How to Make Vanilla Sugar - Easy 30 Minute Process (2024)

Vanilla sugar is the perfect homemade gift! It only takes 30 minutes to make a large batch, so it won't take much time away from your busy schedule.

Vanilla sugar is an amazing homemade Christmas gift. Or why wait for Christmas? It's great as a hostess gift any time of the year, too!

What is vanilla sugar?

It's granulated sugar that is infused with vanilla seeds and vanilla beans. Due to this infusion, the sugar smells like vanilla and has a beautiful vanilla flavor to it.

Type of vanilla beans to use:

There are 4 main types of vanilla beans:

• Madagascar bourbon - sweet, creamy flavor
• Tahitian - fruity, floral flavor with cherry and anise-like notes
• Mexican - sweet, creamy, and a bit spicy
• Indonesian - smoky, woody flavor

And vanilla beans are available in 2 different grades too - A or B.

Grade A vanilla beans:

Grade A vanilla beans are premium, and aesthetically perfect. They're sold in perfect form (ie. plump and juicy) , and are more oily and have a high moisture content.

Grade B vanilla beans:

Grade B vanilla beans still have amazing flavor, but are not in perfect condition like Grade A vanilla beans. They can be bruised, scarred and scorched from the sun, but this doesn't affect the flavor. They are also drier than grade A vanilla beans,

How to use it:

SO MANY amazing uses for vanilla sugar.

• Add it to tea or coffee to add a slight vanilla flavor
• Use in your regular baking - like for cookies or cakes
• Use to top warm pies
• Add to whipping cream

How long it will last:

Granulated sugar doesn't technically go bad, but since adding vanilla seeds and beans to the sugar, it can cause the sugar to harden a bit. Plus the vanilla beans may dry out. So don't let the sugar go past one year.

How to make vanilla sugar - step by step:

Add sugar to a large bowl.

Split vanilla beans in half lengthwise with a knife and remove the seeds. Reserve the vanilla beans (photo 1)

Add the seeds to the bowl with the sugar (photo 2)

Using your hands (and preferably wearing gloves), mix the sugar and vanilla seeds until vanilla seeds are fully incorporated into the sugar (photo 3)

Fill an airtight jar halfway with vanilla sugar. Add reserved vanilla bean to jar (photo 4)

Fill the rest of the jar with sugar (photo 5)

Things to know when making vanilla sugar:

• Once you've placed the vanilla sugar in jars, let it sit for at least one month before using. This will give the vanilla time to infuse into the sugar.
• The vanilla sugar will last up to one year.
• I used tahitian grade A vanilla beans to good results. But you can use any type of vanilla bean (tahitian, madagascar, mexican) - grade A or B, and you will get good results.
• Since vanilla beans are quite moist (especially grade A beans), adding the beans to the sugar can add extra moisture to the sugar and cause it to harden up a bit. Don't worry if this happens! Simply soften the sugar a bit with a spoon and it will be ready to use.

Desserts you can use vanilla sugar in:

• Crostata (Italian Jam Tart)
• The Best Jam Cookies
• Almond Cake with Amaretto Glaze

If you’ve tried making this Vanilla Sugar, or any other recipe on the blog please let me know what you thought of it in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW MEonINSTAGRAM,FACEBOOK,TWITTER, ANDPINTERESTto see more delicious food and what I’ve been up to.

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See Also

Homemade Vanilla Sugar - The Baked Collective

How to Make Vanilla Sugar

Vanilla sugar is the perfect homemade gift! It only takes 30 minutes to make, so it won't take much time away from your busy schedule.

CourseDessert

CuisineAmerican

Prep Time 30 minutes

Servings 10 jars (½ cup each)

Calories 394.05 kcal

Author Pina Bresciani

Ingredients

• 5cupsgranulated sugar
• 6vanilla beans

Instructions

1. Add sugar to a large bowl.

2. Split vanilla beans in half lengthwise with a knife and remove the seeds. Reserve the vanilla beans.

3. Add the seeds to the bowl with the sugar.

4. Using your hands (and preferably wearing gloves), mix the sugar and vanilla seeds until vanilla seeds are fully incorporated into the sugar.

5. Fill a jar halfway with vanilla sugar. Add reserved vanilla bean to jar. Fill the rest of the jar with sugar.

Recipe Notes

• Use vanilla beans to make this vanilla sugar - if you would like to use vanilla extract, it requires different proportions than the ones listed in this recipe.
• Once you've placed the vanilla sugar in jars, let it sit for at least one month before using. This will give the vanilla time to infuse into the sugar.
• The vanilla sugar will last up to one year.
• I used tahitian grade A vanilla beans to good results. But you can use any type of vanilla bean (tahitian, madagascar, mexican) - grade A or B, and you will get good results.
• Since vanilla beans are quite moist (especially grade A beans), adding the beans to the sugar can add extra moisture to the sugar and cause it to harden up a bit. Don't worry if this happens! Simply soften the sugar a bit with a spoon and it will be ready to use.
• I used 10 small IKEA jars with a seal to store the sugar.

Nutrition Facts

How to Make Vanilla Sugar

Amount Per Serving

Calories 394.05Calories from Fat 4

% Daily Value*

Fat 0.45g1%

Sodium 1mg0%

Carbohydrates 100.73g34%

Sugar 99.8g111%

Iron 0.05mg0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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