Meringue powder
One US cup of meringue powder weighs between 135 and 172 grams (4.8 to 6.1 ounces), depending on how the cup is filled and which source measured it. Use 144 grams (5.1 ounces) for Wilton meringue powder; King Arthur's own runs 172 g. Every figure behind it is below, with the method each source used.
Also called Wilton meringue powder, instant meringue powder, royal icing meringue powder, meringue mix.
Most sites print one number for a cup of meringue powder. This page prints 135 to 172 grams, because that is what Wilton Meringue Powder (producer label), Genie's Dream Meringue Powder (producer label), Satin Ice Meringue Powder (mixing directions) and King Arthur Baking Ingredient Weight Chart actually measured, and it names the method behind every figure rather than picking a favourite.
Two or more sources describe the same way of filling the cup and still disagree, by 27.4%. That is more than this site will average over, so all the figures stand and none is chosen. Genie's Dream 135 g, Wilton 144 g, Satin Ice 164 g and King Arthur 172 g per cup span 27%, beyond the 10% tolerance for powders. The brands are different recipes, some led by corn starch and some by sugar, so the range is published rather than one figure.
| Volume | Grams | Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | 135–172 g | 4.8–6.1 oz |
| 3/4 cup | 101.2–129 g | 3.6–4.6 oz |
| 2/3 cup | 90–114.7 g | 3.2–4 oz |
| 1/2 cup | 67.5–86 g | 2.4–3 oz |
| 1/3 cup | 45–57.3 g | 1.6–2 oz |
| 1/4 cup | 33.7–43 g | 1.2–1.5 oz |
| 1 tablespoon | 8.4–10.7 g | 0.30–0.38 oz |
| 1 teaspoon | 2.8–3.6 g | 0.10–0.13 oz |
| Filling the cup | 1 cup | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard, powder spooned and leveled | 144 g5.1 oz | Wilton Meringue Powder (producer label) |
| Standard, powder spooned and leveled | 135 g4.8 oz | Genie's Dream Meringue Powder (producer label) |
| Standard, powder spooned and leveled | 164 g5.8 oz | Satin Ice Meringue Powder (mixing directions) |
| Standard, powder spooned and leveled | 172 g6.1 oz | King Arthur Baking Ingredient Weight Chart |
Meringue powder ounces to grams and cups
| Weight | Grams | US cups |
|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | 28.3 g | 0.16–0.21 |
| 4 oz | 113.4 g | 0.66–0.84 |
| 8 oz | 226.8 g | 1.32–1.68 |
| 16 oz (1 lb) | 453.6 g | 2.64–3.36 |
Why this page publishes a range
A cup of meringue powder weighs 135 to 172 g (4.8 to 6.1 oz), depending on the brand's recipe. Wilton's label gives 6 g per 2 teaspoons (144 g per cup), Satin Ice's directions 41 g per 4 tablespoons (164 g) and King Arthur 43 g per quarter cup (172 g). Use the figure for the brand you have, and weigh when a recipe gives grams.
Meringue powder is a dry mix for royal icing, meringues and stabilized buttercream: dried egg white blended with starch or sugar, an acid such as cream of tartar or citric acid, and gums that help the foam hold. It is not the same as dried egg white, which is pure albumen; meringue powder is only part egg white, so more of it is needed for each egg white it replaces. Wilton's directions use 2 teaspoons of powder with 2 tablespoons of water for one egg white; King Arthur's use 1 tablespoon with 5 teaspoons of water.
The brands are different recipes, and that is why their figures differ by 27%, beyond the 10% this site allows for powders. Wilton lists corn starch first, then egg whites and sugar. Genie's Dream, at 45 g per third of a cup (135 g per cup) as transcribed by ReciPal, lists modified food starch first. These two starch-led blends are the lightest. Satin Ice's mixing directions weigh 3 tablespoons at 31 g and 4 tablespoons at 41 g, 164 to 165 g per cup. King Arthur's chart and its royal icing recipe both give 1/4 cup as 43 g, 172 g per cup; it sits at the top of the range and is accepted.
Wilton's figure is the best documented. Its label states 2 teaspoons as 6 g, and the 4 oz tub holds 19 servings of 5.97 g each, so the label weight and the tub agree. None of these labels uses the 28 g per quarter cup convention that decides many powder labels.
Two figures are kept without a number. CooksInfo gives 3 tablespoons as 1 oz or 30 g, 160 g per cup, a rounded conversion with no brand named. Judee's meringue powder mix gives 1.5 tablespoons as 22 g, as transcribed by ReciPal, 235 g per cup: heavier than granulated sugar, which a fine blend of sugar, starch and egg white powder cannot be.
The physical check: on this site, cornstarch weighs 112 to 128 g per cup, dried egg white 80 to 107 g and granulated sugar 200 g. A blend led by starch should land near the starch figures and a sugar-led blend nearer sugar. Wilton and Genie's Dream, at 135 to 144 g, sit just above starch; the heavier blends, at 164 to 172 g, sit between starch and sugar. Every meringue powder is heavier than dried egg white alone.
Practical guidance: read the brand. For Wilton use 6 g per 2 teaspoons, 9 g per tablespoon and 144 g per cup; for King Arthur use 43 g per quarter cup. A royal icing batch made with 3 to 4 tablespoons of powder uses 27 to 43 g depending on the brand, so with a scale, follow the recipe's own grams and the brand stops mattering.
Sources
Standard, powder spooned and leveled — no single figure published
Genie's Dream 135 g, Wilton 144 g, Satin Ice 164 g and King Arthur 172 g per cup span 27%, beyond the 10% tolerance for powders. The brands are different recipes, some led by corn starch and some by sugar, so the range is published rather than one figure.
- Wilton Meringue Powder (producer label)144 g per cup5.1 ozRetail label (Kroger): serving size 2 tsp dry powder (6 g), 19 servings per 4 oz tub (113.4 g / 19 = 5.97 g, consistent), 144 g per cup (density 0.609 g/mL). Ingredients: corn starch, egg whites, sugar, gum arabic, calcium sulphate, citric acid, cream of tartar, artificial flavor, silicon dioxide. Directions: 2 tsp meringue powder + 2 tbsp water = 1 egg white.
- Genie's Dream Meringue Powder (producer label)135 g per cup4.8 ozLabel serving 1/3 cup (45 g), as transcribed by ReciPal, 135 g per cup (density 0.571 g/mL). Ingredients: modified food starch, dried egg whites, sugar, gum arabic, sodium aluminosilicate, citric acid, potassium acid tartrate, vanillin.
- Satin Ice Meringue Powder (mixing directions)164 g per cup5.8 ozDirections as printed by retailer Candyland Crafts: "3 Tbsp. (31 grams) Meringue Powder" (165 g per cup) and "4 Tbsp (41 g) Meringue Powder" (164 g per cup, density 0.693 g/mL). The same directions give granulated sugar at 185 g per cup, a light way of filling the cup.
- King Arthur Baking Ingredient Weight Chart172 g per cup6.1 ozKA lists "Meringue powder" at 1/4 cup = 1 1/2 oz = 43 g, 172 g per cup (density 0.727 g/mL); King Arthur's Royal Icing recipe uses the same "1/4 cup (43g) meringue powder". King Arthur's shop directions use 1 tablespoon of powder with 5 teaspoons of water per egg white.
- CooksInfo, Meringue Powder"3 tablespoons Meringue Powder = 1 oz / 30g", 160 g per cup. A rounded conversion with no brand named, kept without a figure.
- Judee's Meringue Powder Mix (producer label)Label serving 1.5 tbsp dry mix (22 g), as transcribed by ReciPal, which would be 235 g per cup, heavier than granulated sugar (200 g). A blend of fine sugar, starch and egg white powder cannot pack denser than sugar crystals, so it is kept without a figure.
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