Name: Vanilla Bean Sugar
Total time: 2 d 10 min
Ingredients: 2 vanilla beans; 1 cup sugar , divided

Why This Recipe Works

To make our vanilla bean sugar, we worked seeds from two split vanilla beans into a small amount of granulated sugar to ensure that all the seeds were thoroughly incorporated before stirring in the remaining sugar. Then we added the empty pods back in and let the sugar infuse for at least two days. The resulting sugar was richly aromatic with complex floral vanilla flavor. Use it to flavor your favorite baked goods, hot drinks, and fruit salads or package it for gifts.

Before You Begin

Vanilla bean sugar can be jarred and given as a gift. We use it for coating molasses or peanut butter drop cookie dough balls; sprinkling over pound cake batter or pie crust before baking; sweetening coffee or tea; coating pears before roasting; garnishing the rim of a cocktail glass; tossing with fruit salad; or coating our Sufganiyot (Hanukkah Jelly Doughnuts).

Instructions

Cut vanilla beans in half lengthwise. Using tip of paring knife or small spoon, scrape out seeds. Using your fingers, rub vanilla seeds and 2 tablespoons sugar in bowl until combined. Whisk in remaining sugar. Transfer sugar mixture and spent vanilla bean pods to airtight container and let sit to allow flavors to meld, at least 2 days. (Sugar can be stored for up to 1 month.)