Vanilla & Extracts 2 wk
Homemade Vanilla Sugar Calculator
Make vanilla sugar with whole beans, scraped seeds, ground beans or the spent pods left from extract and custards. See how many beans your sugar needs, how long it takes and how to use it.
How to use it
- Enter how much sugar and which kind.
- Choose the method and strength.
- Combine in a sealed jar, wait the time shown and use it in place of regular sugar.
How it works
Vanilla's aroma moves into dry sugar over days. Whole split beans need about 2 weeks at roughly half a bean per cup; scraped seeds or ground beans flavor sugar right away; spent pods are weaker, so use about 2 per cup and give them 3 to 4 weeks.
Assumptions and limits
- Strengths are a guide; taste and add beans to your liking.
- Spent pods must be completely dry before going into sugar.
Tips
- Shake the jar every few days while it infuses.
- Top up with fresh sugar as you use it; the beans keep working for months.
- Vanilla sugar is lovely in whipped cream, shortbread and on top of muffins.
Recipes to try it with
Questions
How many vanilla beans for vanilla sugar?
About half a bean per cup of sugar for classic infused vanilla sugar; one per cup for strong.
How long does vanilla sugar take?
About 2 weeks with whole beans; scraped seeds or ground beans flavor it right away.
Can I use spent vanilla beans?
Yes: dry them completely and use about 2 per cup of sugar for 3 to 4 weeks.
How do I use vanilla sugar in baking?
Swap it for some or all of the regular sugar in cookies, shortbread and whipped cream.