What Is Vanilla Sugar?

You’ve just heard of vanilla sugar, and you’re probably wondering what it is and what it is made from. 

Simply put, vanilla sugar is a mixture of vanilla bean and granulated sugar. It is popular and widely used in Europe, but you can still find it in select stores in the US.

Photo by Nicole Michalou : https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-pouring-powdered-sugar-in-a-bowl-6061602/

What Is Vanilla Sugar?

If you want to enjoy the sweet, creamy, and flavorful taste of vanilla, give vanilla sugar a try. You can add it to your recipes for dessert, pastries, soups, or coffee.

To understand more about vanilla sugar, I’ll discuss how to make vanilla sugar and briefly highlight the differences between vanilla sugar and vanilla extract. If you’re also looking for vanilla sugar substitutes or recipes that use vanilla, read on. I’ll cover it all in this blog post.

Let’s get started!

Choosing The Right Vanilla Bean 

A good quality vanilla bean should be dark brown to almost black. If you’re buying online, check the reviews to verify how reliable and credible the seller is.

If you’re shopping from a physical store, make sure the vanilla bean is a bit shiny, has a good scent of vanilla, and is not so dry (it should have some moisture). The stronger the vanilla scent from the vanilla bean, the better the flavor of your vanilla sugar.

How To Make Vanilla Sugar

Making vanilla sugar is pretty easy. I’ll explain and show you how to make homemade vanilla sugar. Vanilla sugar can last as long as two years or more when stored in a cool, dry place. 

What you need to make vanilla sugar 

• Sugar
• spoon 
• Food processor or blender 
• Glass jar with lid
• Measuring cup
• One vanilla bean pod (you can buy online or from your local grocery store)
• Knife
• Bowl 

Steps To Make Vanilla Sugar 

• Measure ½ a cup of sugar (100g).

• Pour the half cup of sugar or 100g of sugar into a bowl.

• Use a knife to cut the vanilla bean pod lengthwise to expose the precious bean seeds.

• Scrape out the seeds and put them inside the sugar.

• Cut the used vanilla bean pods into pieces and put them inside the sugar.

• Use a spoon to mix the vanilla bean seeds and pods with the sugar.

• Use the food processor to blend the mixture until it’s smooth. Voila! You have your vanilla sugar.

• Pour the mixture into the glass jar and cover with a lid. 

• Keep the jar in a cool, dry place.

• You can use the blended mixture right away or allow it to sit for at least two weeks to enhance the flavor of the vanilla sugar.

Vanilla Sugar Vs. Vanilla Extract

Vanilla sugar and vanilla extract are used as flavoring agents in baked goods. Vanilla sugar is a mixture of granulated sugar with vanilla bean. You can use vanilla sugar as a sweetener in baked goods or topping to garnish freshly baked pastries or desserts.

Vanilla sugar has a granular texture, while vanilla extract is in liquid form. Vanilla extract is made from a mixture of vanilla beans and an alcohol solution.

To make the vanilla extract, put some vanilla beans in a glass bottle and soak it in water and an alcohol solution (vodka) for up to 8 weeks or even up to 12 months. Use the vanilla extract to enhance the flavor of your baked goods, cocktails, caramelized roasted vegetables, and more.

Vanilla Sugar Substitute

Do you need the best substitutes for vanilla sugar? There are many substitutes for vanilla sugar. The one that would be perfect for your recipe will depend on what you want to use it for. Some vanilla sugar substitutes are only perfect as ingredients for baked goods or sweeteners for beverages.

Here is a list of vanilla sugar substitutes that you can try:

1. Vanilla Syrup
2. Vanilla Powder 
3. Vanilla Bean Paste
4. Pure Maple Syrup
5. Almond Extract 
6. Regular Sugar 
7. Vanilla Flavored Milk
8. Palm Sugar 
9. Vanilla Pod
10. Coconut Sugar
11. Honey 
12. Pure Vanilla Extract 
13. Granulated Sugar or Icing Sugar 
14. Brown Sugar

Recipes That Use Vanilla Sugar 

Enjoy the sweet, floral, and creamy flavor of vanilla sugar today.

Add it to your pastries, desserts, savory sauces, or coffee. Here are some recipes to try from top food bloggers…

If you have any suggestions or want to share your thoughts about vanilla sugar, please leave a comment below.

Thank you for reading all about vanilla sugar. Have a great day!