Learn how to make your own homemade vanilla sugar that you can use in your favourite cookie recipes or other baked goods. All you need is some granulated sugar and a fresh vanilla bean.
I think that it’s pretty safe to say that this by far the easiest recipe you’ll find here on the blog. And one that can be prepared in mere minutes!
Over the years it has become a staple ingredient in my kitchen. Especially around the holidays. So I always make sure to prepare some way ahead of my baking projects because it needs this valuable time for the flavours to infuse.
You’ll be rewarded with the most incredibly fragrant sugar speckled with the little brown seeds of the vanilla bean.
What can you use vanilla sugar for
Vanilla sugar can be utilized in various ways.
You can use it to sweeten coffee or tea. Or you can use it in baking, and yes even savoury recipes.
It can be poured into decorative glass jars or bottles and gifted to guests as a “sweet” way of saying thank-you (pun intended).
How to make Vanilla Sugar
With a sharp pairing knife, slice open the vanilla bean. Use the back of the knife to scrape out the seeds.
Combine the sugar and vanilla seeds together in a bowl.
Stir together the sugar and vanilla seeds until well dispersed.
You can also use 2 rubber spatulas. Simply rub together the sugar and vanilla seeds with the spatulas to release larger clumps.
Transfer the vanilla sugar into an airtight container and bury the pod deeply into the sugar.
Over time the Vanilla Sugar becomes more and more fragrant, so go ahead and make it a couple of weeks in advance before you start your holiday baking.
Here’s a tip, when a recipe calls for vanilla seeds only, don’t discard the pod.
Rather give it new life by adding it to your vanilla sugar canister, as this will help to maintain the flavour of your vanilla sugar and refreshes it at the same time.
And continue filling the canister with more granulated sugar as the quantity depletes.
Homemade Vanilla Sugar
Ingredients
- 1 Vanilla Bean
- 2 cups granulated sugar
Instructions
- Slice the Vanilla Bean down the middle from end to end with a sharp knife. Using the back of the knife, scrape out the seeds.
- Combine the sugar with the vanilla seeds in a medium bowl and stir until the vanilla seeds are well dispersed.
- Transfer to an airtight container and bury the pods deeply in the vanilla sugar. It can be stored indefinitely.
- Use in your favorite coffee, tea or desserts.
Nutrition
I might try that with Stevia as well.
Hi, it should work well with Stevia
I love December too! Cute gift idea for a foodie (might as well make two)!
Yes Sadie…one to keep the other to gift 🙂
Brilliant! 🙂
Lovely post, I use this stuff all the time and I have some vanilla pods which a colleague of my partner brought back from Madagascar! I have never thought of giving this as a gift – but what a good idea – thank you for posting x
P.S. I use vanilla sugar when I am poaching pears in red wine, and the smell is devine………
Thanks Linda, hope all is well with you in Paris. Will have to remember to try it when poaching pears, sounds wonderful 🙂
All is well thank you Marisa, but still ‘fragile’,
guess what we are having for dessert this evening……
Humm, I think it may be the Chocolate Cranberry Twist! Lol….enjoy Linda?
what a lovely present to receive…I made lavender oil one year for everyone with lavender from my garden…and another year I did pickled vegies…carrots, cauliflower, jalapenos, pearl onions, they were so pretty….but a lot of work…last year I made cinnamon rolls for everyone in the neighborhood…probably doing that again…..I make it so I can take it to them still warm in the morning to have with coffee…..thanks for all your great recipes…kat
Oh my! Kat, you are a jewel of a neighbor. I wish I lived close by….:) That is truly remarkable 🙂
thanks…I cherish my neighbors…a group of good people…..I live on a dead in Lane, kinda like a family…..kat
I have never heard of such a thing and I love it! This sounds so good! I need to try it and so easy! yumm
I am cringing now for all the times that I have thrown out the pods once I took out the seeds! Thanks Marisa, I now know what to do!
Lol…it’s a wonderful tip I’ve learnt years ago which is so so worth it considering the price of vanilla beans! Also the taste of home made vanilla sugar is unparalleled! ?