Oma's Vanilla Sugar Recipe

➤ by Oma Gerhild Fulson

This Vanilla Sugar recipe, aka Vanillezucker, is an inexpensive way to make your own flavored sugar for use in baking. 

Many times in German recipes, one ingredient is added that is so easy to make yourself. That's vanilla sugar. If you live in Germany, it's easy to buy it in the grocery stores. But, if you live elsewhere in the world, what do you do? You make your own!

The resulting vanilla sugar, in the recipe below, is used for flavoring many German baking recipes. I usually make about 2 cups and refill as necessary. The longer it sits, the more flavorful and aromatic it becomes.

What can be used instead of vanilla sugar?

If you don't have time to wait for your vanilla sugar to infuse, there are substitutes.

1. For most recipes, 1 pouch of vanilla sugar can be replaced with 1 to 2 teaspoons (5 to 10 milliliters) pure vanilla extract (no artificial or imitation) added with the liquids. It can also be mixed with the sugar in the recipe. 

Quicker Way to Make Vanilla Sugar

Instead of waiting for two weeks for the vanilla aroma/flavor to infuse the sugar in the recipe below, here's an easier way to make this. This is also great if you can't find vanilla beans.

• Whisk 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of pure vanilla extract (no artificial or imitation) and 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar for about 1 minute. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet to dry overnight before using. Store, covered, in a dark cupboard.

Vanilla Facts:

• Did you know that vanilla comes from the vanilla orchids, primarily from Mexico? It is grown in various parts of the world, including Madagascar which produces the Bourbon Vanilla (aka Madagascar Vanilla) as well as in Central America and other tropical areas.
• Being a labor-intensive crop, this results in the high cost of good quality vanilla beans and essence.
• Artificial vanilla flavoring comes from a substance called "lignin" which is found in wood. It is much cheaper to buy (and tastes like it as well!) because it is a byproduct of wood pulp used in making paper.
• Whenever possible, when the recipe calls for vanilla extract or vanilla flavoring, use real vanilla essence. It just tastes better! Stay away from artificial or imitation vanilla flavoring. 

Using your homemade Vanilla Sugar

• In a recipe calling for 1 package of vanilla sugar, use 2 - 3 teaspoons of your homemade vanilla sugar.
• In most recipes, you can replace some of your sugar (a couple of teaspoons) with vanilla sugar and omit adding vanilla extract.
• It's great sprinkled on pancakes or improving the taste of a cup of hot chocolate!

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Where to use Vanilla Sugar?

Many German recipes call for vanilla sugar, but there is ONE recipe where vanilla sugar is a MUST!

• Vanillekipferl with almonds ... easy recipe
• Vanillekipferln with hazelnuts

Ready to make vanilla sugar?

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