No, this is not a post about one of my favorite, classic Bath & Body Works scents... This is a post about actual vanilla sugar!
If you paid attention to my post about Heaven on Earth cupcakes, you may remember my note about not wasting the vanilla bean pods after you get the vanilla bean flecks out. I chose my to make vanilla sugar with the pods, although you could chose to make a bit of vanilla extract (so I'm told, anyway; I haven't tried this and don't have instructions for you), vanilla vodka (haven't done this either but you just put the pods into plain vodka and let it rest for a few weeks- the longer, the better), or a variety of other vanilla-flavored things.
However I have a feeling I will never get around to trying any other use of the left-over pods... Purely because vanilla sugar is just TOO good! I must say, usually I'm a Splenda user- I just don't like to waste the calories on sugar... Normally, that is, sugar is a waste of calories. However when it's VANILLA sugar, I'm more than willing to ignore the extra calories and just indulge!
So, how do you make the vanilla sugar again? Well, you could use any container or bag(preferably a throw-away because it will be heavily vanilla-scented when you're done). I went for the bag option... I wanted my sugar to be very strongly flavored (so I could use less, read - less calories, while still getting lots of flavor), so I only put about two cups of sugar into the bag with four empty vanilla pods. I let them sit for about a week before using any of it, but I think the flavor got stronger at the two-week mark (and hasn't really intensified since then). I just squish the bag around a little whenever I remember to makes sure the flavor is evenly distributed. It's really that easy...
How should you use the vanilla sugar? Even easier - substitute it for sugar whenever your little heart desires! It could be used in baking, but to be honest, I feel that would be a waste as you usually add extract or vanilla beans anyway and the extra flavor would be lost. My personal preference is for using it in beverages. It is amazing in coffee - just a good spoonful in a regular blend makes it taste like decadent french vanilla coffee. I've added it to iced coffee and was able to skip the french vanilla creamer and just add a bit of milk instead; in that case, it was actually healthier for me than my standard Splenda and creamer (added calories in sugar, but less calories in milk than creamer and less fat too)! Finally, my favorite addition was actually to tea! I tried adding it to Bigelow French Vanilla tea, which was good and definitely punched up the vanilla flavor but I thought it worked just as well in a non-flavored tea (thus far, I've tried Irish Breakfast tea and Earl Grey tea).
Now my only dilemma is what to do when I run out! Is that a good reason to get more vanilla beans and make some delicious vanilla baked goods? Or should I resist, especially since I found some cheap vanilla bean paste on Amazon (and it should be here soon!)? Hmm... I guess we shall see - and it very well might depend on how much I do or don't like the vanilla bean paste! For now, go make some delicious vanilla sugar, add to your favorite beverage, and enjoy!
If you paid attention to my post about Heaven on Earth cupcakes, you may remember my note about not wasting the vanilla bean pods after you get the vanilla bean flecks out. I chose my to make vanilla sugar with the pods, although you could chose to make a bit of vanilla extract (so I'm told, anyway; I haven't tried this and don't have instructions for you), vanilla vodka (haven't done this either but you just put the pods into plain vodka and let it rest for a few weeks- the longer, the better), or a variety of other vanilla-flavored things.
However I have a feeling I will never get around to trying any other use of the left-over pods... Purely because vanilla sugar is just TOO good! I must say, usually I'm a Splenda user- I just don't like to waste the calories on sugar... Normally, that is, sugar is a waste of calories. However when it's VANILLA sugar, I'm more than willing to ignore the extra calories and just indulge!
So, how do you make the vanilla sugar again? Well, you could use any container or bag(preferably a throw-away because it will be heavily vanilla-scented when you're done). I went for the bag option... I wanted my sugar to be very strongly flavored (so I could use less, read - less calories, while still getting lots of flavor), so I only put about two cups of sugar into the bag with four empty vanilla pods. I let them sit for about a week before using any of it, but I think the flavor got stronger at the two-week mark (and hasn't really intensified since then). I just squish the bag around a little whenever I remember to makes sure the flavor is evenly distributed. It's really that easy...How should you use the vanilla sugar? Even easier - substitute it for sugar whenever your little heart desires! It could be used in baking, but to be honest, I feel that would be a waste as you usually add extract or vanilla beans anyway and the extra flavor would be lost. My personal preference is for using it in beverages. It is amazing in coffee - just a good spoonful in a regular blend makes it taste like decadent french vanilla coffee. I've added it to iced coffee and was able to skip the french vanilla creamer and just add a bit of milk instead; in that case, it was actually healthier for me than my standard Splenda and creamer (added calories in sugar, but less calories in milk than creamer and less fat too)! Finally, my favorite addition was actually to tea! I tried adding it to Bigelow French Vanilla tea, which was good and definitely punched up the vanilla flavor but I thought it worked just as well in a non-flavored tea (thus far, I've tried Irish Breakfast tea and Earl Grey tea).
Now my only dilemma is what to do when I run out! Is that a good reason to get more vanilla beans and make some delicious vanilla baked goods? Or should I resist, especially since I found some cheap vanilla bean paste on Amazon (and it should be here soon!)? Hmm... I guess we shall see - and it very well might depend on how much I do or don't like the vanilla bean paste! For now, go make some delicious vanilla sugar, add to your favorite beverage, and enjoy!
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