Make Vanilla sugar from scratch with just two ingredients. Vanilla Sugar is an essential German baking ingredient that used in many German Cakes, Desserts and Christmas Cookies. I will show you how to make it from scratch using four different techniques.
What is Vanilla Sugar?
Vanilla Sugar is a mix of fine sugar and vanilla bean (affiliate link). It is primarily used as a flavour enhancer for cakes, cookies, and desserts. You can also sweeten drinks, yoghurt or German rice pudding with this spiace.
Where can I buy Vanilla Sugar? [Affiliate links]
The Dr Oetker sachets, which are common in Germany, can be found on amazon. Specialist spice shops or European shops will have vanilla sugar you can order online:
UK
US:
Canada:
How to make Vanilla Sugar
Vanilla sugar ingredients and tools
Please see the printable recipe card below for exact quantities.
- caster sugar (if not available use granulated sugar. You can make it finer in a blender or coffee grinder, as smaller sugar granules absorb the flavour better, but that is not essential)
- vanilla bean (affiliate link)
- 1 jar with a lid
- Blender, or coffee grinder.
Method 1: Traditional vanilla sugar recipe
- Scrape out the seeds from the pod.
- Pour the sugar into the jar and place the pod, without the pulp, into the jar with the sugar.
- Seal with the lid and shake.
- Wait for 2 weeks before using.
- (You can use the pulp of the vanilla bean (affiliate link) for other recipes such as my Caramel Apple Trifle Recipe)
BONUS TIP
The vanilla pod keeps its aroma for a while. So you can always place it into another jar with sugar after the first is used up.
Method 2: Intense Vanilla Sugar Recipe
- Scrape out a bean.
- Pour the sugar into the jar and place the bean and the pulp, into the jar with the sugar.
- Seal with the lid and shake.
- Wait for 2 weeks before using.
Method 3: The quickest way
- The quickest way to make vanilla sugar from organic ingredients is to scrape out the pod.
- Pour the sugar into the jar and add the pulp.
- Grind the shell of the vanilla bean (affiliate link) in a coffee grinder or blender and add it to the sugar mixture.
- Alternatively, grind the pulp, vanilla bean (affiliate link) and sugar in a blender before pouring it into the jar.
- You can use the sugar immediately, or wait for 2 weeks for the optimal flavour to unfold.
Method 4: Make Vanilla Sugar from Extract
Sometimes vanilla pods are not available or too expensive to buy. This is not my preferred way of making vanilla sugar, but it's good to have it as a backup. Vanilla extract (affiliate link) is normally produced from Vanillin so you will not have an organic vanilla sugar.
- Mix the sugar with vanilla extract (affiliate link).
- The sugar will be moist.
- Place it on a sheet of baking parchment and leave dry.
- Then break it apart with a spoon and pour it in a jar.
Can vanilla sugar expire or go bad?
Vanilla sugar made with natural vanilla pods and pulp can be used for a long time. It will not go bad but can lose flavour over the years.
The vanilla pod itself can mould if stored in an environment that is too moist. If you have leftover vanilla beans they can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Vanilla sugar is made from artificial flavours and just sugars can be kept for a long time. They should not lose their flavour.
How to substitute vanilla sugar sachets with homemade vanilla sugar?
One traditional German vanilla sugar sachet has around 5 to 8 gr of vanilla sugar. That is equivalent to 2 teaspoon homemade vanilla sugar.
Subsitutes for Vanilla Sugar?
You can substitute 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (affiliate link) for 2 teaspoon vanilla sugar. You can also replace 2 teaspoons of vanilla sugar with 2 teaspoons of vanilla paste.
Recipes on mydinner.co.uk that use vanilla sugar
- Christmas Stollen
- Fanta Cake Recipe
- Strawberry Vanilla Cake
- Vanillekipferl
- German Butter Cookies
- German Coconut Macaroons
- Baiser Cookies
Recipe
Homemade Vanilla Sugar - Four different techniques
Equipment
- Jar with Lid
- Spice or Coffee Grinder
Ingredients
- 200 g white sugar 1 cup
- 1 vanilla bean (affiliate link)
Instructions
Traditional vanilla sugar recipe
- Scrape out the seeds from the pod.1 vanilla bean (affiliate link)
- Pour the sugar into the jar and place the pod, without the pulp, into the jar with the sugar.200 g white sugar
- Seal with the lid and shake.
- Wait for 2 weeks for the flavour to develop before using.
- (You can use the pulp of the vanilla bean (affiliate link) for other recipes such as my Caramel Apple Trifle Recipe)
Intense Vanilla Sugar Recipe
- Scrape out a bean.
- Pour the sugar into the jar and place the bean and the pulp, into the jar with the sugar.
- Seal with the lid and shake.
- Wait for 2 weeks for the flavour to develop before using.
How to make vanilla sugar fast? (the speedy recipe)
- The fastest way to make vanilla sugar from organic ingredients is to scrape out the pod.
- Pour the sugar into the jar and add the pulp.
- Grind the shell of the vanilla pod in a coffee grinder or blender and give to the sugar mixture.
- Alternatively, you can grind the pulp, pod and sugar in a blender before pouring it into the jar.
- You can use the sugar immediately, or wait for 2 weeks for the optimal flavour to unfold.
How to make vanilla sugar with extract?
- Mix 250 gr (8.8 oz)of sugar with 2 tablespoon of vanilla extract (affiliate link). The sugar will be moist.
- Place it on a sheet of baking parchment and leave dry.
- Then break it apart with the back of a spoon and pour in a jar.
Gabriela Herrera says
This is so cool. Vanilla beans are a little intimidating to me but you make it look so easy. I can only imagine all the flavors bursting in your mouth when you cook with these ingredients made in your own home.
Marita says
Yes they are very flavoursome, let me know how you get on x