Vanilla Sugar Recipe - Four different ways to make Vanilla Sugar

My cake recipes almost always call for vanilla sugar. This is not easily available abroad, so I thought I will show you how to make vanilla sugar. There are 4 ways I will describe: the traditional vanilla sugar recipe, the intensive recipe, the fastest recipe and how to make vanilla sugar from vanilla extract (affiliate link). 

What is Vanilla Sugar? 

As the name suggests is it a vanilla flavoured sugar that is used in traditional baking throughout Europe. The sugar used is a fine sugar. 

Vanilla is a spice that originated from Mexico. It means simply translated “little pod”. It is the second most expensive spice after saffron, and is used in baking, perfumes and aromatherapy. 

Today it is quite easy to produce artificial vanilla flavour by using vanillin. So most of the vanilla extract (affiliate link) and vanilla sugar sachets you can buy in supermarkets will use vanillin instead of real vanilla. 

However, vanillin is only one of 171 identified aromatic components in real vanilla. So gourmets will also urge you to use real vanilla whenever possible. [source Wikipedia]

Vanilla Sugar Uses 

Here is a list of what you can use Vanilla sugar for 

• Cakes – especially in German Baking (Fanta Cake, Hazelnut Cake, Red Wine Cake) 
• Cookies – in particular our most loved Vanillekipferl recipe– which loves to bathe in a mixture of powdered sugar and vanilla sugar 
• Sweeten your coffee 
• Add it to your yoghurt
• Sprinkle over our crème brule 
• Sprinkle over fruit pies 

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 

Halusky (Czech shop in UK )

Black Forest Deli

US:

Savoury Spice Shop 

Canada:

Silk Road Spice 

How to make Vanilla Sugar 

Vanilla sugar ingredients and tools 

• 250 g (8.8 oz) 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) 
• 1 vanilla pod (also called a vanilla bean)
• 1 jar with a lid
• Blender, or coffee grinder. 

1. Traditional vanilla sugar recipe 

1. Scrape out the seeds from the pod.
2. Pour the sugar into the jar and place the pod, without the pulp, into the jar with the sugar.
3. Seal with the lid and shake.
4. Wait for 2 weeks before using. 
5. (You can use the pulp of the vanilla bean 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. 

2. Intense Vanilla Sugar Recipe 

1. Scrape out a bean.
2. Pour the sugar into the jar and place the bean and the pulp, into the jar with the sugar.
3. Seal with the lid and shake.
4. Wait for 2 weeks before using. 

3. How to make vanilla sugar fast? (the speedy recipe)

1. The fastest way to make vanilla sugar from organic ingredients is to scrape out the pod.
2. Pour the sugar into the jar and add the pulp.
3. Grind the shell of the vanilla pod in a coffee grinder or blender and give to the sugar mixture. 
4. Alternatively, you can grind the pulp, pod and sugar in a blender before pouring it into the jar. 
5. You can use the sugar immediately, or wait for 2 weeks for the optimal flavour to unfold. 

4. How to make vanilla sugar with 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. 

1. Mix 250 gr (8.8 oz)of sugar with 2 tablespoon of vanilla extract (affiliate link).
2. The sugar will be moist.
3. Place it on a sheet of baking parchment and leave dry.
4. Then break it apart with the back of a spoon and pour 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. 

Can I substitute Vanilla Sugar with Extract? 

Yes you can. You will not have the same aroma, but similar. Just use 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (affiliate link) for 2 teaspoon vanilla sugar. 

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