How To Make Homemade Vanilla Sugar
Learn how to make homemade vanilla sugar with only 2 simple ingredients. Homemade vanilla sugar adds a rich vanilla flavor baked goods and can be used as a substitute for plain sugar in coffee, hot chocolate, tea, ice cream or almost any sweet recipe. If you make your own pure vanilla extract, then it makes perfect sense to make this flavored sugar with your leftover vanilla beans, or you can use fresh vanilla beans as well. There are a couple of different methods for making this recipe which are outlined below.
What Is Vanilla Sugar?
Vanilla sugar is regular sugar infused with vanilla beans. It’s a fancy baking ingredient only available at specialty stores, but it’s very easy to make yourself at home. It adds a special flavor to things like sugar cookies, ice cream and warm drinks like coffee and tea.
Why You’ll Like Making This Recipe
- Adds an extra level of decadence to anything you normally add sugar too.
- Vanilla sugar makes an excellent gift for a baker or coffee lover.
- Quick and easy to make, but looks extra fancy
- A great way to use up leftover vanilla beans after making homemade vanilla extract
- It makes an excellent simple syrup for using in drinks like a vanilla latte
Recipes
- Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
- Sourdough discard chocolate chip banana muffins
- Overnight sourdough pancakes
- Sourdough donuts
Simple Ingredients
- Whole Vanilla Beans – I order grade B vanilla beans from Amazon. They make wonderful sugar and aren’t as expensive as some vanilla beans.
- Sugar – granulated sugar or cane sugar works just fine.
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Tools You May Need
- Small jar
- Baking sheet
- Coffee grinder or food processor
Tips For Making This Homemade Vanilla Sugar Recipe
- You can either use either fresh vanilla beans, or ones that have already been used to make vanilla extract. If you use vanilla beans that have already been used for vanilla extract, you’ll need to add a few more of them because they will have less flavor than a fresh bean.
- If you’re using leftover vanilla beans from making vanilla extract, it’s best to bake the vanilla beans on a low heat for a little bit to dry them out so the sugar doesn’t clump up from the moisture.
- Don’t use brown sugar, because the molasses in the brown sugar will overpower the vanilla flavor.
- Don’t decrease vanilla in recipes when using vanilla sugar. Just let it add some extra flavor.
- You may see vanilla bean flecks scattered throughout whatever recipe you use this vanilla sugar in
FAQ:
Is it worth it to make your own vanilla bean sugar?
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Yes, it is much cheaper to make your own vanilla sugar than to purchase it.
Which types of vanilla beans should I use?
That depends on the flavor that you like in your sugar. Different flavors can be achieved by using different kinds of vanilla bean pods. I prefer to purchase grade B beans.
- Madagascar Vanilla beans are very common and have a creamy and rich flavor
- Mexican Vanilla beans have a darker, almost smoky flavor
- Tahitian Vanilla beans are also very common and have a rich floral flavor
How To Make Your Own Homemade Vanilla Sugar
Option 1 Using Fresh Vanilla Beans
Using a sharp knife and a cutting board, split the whole vanilla bean pod lengthwise. Scrape out the vanilla bean seeds using the knife and add the seeds to the sugar. Stir well and allow it to set for 1-2 weeks before using so the flavors can blend. The empty pod can be used to make your own vanilla extract. This is my favorite way to make vanilla sugar.
Option 2 Using Fresh Vanilla Beans or Leftover Vanilla Beans From Making Vanilla Extract
Place the beans on a baking sheet and dry them in a 175 degree oven for 30 minutes, or until dry enough that they snap in two.
Using a coffee grinder, grind the beans until they are a smooth powder. Add 1 cup of the sugar and blend. Add it to a jar with 1 more cup of sugar and stir well. The reason for not blending all of the sugar is that it can turn it into powder. Allow the vanilla sugar to set for two weeks to allow the flavors to blend.
Can be stored in an airtight container indefinitely.
How To Make Vanilla Sugar
Ingredients
- 1 vanilla bean more if using leftover vanilla beans from making vanilla extract
- 2 cups sugar
Instructions
Option 1 Using Fresh Vanilla Beans
- Using a sharp knife and a cutting board, split the whole vanilla bean pod lengthwise. Scrape out the vanilla bean seeds using the knife and add the seeds to the sugar. Stir well and allow it to set for 1-2 weeks before using so the flavors can blend. The empty pod can be used to make your own vanilla extract. This is my favorite way to make vanilla sugar.
Option 2 Using Fresh Vanilla Beans or Leftover Vanilla Beans From Making Vanilla Extract
- Place the beans on a baking sheet and dry them in a 175 degree oven for 30 minutes, or until dry enough that they snap in two.
- Using a coffee grinder, grind the beans until they are a smooth powder. Add 1 cup of the sugar and blend. Add it to a jar with 1 more cup of sugar and stir well. The reason for not blending all of the sugar is that it can turn it into powder. Allow the vanilla sugar to set for two weeks to allow the flavors to blend.
- Can be stored in an airtight container indefinitely
