Vanilla Sugar

Vanilla sugar is a popular ingredient in German baking. In the States, vanilla sugar can be hard to find in local grocery stores, though some areas now carry it readily. It is also available online through German specialty companies. Bakers can easily make their own vanilla sugar by slicing one vanilla bean open and placing it into a small jar with three cups of powdered sugar or granulated sugar. For stronger flavor, use one vanilla bean per one cup sugar. The sugar will take on the vanilla flavor after two to three days. When it is time to refresh the sugar, check if the vanilla still has flavor. Add another vanilla bean if needed. Scraping out the pulp of a vanilla bean and mixing it with sugar is another method. If using this method, make sure to sift the sugar after mixing in the vanilla seed to remove any lumps. Homemade vanilla sugar may be weaker than commercial brands. Bakers may need to double the amount of vanilla sugar in recipes if using a homemade version, depending on the strength. When using vanilla sugar in recipes, it can always be added at the same time as the plain granulated or powdered sugar.