I Made Vanilla Sugar 3 Ways – Which Recipe is Best?
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Once you know how easy it is to make vanilla sugar at home, you’ll never buy the fancy stuff at the store ever again. It’s the perfect way to add a touch of vanilla flavor to anything, and it’s seriously easy to make. But, which way is best? I tested 3 different methods and am spilling the (vanilla) beans!
Making vanilla sugar was one of the first infusing projects I ever tried. I love vanilla and I love baking, so it made sense to put the two together. Since that first attempt about eight years ago, I constantly have vanilla sugar in my pantry!
It’s so much easier to make than you’d think and I love to use it to roll cookie dough, sweeten a hot cup of coffee, and so much more. It’s a must-have!
Love vanilla, too? Learn how to make bourbon vanilla extract to flavor your baked goods. Use a couple of extra vanilla beans to make your own homemade vanilla bean paste, too!
What is Vanilla Sugar?
It’s pretty straightforward – this is sugar that’s been soaking up the scent oils from whole vanilla beans.
The sugar takes on the scent and flavor of vanilla, which it adds to your cookies, homemade cakes, coffee drinks, and more. It makes everything better.
Try it on your next batch of creme brulee. It’s amazing! My favorite way to use it is to sweeten a really strong cup of black coffee as an afternoon pick-me-up.
Equipment
To make this easy vanilla sugar recipe, you’ll need:
- A cutting board and sharp knife (I used a small paring knife to make it easier to control)
- Mason jar
- Spoon (optional)
- Food processor or coffee grinder (optional)
Ingredients
- Granulated cane sugar – Don’t overthink it. Just use whatever regular sugar you have on hand. I prefer to use organic cane sugar when possible. This batch came from the organic sugar at Costco. The crystals are slightly larger than plain white sugar.
- Vanilla – This is where the fun comes in! I’ve made vanilla sugar with vanilla powder, beans, and homemade extract. They all work, but the extract or powder is the fastest method.
I used the Kiddu brand of Ugandan vanilla beans for this batch to try something new! The price is outrageous (about $32 for 50 of the plumpest, most aromatic beans ever). I really liked the story of this family of vanilla farmers and just had to give it a try.
After my first order, I quickly placed another. The beans have a butterscotch, almond flavor that’s really lovely. Perfect for extracts, sugar, syrups, and anything else you need!
NOTE: You can certainly use just one bean instead, but I prefer to use two (1 bean per cup). It speeds up the process so I can enjoy delicious homemade vanilla sugar faster than normal!
How to Make Vanilla Sugar with Fresh Vanilla Bean
- Add the sugar to your jar.
- Use a sharp knife to slice along the side of your vanilla bean pods. Scrape out the seeds inside and make sure they make it into the jar!
- Cut the emptied vanilla pods in half to help them fit in the jar. Use a spoon to mash the caviar into the sugar crystals (skip this step if you use the food processor).
- Seal the jar and shake very well every day for at least 5-7 days.
- Then, store the bottle in your pantry indefinitely. I prefer to let the mixture sit for 2-3 weeks, but it’ll taste good within the first week! Shake every 1-2 weeks to minimize clumps.
- Serve or use as desired.
How to Make Vanilla Sugar with Extract
- Combine the sugar and extract together in a bowl and stir well.
- Spread the mixture on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and place in the oven at the lowest temperature possible (usually about 170F).
- Place the tray in the oven and bake for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Remove the tray from the oven, allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, then either crush the clumps by hand or quickly pulse the mixture in a food processor.
- Transfer to an airtight container and use as desired!
How to Make Vanilla Sugar with Vanilla Bean Powder
- Add the sugar and vanilla bean powder to a small jar.
- Shake to incorporate and let the mixture rest for a few days for the flavor to develop.
- Use however you’d like!
Storing
Store the vanilla sugar in an airtight container in a cool, dry, and dark place for 1-2 years. It’s ready to use within about a week, but you can easily let it keep steeping for a long time. I almost always leave the beans in the jar and replenish the sugar when it gets low!
Which method is best for homemade vanilla sugar?
Although I’ve made vanilla sugar with whole vanilla pods for years, I decided to make three different versions for a taste test. Let’s get into it!
Whole vanilla beans ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is one of the easiest methods with a rich vanilla aroma and flavor nearly instantly.
It does require you to have vanilla beans, which can make the price a little higher. Honestly, the flavor is so strong…it’s my favorite method.
Vanilla bean powder ⭐⭐⭐
I like that this is a mix-and-go option, but the flavor just isn’t as strong. The flavor oils have dried out and take time to release their flavor in the sugar.
It works in a pinch, but isn’t the best. I do like that you get the little vanilla specks, which makes it obvious what you’re using.
Vanilla extract ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was reluctant to try this method because I like the vanilla bean version so much and I knew it would require drying to dehydrate the moisture (‘m lazy).
Fortunately, it’s easy and affordable since you just need a little vanilla extract for a lot of flavor. It’s also ready in about an hour, so it’s quicker than the first option for almost the same amount of flavor!
How to Use Vanilla Sugar
This is the fun part and part of why I always make my own vanilla sugar. I usually keep it simple, but there are so many options.
It can be used as a 1:1 replacement for granulated sugar in any sweet recipe, but I prefer to savor it in small doses. Pair it with mild-tasting ingredients to let the vanilla flavor shine brightly.
- Sweet a hot cup of coffee
- Broil over creme brulee
- Sprinkle over your muffin batter before baking
- Roll snickerdoodle dough for extra vanilla flavor
- Make the best vanilla ice cream
- Stir into homemade puddings
- Make vanilla syrup
- Sweeten hot cocoa
- Add to Christmas sugar cookies
- Mix into your favorite vanilla cake or pound cake
- Fold into your vanilla cupcakes or muffins
- Sprinkle over fresh fruit for a sweet summer treat
Once you have your vanilla sugar ready to go, make vanilla sugar cubes. They make such a great gift!
Tips & Variations
- Use leftover extract beans. I love making homemade vanilla extract, and I never waste vanilla beans. Let them dry out really well on a kitchen towel, then add them to sugar. You’ll likely need to add more beans than normal since the oils have already been extracted in the extract-making process.
- Speed up the process. This method works pretty quickly, but I sometimes like to hurry things along! If you need vanilla sugar ready sooner than later, try blending the sugar and vanilla beans together in the food processor. Keep going until the beans are small chunks. This will increase the surface area, and you’ll get a strong vanilla flavor faster.
- Stick with white sugar. Although you can technically add the vanilla beans to brown sugar or even coconut sugar, I suspect the vanilla scent will disappear. White sugar is really a great neutral vehicle for vanilla.
- Make vanilla powdered sugar: If you have a high-powered blender, blend the vanilla sugar (1 cup) with cornstarch (1 tablespoon) until it turns into a fine powder for your own homemade flavored powdered sugar.
- Store it in a shaker bottle. Love to add vanilla sugar to your lattes? Store it in a shaker bottle for easy use!
FAQs about making vanilla sugar
Related Recipes
Need some more vanilla recipes in your life? Here are some of my favorites!
- Vanilla Infused Honey
- Vanilla Muffins with a Crumb Topping
- Vanilla Infused Maple Syrup
- Easy Vanilla Simple Syrup Recipe
If you made this recipe, please leave a comment or ask a question below! I’d love to hear what you think or troubleshoot any issues.
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Easy Homemade Vanilla Sugar Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Pint mason jar
- 1 Sharp knife
- 1 spoon or food processor
Ingredients
- 2 cups cane sugar
- 2 whole vanilla beans, (or 2 TBS vanilla extract or 2 TBS vanilla bean powder)
Instructions
How to Make Vanilla Sugar with Fresh Vanilla Bean
- Add the sugar to your jar.
- Use a sharp knife to slice along the side of your vanilla bean pods. Scrape out the seeds inside and make sure they make it into the jar!
- Cut the emptied vanilla pods in half to help them fit in the jar. Use a spoon to mash the caviar into the sugar crystals (skip this step if you use the food processor).
- Seal the jar and shake very well every day for at least 5-7 days.
- Then, store the bottle in your pantry indefinitely. I prefer to let the mixture sit for 2-3 weeks, but it’ll taste good within the first week! Shake every 1-2 weeks to minimize clumps.
- Serve or use as desired.
How to Make Vanilla Sugar with Vanilla Extract
- Combine the sugar and extract together in a bowl and stir well.
- Spread the mixture on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and place in the oven at the lowest temperature possible (usually about 170F).
- Place the tray in the oven and bake for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Remove the tray from the oven, allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, then either crush the clumps by hand or quickly pulse the mixture in a food processor.
- Transfer to an airtight container and use as desired!
How to Make Vanilla Sugar with Vanilla Bean Powder
- Add the sugar and vanilla bean powder to a small jar.
- Shake to incorporate and let the mixture rest for a few days for the flavor to develop.
- Use however you’d like!
Notes
- Use leftover extract beans. I love making homemade vanilla extract, and I never waste vanilla beans. Let them dry out really well on a kitchen towel, then add them to sugar. You’ll likely need to add more beans than normal since the oils have already been extracted in the extract-making process.
- Speed up the process. This method works pretty quickly, but I sometimes like to hurry things along! If you need vanilla sugar ready sooner than later, try blending the sugar and vanilla beans together in the food processor. Keep going until the beans are small chunks. This will increase the surface area and you’ll get a strong vanilla flavor faster.
- Make vanilla powdered sugar: If you have a high-powered blender, blend the vanilla sugar (1 cup) with cornstarch (1 tablespoon) until it turns into a fine powder for your own homemade flavored powdered sugar.
- Store it in a shaker bottle. Love to add vanilla sugar to your lattes? Store it in a shaker bottle for easy use!
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