I like making pantry staples from scratch when it makes everyday cooking a little easier or more enjoyable. Vanilla sugar is one of those things. It doesn’t take much effort, but it quietly improves a lot of the things you already make from coffee, baked goods, simple desserts, and even breakfast.
If you bake or cook with vanilla extract often, this is a good way to stretch the use of vanilla beans without wasting anything. It’s also convenient to have on hand, since it replaces regular sugar in many recipes while adding a subtle vanilla flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 Vanilla beans
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
Instructions
Slice the vanilla beans lengthwise to release the caviar, then cut each bean in half.
Add the sugar to a clean jar. Place the split beans directly into the sugar.
Seal the jar and shake well to distribute the vanilla seeds throughout.
Let the sugar sit and infuse, shaking the jar occasionally. The longer it rests, the stronger the flavor becomes. The vanilla beans can remain in the sugar indefinitely.
If the sugar clumps slightly over time, simply break it up with a spoon or give the jar a quick shake.
Ways to Use Vanilla Sugar
- Sprinkle over muffins, cookies, or quick breads before baking
- Stir into coffee, tea, or hot chocolate
- Use in baking anywhere a recipe calls for regular sugar
- Dust over fruit, pancakes, waffles, or French toast
- Mix into whipped cream or yogurt for a subtle vanilla flavor
How to Store
Store vanilla sugar in a sealed jar at room temperature, away from moisture. It keeps indefinitely and continues to develop flavor over time. If the vanilla beans dry out, you can replace them with fresh ones to refresh the sugar.
Homemade Vanilla Sugar
Ingredients
- 4 Vanilla beans
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
Instructions
- Slice the vanilla beans lengthwise to release the caviar, then cut each bean in half.
- Add the sugar to a clean jar. Place the split beans directly into the sugar.
- Seal the jar and shake well to distribute the vanilla seeds throughout.
- Let the sugar sit and infuse, shaking the jar occasionally. The longer it rests, the stronger the flavor becomes. The vanilla beans can remain in the sugar indefinitely.
- If the sugar clumps slightly over time, simply break it up with a spoon or give the jar a quick shake.
