Vanilla sugar is easy to make at home using just two ingredients: granulated sugar and vanilla beans. The basic process involves infusing the sugar with vanilla flavor by either drying and grinding vanilla beans into a fine powder to mix with the sugar or scraping the seeds from a vanilla bean and blending them directly into the sugar.
Simple Vanilla Sugar Recipe
- Use about 1 cup granulated sugar with 1-2 whole vanilla beans.
- Cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds.
- Mix the seeds thoroughly into the sugar.
- Optionally, add the empty bean pods to the sugar for extra flavor.
- Store the mixture in an airtight container for at least one week to develop the flavor, shaking occasionally.
- The sugar can be used as a 1:1 substitute for regular sugar in baking, coffee, or tea.
Option for Vanilla Bean Powder Method
- Dry the vanilla beans in a low oven (about 175°F/80°C) for about 1.5 to 2 hours until they snap like twigs.
- Let them cool and grind them finely in a coffee grinder.
- Mix the powder into granulated sugar thoroughly.
- Store in an airtight container.
This method yields a fragrant and flavorful vanilla sugar that's great for baking and as an addition to beverages. The sugar can keep for up to a year if stored properly in a cool, dry place.
Would more detailed steps or other recipe variations be helpful?
