Liquid-feed flame spray pyrolysis allows the synthesis of 20 nm diameter hexagonal Y3Al5O12 nanopowders (see Figure) that show no evidence of a yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) phase. The nanopowders can be easily formed into green bodies that sinter to the YAG phase at nearly full density. This novel material offers potential for making high-quality YAG materials including ceramic lasers with exceptional control of processing parameters.