Homemade Sugar Pearls

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Frostings fillings toppings Vanilla: Extract Medium

Sugar pearls are small, round, hard sugar balls used to dress cakes, cupcakes and cookies, usually shiny white or metallic. Commercial pearls are made in factory pans; this is our home version, rolled from a firm sugar paste, air-dried hard and brushed with edible pearl luster. Makes 100 pearls in about 24 hr 39 min.

Prep 35 min

Cook 4 min

Cooling 24 hr

Total 24 hr 39 min

Yield 100 pearls

Diet Dairy free, Gluten free

Ingredients

Adjust yield

pearls

2 cups (250 g)powdered sugar, sifted
1 ½ tbsp (25 ml)light corn syrup
2 tsp (10 ml)water
2 tbsp (15 g)cornstarch
1 pinchedible pearl luster dust
1 tsp (5 ml)clear vanilla extract

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Instructions

Whisk the powdered sugar and cornstarch together in a bowl.
Stir in the corn syrup and water, then knead by hand for 3 to 4 minutes until a very firm, smooth, non-sticky dough forms; add a spoonful of powdered sugar if it sticks.
Pinch off tiny bits and roll between your palms into 6 mm balls (about the size of a pea). Keep the dough covered while you work.
Place the balls on parchment with space between them and let them dry uncovered for 24 hours, turning once after 8 hours, until hard all the way through.
Stir the luster dust with the vanilla extract in a small dish to make a thin paint.
Tumble the dry pearls in a covered container with a few drops of the paint and shake gently until evenly coated. Let dry 1 hour more before using.

Tips

Make them all the same size by rolling a log and cutting equal pieces first.
If a pearl cracks, the dough was too dry; knead in a drop of water.
These are for decoration; warn guests they are very hard.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make homemade sugar pearls?

Plan on 35 minutes of prep and 4 minutes of cooking, plus 24 hours to chill. The recipe makes 100 pearls.

How should I store homemade sugar pearls?

Keep in an airtight jar at room temperature for up to 3 months, away from humidity.

Can I make homemade sugar pearls ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp clear vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 100 servings this recipe makes.

11 Calories / serving

0.0g Fat

2.9g Carbs

0.0g Protein

2.6g Sugar

Whole recipe (100 servings): ~1100 cal · 0g fat · 290g carbs · 0g protein · 260g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.