Homemade Vanilla Sugar – Baking Basic
Vanilla sugar can enhance the flavor of vanilla in baked goods, but it can be expensive. Homemade vanilla sugar is a simple, easy and effortless process that takes five minutes but will save you lots of money if you bake often. Vanilla sugar uses only two ingredients and can be used in sweet and savory dishes as well as drink and sprinkles to enhance their flavor.
Homemade Vanilla Sugar – How to make Vanilla Sugar at Home
Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes (Save/Pin)
- 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, vanilla bean paste or vanilla sugar (Save all three for later)
So far we have made a homemade vanilla extract, homemade vanilla bean paste, and homemade vanilla sugar, so I think it’s worth discussing this. Often we are confused as to when to use these right? 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. So any recipe that calls for vanilla a splash of vanilla. 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.
How to make Homemade Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Bean Paste, Vanilla Sugar
Homemade Vanilla Sugar – (Save/Pin for later)
Ingredients
- Vanilla Beans – 8 to 10 beans
- Sugar – 1 kg
Method
- Split the vanilla beans in half lengthways
- Scrape the center to remove the seeds
- Thoroughly mix these seeds in the sugar (use gloves or the seeds will stick to your hands)
- 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.
- Place the whole vanilla beans in a glass jar with the sugar
- 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.
- As you use to continue to add more sugar or vanilla beans to the jar.
Have you made your own vanilla extract yet?
It’s so easy and so much more affordable if you are used to good quality vanilla extract. Here’s how easy it is to make.
Similarly, you can make vanilla bean paste at home too! Simple and easy. Check out my cheat method too!
Don’t forget to save this recipe on Pinterest for later.
You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.
Homemade Vanilla Sugar
Homemade Vanilla Sugar - Baking Basics
Instructions
- Split the vanilla beans in half lengthways
- Scrape the center to remove the seeds
- Thoroughly mix these seeds in the sugar (use gloves or the seeds will stick to your hands)
- 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.
- Place the whole vanilla beans in a glass jar with the sugar
- 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.
- As you use to continue to add more sugar or vanilla beans to the jar.
Nutrition Information
Master the Basic and Dominate the Kitchen
One way to improve your cooking or baking skills is to get a grip on your basic recipes. Often it’s more easy and quicker than you think it is.
Simple things like making homemade caramel or butterscotch take five minutes but are so much better homemade.
Baking the perfect pie or pastry crust from scratch can make huge difference to your homemade pies and desserts.
Did you know homemade buttermilk or condensed milk take less than 5 minutes as well? Yes!!
See how to make homemade vanilla extract and homemade vanilla bean paste
See some of my Basic Recipes with details or check out my Recipe Index for a list of all my recipes.
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.