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    Home » Desserts

    How to Make Vanilla Sugar - Easy 30 Minute Process

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    By Pina Bresciani ⁠— January 22, 2020 — Leave a Comment

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    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.

    Three jars of vanilla sugar decorated with fresh greenery and tags

    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,

    Jars of vanilla sugar on a place mat with a pitcher in the background

    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.

    Jar of open vanilla sugar with two jars in the background

    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)

    Step by step process on how to make vanilla sugar (homemade Christmas gift)

    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)

    Step by step process on how to make vanilla bean sugar - a great DIY Christmas gift!

    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.

    Two jars of vanilla stacked on each other with napkins in the background

    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 ME on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what I’ve been up to.

    Recipe

    Three jars of vanilla sugar decorated with fresh greenery and tags
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    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.
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 30 minutes minutes
    Servings 10 jars (½ cup each)
    Calories 394.05kcal
    Author Pina Bresciani

    Ingredients

    • 5 cups granulated sugar
    • 6 vanilla beans

    Instructions

    • Add sugar to a large bowl.
    • Split vanilla beans in half lengthwise with a knife and remove the seeds. Reserve the vanilla beans.
    • Add the seeds to the bowl with the sugar.
    • Using your hands (and preferably wearing gloves), mix the sugar and vanilla seeds until vanilla seeds are fully incorporated into the sugar.
    • 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 394.05 Calories 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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    My name is Pina and I love Italian food and culture! Here you'll find delicious Italian-inspired recipes with a fresh west coast spin. Buon Appetito! About Me

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