Vanilla sugar can enhance the flavor of vanilla in baked goods, but it can be expensive. Making homemade sugar is a simple, easy, and effortless process that takes five minutes but will save you lots of money. It uses only two ingredients and can be used in sweet and savory dishes as well as drinks and sprinkles to enhance its flavor.
Do you use vanilla sugar often? I used to avoid it until I started making my own. Now, I find reasons to use it because I always have enough on hand.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Vanilla - If you go to purchase vanilla beans you will usually find that there are several types of vanilla beans.
- Those that come from Madagascar which is considered rich and robust in flavor and aroma.
- Then there is a Tahitian vanilla bean which is said to have a subtle floral and fruity flavor and aroma.
- The third most popular is an African vanilla bean mostly from Uganda which is said to be smoky and bold in flavor.
- There is also a Mexican vanilla bean which is said to be smooth and spicy.
I have never used any other than Madagascar so far. That's the one I get locally and in my budget when I shop online.
- Sugar - I use regular granulated sugar when I do this. You can also do it with brown sugar or Sparkling sugar. If you plan to give vanilla sugar to friends as a gift I highly recommend using caster sugar as it looks more pretty.
When should you use vanilla extract, bean paste, or sugar
I have shown you how to make your own homemade vanilla bean paste, vanilla sugar, and vanilla extract. so I think it's worth discussing this.
People often write comments on my blog. Can I use extract instead of bean paste? or You said extract in the recipe but you are using bean paste in the video.
The truth is there is more than one way to go with it. You can use them interchangeably and in combination too!
- Vanilla extract - I use this in almost everything by default. Mostly because it's what I have most in the house in good quantity. I must admit I love vanilla so I tend to be very generous with my homemade vanilla.
- Vanilla bean paste - this usually has a more concentrated flavor and as you can see the quantity you get from pulsing these in the food processor is really not much. A little goes a long way with this. So I use this in recipes that need a more concentrated flavor. For example, if I am making a vanilla cake where I want to really bring out the flavor of vanilla (as compared to a chocolate cake) I would use this bean paste. Similarly, if I'm making vanilla pastry cream or vanilla-based desserts like a vanilla bavarian cream as compared to a strawberry Bavarian cream. Does that make sense?
- Vanilla sugar - I often use vanilla sugar in desserts not as much in my cakes. For example pies, tarts, creme brulee, etc. These get a more defined flavor of vanilla in addition to the vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. I am known to use vanilla sugar in savory dishes such as my quiches and sauces just to help balance the acidity in there. Of course I most definitely always make my hot chocolate and drinks that call for sugar with vanilla sugar.
Step by step instructions (pin)
- Split the vanilla beans in half lengthways. Scrape the center to remove the seeds
- Thoroughly mix these seeds in the sugar. You can use a food processor. I like to use a whisk and give it a good stir.
- Store the sugar in a mason jar and use in any recipe that calls for vanilla sugar
My cheat - Homemade vanilla sugar
- Split the vanilla beans down the center, do not scrape the seeds. Place the whole vanilla beans in a glass jar with the sugar. Give it a good stir.
- Leave the sugar for at least a week before you use it.
- In a week the sugar will have absorbed enough flavor from the beans. You can use this as vanilla sugar.
- Top as you go - Use the amount of sugar you need from the jar, then top with more sugar and give it a stir. The vanilla bean will continue to perfume the sugar and small amounts of the scrapping will fall out from the beans as you stir.
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Description
Ingredients
- 2 beans Vanilla Beans
- 2 cup Sugar
Instructions
- Split the vanilla beans in half lengthways. Scrape the center to remove the seeds
- Thoroughly mix these seeds in the sugar. You can use a food processor. I like to use a whisk and give it a good stir.
- Store the sugar in a mason jar and use in any recipe that calls for vanilla sugar
My Cheat - Homemade Vanilla Sugar.
- Split the vanilla beans down the center, do not scrape the seeds. Place the whole vanilla beans in a glass jar with the sugar. Give it a good stir.
- Leave the sugar for at least a week before you use it.
- In a week the sugar will have absorbed enough flavor from the beans. You can use this as vanilla sugar.
- Top as you go - Use the amount of sugar you need from the jar, then top with more sugar and give it a stir. The vanilla bean will continue to perfume the sugar and small amounts of the scrapping will fall out from the beans as you stir.
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Brittney
Thank you so much for this trick. I now keep all the vanilla pods that I buy for my extract in the sugar jar. They stay fresh and I have vanilla sugar.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Brittney. So happy to hear you found this post useful. yes, I do that too! Thanks for coming back to write this feedback. Have a lovely day.
Tara
Such a wonderful staple for baking! I grew up in Germany and couldn't believe how much those little packets of vanilla sugar cost, especially when it is so easy to make at home. Such a great additional for pastries 🙂
Veena Azmanov
I agree so easy to make at home and so expensive to buy on the store. Here it costs a bomb!!
Sonal
What a brilliant post once again! Thanks for sharing the recipe Veena:)
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Sonal. Glad you like it.
Wajeeha
This is such an informative post. I've actually never used vanilla sugar in my desserts, but it sounds delicious. I'll be making this soon so that I can add it to my desserts!
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Wajeeha.. I love using vanilla sugar -really brings out so much flavor in desserts.
Brian Jones
I've always got a small jar of this in the cupboard, I don1t bake often but it certainly adds so much depth to a recipe.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Brian. It definitely adds so much more to a recipe. I go thru quite a bit of this because I use to for all my cake orders.
Tracy
I came to your blog looking for something else... Castle Cake and found this awesome vanilla posts too!
Your video on you tube for the castle cake is the best video. So detailed and well explained. I used it to make two casltes, one for my niece and another for my god daughter.
I was afraid I would succeed but your video really helped.
They both were so thrilled and I was amazed at the outcome. Thank you so much. Your cakes are amazing and you explain really well. Thanks.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you so much, Tracy. So happy you like my Castle Cake video. It's fairly simple and easy to make. I'm sure you will do a great job with your cake and also make some good quality homemade vanilla. Thanks for leaving this lovely comment.