With just 2 ingredients, this vanilla sugar recipe is so simple and easy to make at home. Only 5 minutes needed! Tips shared for choosing the right vanilla bean for making incredible homemade vanilla sugar.
What is Vanilla Sugar Used For?
Vanilla sugar is incredibly versatile.
I keep a small jar in my baking cabinet (next to the spices) and use it for just about anything: sprinkled over juicy, ripe strawberries, stirred into oatmeal, and mixed into strong coffee and tea. It’s great on waffles,apple tarts and panettone, and it makes the best cinnamon toast on warm sourdough bread. Every time I open the jar, I’m hit with the most wonderful, sweet aroma…
But here’s the best part: vanilla sugar is practical enough for everyday use but equally as impressive to give as gifts. It’s easy, fast and incredibly satisfying to make.
Another important factor to consider is cost. Vanilla beans are pricey! To save a few bucks, Native Vanilla has some bulk price options (i.e. 10 vanilla beans for $12.99 with free shipping!). The quality is excellent.
What’s the difference between Grade A & Grade B vanilla?
Grade A vanilla beans are considered high quality or “gourmet” because they’re soft, plump, shiny and have a high moisture content. They’re also expensive.
Grade B is typically best because of its low moisture content- the sugar won’t clump up when the mixture is combined. The vanilla beans still pack plenty of pure vanilla flavor, and as an added bonus, they cost less than Grade A beans.
How tO store vanilla Sugar & Vanilla Beans
Vanilla sugar will keep indefinitely when stored in an airtight jar. In fact, the longer it sits the better it will taste!
As for the vanilla beans, cover tightly in plastic or wax wrap. This is important so they don’t dry out.
TIP: As your vanilla sugar supply dwindles down, top it off with more sugar and deseeded vanilla pods as you collect them.
Where Can I Buy Those Cute Jars?!
This recipe fits perfectly into 4 oz (125 ml) latch top jars (pictured here).
Here a a few options to choose from, similar to mine. You can also purchase in bulk from a restarant supply store.
*This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for the support friends!
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Author:Emilie Raffa
Prep Time:5
Total Time:5 minutes
Yield:2 cups
Category:Dessert
Method:One-Bowl
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegan
Print Recipe
Description
Using only 2 ingredients, this vanilla sugar recipe is so simple and easy to make at home. All you need is 5 minutes! It’s perfect to spice up your everyday oatmeal, yet impressive enough to give as homemade gifts. For best flavor allow the sugar to infuse for up to 2 weeks or more.
2.) I use a food processor to infuse the vanilla into the sugar- it’s the quickest way to infuse the flavor. Alternatively, it can be mixed by hand.
Instructions
Slice the vanilla beans in half lengthwise. Scrape out the seeds in a downward motion using the back of a small paring knife. Reserve the empty pods.
Add the sugar to the bowl of a food processor. Add the vanilla seeds.
Pulse until well incorporated. Pour into jars or a large airtight container. Submerge the reserved vanilla pods into the sugar (cut in half to fit, if necessary). For best flavor, allow the sugar to infuse for up to 2 weeks or more.
Using Vanilla Sugar Instead of Vanilla Extract: In recipes that call for vanilla extract, use 1 1/2 teaspoons of homemade vanilla sugar per teaspoon of vanilla extract. Add an extra teaspoon of a liquid ingredient per 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla sugar to replace the liquid from the vanilla extract.
Vanilla sugar is a simple recipe of granulated sugar infused with vanilla beans. There is nothing quite as simple or versatile as homemade vanilla sugar. Vanilla sugar in baking can be utilized in a variety of desserts; from apple pies, snickerdoodles and crème brûlée to light and airy pavlova's.
The purest form of vanilla powder comes from vanilla beans. The beans are dehydrated and finely ground. But you'll also find another type of vanilla powder on the market, where sugar is added. This type, called vanilla sugar, is popular in France and Mexico and used as a substitute for regular sugar in some recipes.
Because vanilla has fewer calories and carbohydrates than sugar, it can be used to reduce your sugar intake. Using vanilla as a sugar substitute also can reduce high blood glucose levels and help you lead a more heart-healthy lifestyle.
For most oven–based recipes, such as cookies, cakes, brownies, cupcakes and tarts, it's near impossible to tell the difference between imitation and pure vanilla extract. Therefore, using a 1:1 swap will work just fine.
While vanilla sugar is made of sucrose (household sugar) and crushed vanilla beans and/or vanilla extract, vanillin sugar is a mixture of sucrose and vanillin [3]. The latter is considerably more favorably priced and can be found as a standard baking ingredient in almost every supermarket.
You only need 2 ingredients for homemade vanilla extract: vanilla beans and vodka. Let the vanilla beans infuse the vodka for as little as 8 weeks, but for optimal flavor, wait at least 6-12 months before using. Homemade vanilla is more cost efficient than store-bought options. You can try homemade vanilla sugar too.
Vanilla sugar is actually a pretty simple one, in that it should theoretically never go “bad.” Neither sugar nor vanilla contains any ingredients that will go rancid or bad, in a traditional sense, so if nothing else creeps into your storage container then you should be safe to eat vanilla sugar forever!
As long as it is not showing signs of going bad, you can still continue using it six months to a year after it's expiration date. Though, I would add more to the recipe to make up for the weakened flavor. However, both pure and imitation vanilla extract can go bad if not stored correctly.
This is the simplest way you can think of when in a hurry. Note that powdered/icing sugar or granulated sugar can't deliver the same depth of flavor as vanilla sugar. They can only make up for the lack of sweetness, so this is always my last resort.
You can substitute vanilla powder for vanilla extract (or vice versa) in any recipe. Use a 1:1 ratio when making this substitution. If a recipe calls for one teaspoon of vanilla extract, just use one teaspoon of powder. Easy!
Low-glycemic foods are rated at 55 or less, medium-level glycemic index foods are 56-69, and high-glycemic foods at 70-100. Vanilla extract has a glycemic index of 5, which is considered low. Vanilla extract will not cause blood sugar spikes and can add a pleasant flavor to foods, desserts, and drinks.
Some studies show that sniffing vanilla extract might also prevent sleep apnea in premature babies. Vanilla's sedative benefits are so powerful that it can help lower your blood pressure and make you drowsy enough to send you off into a faster, more relaxing sleep.
Come to think of it, you can use vanilla sugar in any acidic food to give it a delicate sweetness. You'll find vanilla sugar in most European recipes for sweet treats like cakes, cookies and jams. It's a staple ingredient for everything from pastries, desserts and dough to savory sauces, stews and batter.
About 1.5 teaspoons of homemade vanilla sugar equals a packet, which is typically what is called for in German recipes. You can easily round up to 2 teaspoons, if you want a sweeter, stronger taste. Technically, 1.5 teaspoons is 0.25 ounces and 2 teaspoons is 0.33 ounces. Most packets contain 0.28 to 0.32 ounces.
Vanilla extract and how important is it for the baking process. The primary purpose of vanilla extract is to add flavour to baked goods. Lacking it, baked goods tend to have a bland and boring taste. Vanilla extract can also contribute moisture to create a soft and fluffy texture.
An easy measure that usually works is to change the requirement to half. If your recipe calls for one teaspoon of vanilla extract, you could use half a teaspoon of vanilla powder.
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