How to make Homemade Vanilla Sugar – Baking Basics Ingredients (2024)

Last Updated on July 9, 2022 by Chef Mireille

Learn how to make your own vanilla sugar to not only use to enhance desserts, but it is also a delicious flavor addition to your morning cup of java.

The various uses of this versatile item are endless. Once you start, you won’t be able to live without this item always in your pantry.

Although homemade Vanilla Extract is great, homemade vanilla infused sugar adds even more flavor to whatever it is added to.

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Vanilla Bean Sugar is a standard item in most European countries. If you like baking up European treats, knowing how to make your own homemade version is a useful recipe to have in your repertoire.

It is so easy to make and requires just the two ingredients in the title – vanilla beans and sugar.

In Europe, it’s not something you have to look for at a specialty store. When I was in Iceland, I even saw it at a 7-11 there, where 7-11 are more like mini mart’s than the fast food chain version you find here in America.

However you might be wondering – Can you buy vanilla sugar? – here in America?

In the last several years, specialty shops that sell dozens upon dozens of flavored sugars and salts are becoming a dime a dozen – especially in large cities like NYC where I live!

Of course, there are online sources where you can also purchase it.

However, making the vanilla infused sugar yourself has some advantages:

• Customization – If you prefer the vanilla taste to be stronger, you can adjust it by adding more or less vanilla, per your preference
• All Natural – Some of the store bought versions of vanilla flavored sugar use artificial vanilla flavoring, instead of real vanilla bean power and flavor.

How to use your homemade Vanilla Sugar

• use it for baking – replace it spoon for spoon instead of regular sugar
• use it in coffee or tea
• sprinkle on top of cookies or scones
• delicious in your favorite ice cream recipes
• replace 1 teaspoon of this flavored sugar for 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract in any recipe
• rim co*cktails with this vanilla beans sugar – especially holiday co*cktails like Kremas

Before we get to the recipe, here are a few recipes that you can turn into Recipes with Vanilla Sugar.

• Ginger Pear Scones
• Sandbakkels
• Lucuma Ice Cream
• Haitian Orange Cake
• Plantain Porridge

Frequently Asked Questions

How to make Vanilla Sugar

• Split and chop vanilla beans.
• Buzz in the food processor for several minutes, until the vanilla beans are processed down very well.
• Store in an air tight jar.

• Store in a jar with the vanilla pieces for at least 2 weeks. The longer you leave it, the more flavor it will have.
• You can sift the sugar to take out the vanilla pieces, if you prefer.

You can just sift the amount you use, as needed, to keep the vanilla beans constantly infusing the sugar with more vanilla flavor.

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