What does divided sugar in recipe mean?

In a recipe, "divided sugar" means that the total amount of sugar called for in the recipe is divided into two or more parts and added at different stages of the cooking process. This technique is often used to achieve a specific texture or flavor in the finished dish.

For example, in a recipe for a cake, the sugar might be divided into three parts:

* Part 1: Added to the creamed butter and sugar mixture at the beginning of the recipe to provide structure and sweetness to the cake.

* Part 2: Added to the egg whites during whipping to stabilize them and create a meringue-like texture.

* Part 3: Sprinkled on top of the cake before baking to create a crunchy topping.

By dividing the sugar in this way, the baker can control the sweetness and texture of the cake in a more precise way, resulting in a better-tasting and more visually appealing finished product.