With　the　development　of　the　high-power　solid-state　lighting　(SSL)　industry,　there　is　an　urgent　demand　for　lowcost　color　converters　with　good　luminescent　performance　and　thermal　robustness.　Conventional　phosphor　ceramics　face　the　problems　of　high　sintering　energy　consumption　and　low　light　extraction　efficiency.　In　the　present　work,　a　two-step　sintering　(TSS)　method　has　been　developed　to　obtain　a　series　of　YAG:Ce　and　YAG:Ce-Al2O3　samples　at　a　lower　temperature　of　1600　degrees　C,　where　the　operating　power　is　reduced　to　67%　of　the　traditional　onestep　process.　The　TSS　samples　have　a　fine　microstructure,　which　leads　to　a　better　scattering　enhancement　effect.　The　impacts　of　grain　size　and　composition　on　optical　and　thermal　properties　were　investigated　in　detail.　The　luminous　characteristics　and　stability　were　analyzed　by　packaging　phosphor　ceramics　with　blue　LEDs,　with　a　maximum　LE　of　188.72　lm/W,　CRI　of　58.7,　and　CCT　in　the　range　of　3628-5048　K,　respectively.　Such　suitable　properties　of　the　TSS　material　make　it　a　promising　candidate　for　high-power　white　LEDs　applications.