This seems like such a rudimentary question, but I need to check my information. 
I have been having trouble getting my icing just right and it just has to be the way I am measuring my powdered sugar. How many cups of powdered sugar equal a pound? Do you pack the powdered sugar? What is the best way to get the most accurate amount of powdered sugar?
I make all my icing using a two pound bag, period, no measuring required. It's supposed to be equal to eight cups. To the two pound bag, I use 2 cups of shortening, 2 tsps of vanilla, and 1/2 cup of water. That's it. It's fabulous buttercream which I learned in my Wilton course back in 1982.
P.S. Kelly,
You could test the measuring by taking a one pound box of sugar (which is supposed to be 4 cups) and dump it into a four-cup measuring cup and see if it's four cups fluffy or if you need to pack it to make it four cups. Use what you learn by that to measure in the future.
I make all my icing using a two pound bag, period, no measuring required.
This is they way that I do it also. So much easier than scooping the powdered sugar.
I know this has been suggested elsewhere, but a food scale makes this sooooo easy 
. If you have one that gives you tare weight, you just pop the bowl you want to use on top of the scale, press the on button and then add sugar till it hits 16 ounces.
I thought I wasn't confused 'till now!! A pound is 16 ounces, right. So if you put the sugar on a scale 'till it reads 1lb. then isn't that all you need to do? I use the scale because it was these kind of things that were bewildering. But then you could just buy the 2lb bag like suggested. That should do it.
If you do a lot of baking, you'll find it much easier to invest in a scale. I've got a digital one that fits my needs for around $30.
When measuring powdered sugar DO NOT pack it. One pound comes out to 3 3/4 cups. You hear 4 cups thrown around a lot, but it's only an approximation. If you look on a 1 pound box of powdered sugar, find the serving size and servings per box, it works out to 3 3/4 cups.
I have found that 2 lb bags work well just like everyone said..
I have a 2lb bag that says there is 7 1/2 cups in the bag.
I agree with those that say either weight it, to get the exact same amount every time. That or buy the 2lb bag and double your recipe or buy the 1lb box.
I adjusted my recipe to a more even number just so I didn't have to measure my powder sugar.
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