let me know how you use them. I’d love to see your creations—tag me on social media and share your finishing sugar masterpieces!
Happy baking! 🎂🍪☕
I just whipped up the white frosting finishing sugar, and it’s going straight on top of my cupcakes. This recipe is a keeper, and the flavor options are endless! 🧁💕
I’m amazed at how easy these finishing sugars are to make! 🎁🎄 The candy cane flavor is perfect for the holidays, and I’m already planning to gift jars to friends and family. So fun!
I love how versatile these finishing sugars are! I’m planning to use the white frosting flavor on sugar cookies for a little extra sweetness. Such a great idea!” 🍪✨
OMG, I just tried making these copycat McCormick finishing sugars, and they are a game changer in my kitchen! 😍✨ I made the salted caramel one first (couldn’t resist), and it added the perfect sweet touch to my coffee this morning! ☕
What is caramel powder and where do I find it?
Caramel powder is a powdered form of caramelized sugar, often used as a
flavoring agent in baking, coffee, desserts, and even savory dishes. It has
a rich, sweet, and slightly toasty flavor, adding the essence of caramel
without extra moisture. Caramel powder is often used in dry mixes,
chocolate-making, or as a sprinkle over desserts.
Where to Find Caramel Powder:
or gourmet food suppliers often carry caramel powder.
or Trader Joe’s occasionally stock it in the baking or coffee sections.
professional baking supplies may carry caramel powder for use in
pastries and desserts.
cooking sugar until it caramelizes, letting it cool and harden, then
grinding it into a fine powder.
If you’re looking for a substitute, powdered brown sugar or powdered
toffee can provide a similar flavor for some recipes.
Can you name a particular brand? Everything I look at has sugar already added or chocolate or corn syrup. Can caramel protein powder be used or powdered caramel coffee creamer? I can’t find plain caramel powder.
How to Make Caramel Powder
Caramel powder is a versatile ingredient with a deep, sweet flavor that can be used in baking, coffee, desserts, or as a topping. Here’s how to make it at home with just sugar and a few tools.
Ingredients
Tools Needed
Instructions
Tips and Variations
Caramel powder is a fantastic ingredient to sprinkle over desserts, mix into coffee, or incorporate into baking recipes for an extra burst of flavor. Enjoy experimenting with this simple yet delightful homemade ingredient!
This is exactly what I needed for my holiday gift baskets! I’m going to make a bunch of different flavors and package them in cute jars for friends and family. So simple, so thoughtful! 🎁
Just made the gingerbread spice sugar, and it’s heavenly on pancakes! 😍 I love how versatile these flavors are—next up, I’m trying the salted caramel in my coffee. ☕🍂
These finishing sugars are brilliant! I whipped up the English toffee flavor, and now I’m adding it to everything from coffee to ice cream. 😋 Can’t wait to try the other flavors!
This recipe is a game-changer for holiday baking! 🍪 Just whipped up the salted caramel sugar, and it makes my basic sugar cookies taste amazing. If anyone’s curious, try a bit of the gingerbread spice on top of coffee foam—tastes like a holiday coffee shop treat!
This is a fantastic idea! I’ve been looking for ways to add a little extra flavor to my morning coffee and homemade baked goods, and these finishing sugars are exactly what I need. I tried the white frosting sugar on fresh muffins, and it was a game-changer! I’m thinking of gifting small jars of these for the holidays. Do you have tips on how to store them to keep the flavors fresh?
I’m so excited to try these finishing sugars! The gingerbread spice and salted caramel flavors sound perfect for holiday baking. I’ve always loved the idea of flavored sugars but never thought of making my own. Thank you for including such detailed instructions! I’m curious, though—has anyone tried adding a bit of cocoa powder for a chocolate version? I think it could be a fun twist for coffee or desserts.
Where do you find caramel powder?