Starch dispersions comprising discrete particles of crosslinked cationic starch in an aqueous liquid can be used in papermaking. They can be used as a wet-end additive or in surface coating. The starch dispersions can be prepared by a process comprising: (a) obtaining a mixture of cationic starch and an aqueous liquid, (b) processing the mixture using shear forces in the presence of a crosslinker: and (c) adding and mixing in a hydroxylic liquid to obtain the starch dispersions.