How to Make Vanilla Sugar
Homemade Vanilla Sugar is ridiculously easy to make and can be very economical. Give those costly vanilla beans a second life. You only need the empty pods for this recipe.
Vanilla beans are expensive!
If you buy good vanilla beans the pod itself has plenty of vanilla fragrance and can be used to make vanilla sugar. You don’t need to use the precious seeds to make this recipe.
This is a very hands-off process. Simply keep a separate jar of sugar in your panty. Every time you use a vanilla bean for the seeds, nestle the empty pod into the jar with the sugar.
The spent pods will beautifully perfume the sugar over time.
Ingredients
How to make it
- After you use the seeds from a vanilla bean in a recipe, save the spent pod to make vanilla sugar.
- Pour granulated sugar into a container with tight fitting lid.
- Nestle vanilla pods into the sugar.
- Tightly close the jar and set aside for 1-2 weeks to develop the flavor.
- As you use the sugar add more to the jar. Any time you use another vanilla bean for the seeds, add the spent pod to the jar.
Yes. Scrape the seeds from the pod and whisk them into the sugar. Use your fingers to break up any clumps of seeds. Add the pod too.
Indefinitely. As you use the sugar add more to the jar. Any time you use another vanilla bean for the seeds, add the spent pod to the jar.
Yes, use the same process but first allow the pods to air dry. If the pods are very moist they can become sticky in the sugar and make clumps.
Scrape the seeds from a fresh bean and whisk it into the sugar. Break up any clumps with your fingers. The flavor from the seeds will permeate the sugar more quickly then just the pod.
How do I use Vanilla Sugar?
- Use Vanilla Sugar to sweeten your coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
- Substitute the granulated sugar listed in a recipe with vanilla sugar. This works best in recipes where vanilla is the main flavoring. See some suggestions below.
- Make a simple syrup with vanilla sugar to flavor your cocktails or sprinkle on cake layers.
- Pack some into a cute jar to give as a hostess gift.
Recipes that use Vanilla Sugar
- Vanilla Kipferl
- Vanilla Wafers
- Vanilla Marshmallows
- Vanilla Macarons
- Vanilla Bean Pavlova
- Blackberry Vanilla Pate de Fruit
- Concord Grape Jam with Vanilla
Vanilla Sugar
Ingredients
- 24 oz granulated sugar (3 cups)
- 3 vanilla bean pods (with or without seeds)
Instructions
- Pour 24 oz granulated sugar into a jar or container with a tight fitting lid. Bury 3 vanilla bean pods into the sugar and close the container.
- Each time you use a vanilla bean, add the spent pod to the jar of sugar. As you use the sugar add new sugar to the jar.
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