Infuse some rich and aromatic vanilla goodness into your recipes with this homemade Vanillezucker recipe!
*This post may contain affiliate links — as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Vanillezucker, which simply refers to vanilla sugar, is a staple in German and Austrian baking. Commonly used in sweet rather than savory recipes, it is typically sold in 8g sachets, with one sachet generally being sufficient per recipe.
Different from Vanillinzucker, which is made using artificial vanilla flavoring, Vanillezucker is a natural product created by infusing sugar with the seeds and pods of real vanilla beans.
While many recipes suggest a 2-week waiting period, I'll show you how to make your own Vanillezucker without the long wait.
how to make it
The ingredients you will need are granulated sugar and fresh vanilla beans. Brown sugar, or even low-carb alternatives such as allulose are okay to use.
Start by wiping the vanilla pods with a clean cloth to ensure they are clean and dry. Roast the whole vanilla beans in the oven at 120°C (250°F) for 10-15 minutes.
This roasting not only intensifies their aroma but also cuts down the typical two-week waiting period for the flavor to develop. It also helps in drying out the beans to reduce clumping in the finished Vanillezucker.
After cooling, add the entire roasted beans to a food processor along with the sugar - no need to scrape out the seeds first.
Grind the mixture until it reaches your desired texture, whether coarse or finely powdered.
Quick tips: 💡To create vanilla sugar using vanilla paste, mix 2 tablespoons of vanilla paste with each cup of sugar. Spread on a lined tray and dry at 120°C (250°F) for 10 minutes. Cool, then store in an airtight container.
Vanillezucker can be substituted in recipes for a teaspoon of vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.
uses
- Incorporate Vanillezucker into cookie, cake, and pastry recipes for a rich vanilla flavor. It is one of the key ingredients for making German shortbread crescent cookies - Vanillekipferl.
- Sprinkle it over your rice pudding (Milchreis)
- On top of fruit salads, yogurt or quark.
- Mix into whipped cream or icing for cakes and cupcakes.
- Add it to your pancake or waffle batter, or sprinkle some over your oatmeal or yogurt.
- Use it in homemade icecreams and custards.
- Use it as a bodyscrub.
storing it
Keep it in airtight jars in a cool and dry place. Sometimes it is the case that the jars one uses are not tight enough. In this case, the Vanillezucker may harden up at the top.
If you notice this, break it up into smaller pieces, then pass it again through a sieve.
As a general rule, homemade vanilla sugar will last at least one year. Check before use and ditch it should it have an odd smell.
good to know
- You can use already-used vanilla bean pods. In this case, triple the amount of pods.
- For storebought versions, you need 1-1½ teaspoons of vanilla sugar. For this homemade version, you'll need two teaspoons.
- Feel free to increase or decrease the amount of vanilla, depending on how intense you would like the aroma to be.
- Vanillezucker is a great DIY gift to give to loved ones during special occassions such as birthdays, or holidays such as Christmas.
more delicious recipes
- Beef Tikka Masala
- Vin Chaud - French Mulled Wine
- German cinnamon roll cookies
- German French Toast
- Chips Mayai - Swahili French-fry omelette.
- Vegan Nigerian Egusi
Enjoy making this recipe! Be sure to give it a review ⭐ below! Follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Tiktok! Subscribe to our YouTube channel and Newsletter for regular recipe notifications!
📖 Recipe
Vanillezucker Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 vanilla pods
- 500 g granulated sugar (about 1.1lbs)
Instructions
- Wipe the vanilla pods with a clean cloth and place them on a lined baking tray.
- Bake at 120°C (250°F) for 10-15 minutes. Allow the pods to cool.
- Add the whole vanilla pods, along with the sugar to a food processor and process until you achieve your desired consistency (coarse or powdered).
- Transfer the Vanillezucker to airtight jars and keep in a cool and dry place.
Notes
- You can use already-used vanilla bean pods. In this case, triple the amount of pods.
- For storebought versions, you need 1-1½ teaspoons of vanilla sugar. For this homemade version, you'll need two teaspoons.
- Feel free to increase or decrease the amount of vanilla, depending on how intense you would like the aroma to be.
- Vanillezucker is a great DIY gift to give to loved ones during special occassions such as birthdays, or holidays such as Christmas.
- The total time excludes the time needed to cool the vanilla bean pods.
Leave a Reply