Vanilla Sugar

Vanilla sugar can be made according to a number of recipes. A simple way that also protects the beans from drying out when stored is to place split or whole vanilla beans in a jar of granulated sugar. The jar should be tall enough to hold the beans standing up and allow room for plenty of sugar around them. Make sure the jar is tightly sealed. Shake it once a day to circulate the sugar and increase the fragrance. After 1 week, the vanilla sugar is ready. As you use the vanilla sugar and the beans, keep adding more granulated sugar and more beans to the jar. Naturally, the more beans you store in the jar relative to the amount of sugar, the stronger the sugar’s flavor and fragrance.