How to Make Homemade Vanilla Bean Sugar  (Easy 2-Ingredients )

Learn how to make vanilla bean sugar with just two simple ingredients, perfect for baked goods, vanilla simple syrups, or a cozy vanilla milk tea.

This homemade vanilla sugar is a fragrant pantry staple you’ll reach for in recipes where vanilla plays a starring role. It’s super easy to make, and a jar of vanilla sugar makes a great gift for family and friends.

With its distinct vanilla flavor and endless uses, you’ll want to keep it stocked year-round.

What Is Vanilla Bean Sugar?

Vanilla bean sugar is regular sugar infused with vanilla beans to create a fragrant sweetener that adds a touch of sweet vanilla flavor to drinks, baked goods, and desserts. It’s common in European baking but often overlooked in home kitchens.

The sugar and vanilla bean seeds blend to make a delicately perfumed sugar that you can use in place of vanilla extract in some recipes, or alongside it for a richer flavor of vanilla. Vanilla sugar is a simple recipe that’s easy to make at home and keeps well for months.

Choosing the Right Vanilla Beans

The quality of your homemade vanilla sugar depends on the quality of your vanilla beans.

Not brittle – Brittle beans are too dry and hard to cut the vanilla bean pod. They’ve lost much of their vanilla flavor and aroma.

Not fresh/soft – Fresh vanilla beans have too much moisture, which can cause clumping or mold in your sugar.

Ideal choice: Dry but pliable whole vanilla beans that bend without breaking, rich in aroma when you cut the vanilla bean open.

Varieties of vanilla beans:

Madagascar vanilla (Grade A vanilla beans) – Deep, sweet, classic vanilla flavor.

Tahitian vanilla beans – Floral, fruity aroma.

Ugandan vanilla beans – Bold, chocolatey notes.

Tip: You can use empty vanilla pods or grade B vanilla beans leftover from making vanilla extract or vanilla paste instead. If using fresh vanilla beans, air-dry them for 1–2 days before making vanilla sugar to prevent clumping.

Other Ingredients & Tools

Sugar

white sugar (regular granulated sugar) for neutral flavor, or raw cane sugar for a caramel-like note.

Tools

Airtight jar or container

Sharp knife for splitting beans

Small spoon or butter knife to scrape seeds (caviar)

How to Make Vanilla Sugar (Step-by-Step)

First step: Prepare the Beans

Cut the vanilla bean pods lengthwise and scrape out the seeds inside the vanilla using the back of your knife.

Second step: Combine with Sugar

Combine the granulated sugar and vanilla bean seeds in a bowl. Rub them together with your fingertips to release more aroma and break up clumps.

Cut the vanilla pod into small pieces and mix the sugar and the vanilla bean pieces into the jar.

Third step: Store and Infuse

Seal the jar of vanilla sugar and let it infuse for 1–2 weeks, shaking occasionally so the sugar and vanilla bean seeds are evenly distributed.

Quick Vanilla Bean Sugar Method

If you need your vanilla sugar right away, you can use a food processor to blend the sugar with the seeds and pod pieces. This instantly infuses the sugar, but it will be slightly more moist and may clump over time. Store in an airtight container and use within 1–2 months.

How to Use Vanilla Sugar

There are countless recipes where vanilla sugar makes a difference:

• I used it when making these vanilla muffins and vanilla liqueur.
• Sprinkle over sugar cookies before baking for extra vanilla flavor.
• Use vanilla sugar in place of vanilla extract in recipes where liquid could affect texture.
• Stir it into your coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.
• Dust over fruit, pancakes, or waffles.
• Alternatively, turn it into a sugar scrub — Combine vanilla sugar with a carrier oil like coconut or almond oil to create a fragrant, skin-softening body scrub. The sugar gently exfoliates while the vanilla scent adds a spa-like touch.

Can I Use Vanilla Extract Instead of Beans?

Yes, you can use vanilla extract by mixing 1–2 teaspoons of pure vanilla into a cup of sugar and letting it dry completely before sealing. This vanilla sugar with vanilla extract won’t have the visual flecks of vanilla bean sugar, but it will still have a nice aroma.

Storing homemade Vanilla Sugar

Store your homemade vanilla sugar in a cool, dry place in an airtight jar. It will last for months, and you can keep topping it up with regular sugar to add to the vanilla pod pieces already in the jar. The sugar infused with vanilla beans will continue to develop flavor over time.

Tips for Best Sugar with Vanilla

Shake the jar weekly to keep the sugar and the vanilla bean seeds evenly distributed.

Use spent beans – The beans to make extract or liqueur can be reused to make vanilla bean sugar; it’s a great way to avoid waste.

Flavor variations – Add cinnamon sticks or cardamom pods for a spiced vanilla sugar recipe.

Gifting idea – Sugar makes a great gift in pretty jars with labels.

FAQ

Can I use brown sugar?

Yes — it will create a rich, molasses-like vanilla sugar, great for baking and warm drinks.

Can I make it with vanilla powder?

Yes — mix 1–2 teaspoons of pure vanilla powder per cup of sugar for an instant version.

What’s the ratio of beans to sugar?

Use 3 vanilla beans per 1 cup of sugar for strong flavor, or less for a lighter taste.