Sifting icing sugar - what should I use?

[Biscuitsandtea]

Ok, so I just tried to lightly dust my mince pies with icing sugar (using a sieve) and totally drowned them in it!

I had to shake it off again.

What should I have used / done differently?

Thank you

When I do this I use a normal sieve but don't shake it, lightly tap the side with your hand. Lightly!

Use the sieve. Only put a tiny bit of icing sugar in and dust 'from above' (that means high up!) you'll have to wipe the surface down as a delicate dusting from above covers a larger area than you are likely to.

Hope that helps.

Right thank you ladies, pointers taken on board. Now as soon as we've eaten this batch of mince pies I can put it into practice

Hmm...maybe I should make some mince pies and make a mishap of the icing sugar therefore needing to make more...

Bugger - you've seem through my cunning plan

Second the tea strainer, teaspoon of icing sugar, job done.

I also like using a tea strainer - it makes me feel like I'm making cakes in a dolls' house somehow too. But maybe I'm just a little odd :)