This easy homemade Vanilla Bean Sugar will be your new secret weapon in baking. It takes two minutes, uses only two ingredients, and adds a boost of flavour to cakes, cookies and drinks.
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You can buy vanilla sugar is some supermarkets, but this homemade vanilla sugar is so much better! This vanilla bean sugar recipe is faster than the traditional “bury the beans and wait two weeks” approach. You simply blitz real beans with caster sugar until fine. It’s perfect for gifting, lasts for months, and is great for Christmas baking. Use it to coat Austrian Vanilla Shortbread, Snickerdoodles, or even baked donuts.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Super quick: just blend and use straight away.
- Beautiful flavour from real vanilla beans.
- Long shelf life makes it perfect for gifting.
- Easy way to boost flavour in cakes, cookies and hot drinks.
Recipe Ingredients
- Caster sugar: blends smoothly to distribute flavour evenly.
- Vanilla beans: Use plump, fresh beans, for a stronger aroma and better flavour.
How to make Vanilla Sugar
- Step 1: Cut the pods into pieces and place in a small food processor with the sugar. Blitz until the mixture looks fine and speckled.
- Step 2: Pour into a clean, dry jar. Leave the pod pieces in the jar, as they’ll continue to infuse flavour over time.
Hint: Cut your vanilla beans into small pieces before blending. It helps them break down faster and blend evenly.
I made this for gifting
...and ended up keeping a jar for myself!" -Debbie
Substitutions & Variations
- Vanilla paste: Stir ½ teaspoon through 1 cup of sugar. (Shelf life reduces, so use within 4 weeks.)
- Vanilla powder: 1 teaspoon adds a strong flavour and the mixture stays dry.
- Brown sugar or raw sugar: Creates a caramelised homemade vanilla sugar that’s lovely in coffee.
- Sprinkle over pikelets, pancakes, or French toast.
Equipment
Storage
Room temperature: Up to 3 months.
Top Tip
Shake the jar every now and then. The pod pieces continue to infuse and deepen the flavour over time.
FAQ
It’s delicious in vanilla cakes, cookies, shortbread, coffee, porridge and whipped cream.
Yes, but it clumps. Blend ½ teaspoon extract with the sugar, then spread it out to dry before storing.
When stored airtight, it lasts up to 3 months. The flavour deepens over time.
How To Make Vanilla Sugar
Ingredients
- 1 cup Caster Sugar (super fine sugar)
- 2 Vanilla beans
Instructions
- Cut the vanilla beans into 2cm pieces, then place into a small food processor, along with the sugar. Blitz until the vanilla pods reduce to speckles.
- Pour into a clean, dry jar. Leave the pod pieces in the jar, as they’ll continue to infuse flavour over time.
Nutrition
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Sandra says
This was so easy to make!