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Discover the simple steps for how to make Homemade Vanilla Sugar. There are so many uses for this delicious recipe and it makes an amazing gift!
Did you already start your homemade vanilla extract for the holidays? Do you have any vanilla beans left over? If the answer is yes, try your hand at making vanilla sugar.
What is Vanilla Sugar?
Blowing your mind here people, but it’s sugar. That has hints of vanilla in it. I know, shocking.
The vanilla flavor is super unique and can amp up your baking and cooking and take it to the next level. Plus, it’s insanely easy to make and is also a simple homemade holiday gift that people will love. For very little work, which is pretty much my favorite kind of gift to give!
Supplies Used in This Recipe
- Vanilla beans
- Organic sugar (but you can use any you have on hand)
- Mason jars (available online but thrift stores are the best place to get them!)
How To Use Vanilla Sugar
You can use it in place of sugar in any recipe, but using it strategically can really help it shine. Sprinkle it on top of Raspberry Lemon Creme Brulee, blast it in a food processor or blender for homemade powdered sugar (related: How to Make Powdered Sugar), or sprinkle it on top of homemade Cinnamon Apple Donuts.
How Do You Make Vanilla Sugar?
Oh, friends, this is so simple. You’re going to love it!
Place 2 cups of sugar into your lidded container of choice (I always use a mason jar). Split one bean in half, scrape the seeds out and add the seeds and the outer bean to the sugar.
Put the lid on, shake, and let sit for two weeks.
That’s it!
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- The bean will get hard after a few days in the sugar (TWSS). That’s ok because it is still working hard doing its thing infusing all that delicious vanilla goodness!
- Use any kind of sugar you’d like. But, in my opinion, brown sugar (related: How to Make Brown Sugar) would likely have too strong of a flavor to make much of a difference in the taste.
- You can use spent beans from Homemade Vanilla Extract to extend their useful little vanilla lives, but you will want to make sure two things happen. One) have the beans dry out before adding them to the sugar and two) you’ll want to double the number of vanilla beans since some of the vanilla essences has already been used up for the extract.
Vanilla Sugar {How to Make Vanilla Sugar}
Instructions
- Place 2 cups of sugar into your lidded container of choice (I always use a mason jar).
- Split one bean in half, scrape the seeds out and add the seeds and the outer bean to the sugar.
- Put the lid on, shake, and let sit for two weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe was originally published in November 2011. It has been retested and updated with reader feedback. New photos have been added and the recipe has been made printable.
Raspberry Crème Brûlée
Vanilla Extract Recipe {How to Make Vanilla Extract}
Homemade Powdered Sugar Recipe
Homemade Brown Sugar Recipe (Two Ingredients)
Homemade Peppermint Extract (2 ingredients)
Definetly going to do this today!!
That’s exactly what we did with the vanilla beans we had left over from the vanilla extract 🙂 Except I didn’t split mine. That way when we need the vanilla we can still use it.
Ah, you’re a smarty pants! Good call on the whole beans. I still have so many that I figured I could split a few. Been using the same beans for the sugar since last Christmas.