• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
combinegoodflavors.com
  • Browse Recipes
  • Shop
  • Resources
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Browse Recipes
  • Shop
  • Resources
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Browse Recipes
    • Shop
    • Resources
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Austrian Recipes » Austrian Dessert

    What is Vanilla Sugar

    Published: Oct 5, 2022 by Nora · This post may contain affiliate links · 17 Comments

    Sharing is caring!

    43 shares
    • Flipboard
    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    • WhatsApp
    Preserving jar filled with a mix of granulated sugar and vanilla powder.
    1 Cup sugar with vanilla bean on top.
    Adding vanilla bean to preserving jar filled with granulated sugar.
    1 Cup sugar with vanilla bean on top.

    Vanilla sugar is an ingredient that is regularly used in Austrian cuisine as a basic ingredient in baking.

    But what if you don't have vanilla sugar on hand or want to prepare it yourself in stock?

    What substitutes are there for vanilla sugar, and what are the options for making it yourself?

    What is the difference between regular sugar and vanilla sugar?

    1 Cup sugar with vanilla bean on top.

    Let us take you into the world of delicious vanilla and vanilla sugar and discover how you can become a vanilla maker at home.

    Looking for recipes using vanilla sugar? Check out our potato flour cake with eggnog, Austrian strawberry sponge cake, or whipped cream bundt cake!

    Jump to:
    • 🤨 What is vanilla sugar?
    • 📖 Making your homemade vanilla sugar
    • 🤷‍♀️ Difference between Vanilla and Vanillin
    • 🍨 Substitute for Vanilla Sugar
    • 🌱 Is Vanilla Sugar Vegan?
    • 🪴 Can I grow Vanilla myself?
    • 🍨 You might also like
    • 💬 Comments

    🤨 What is vanilla sugar?

    By definition:

    Vanilla sugar is used to make certain baked goods and desserts. It is sugar flavored with vanilla or infused with Vanillin.

    So, the question of what is the difference between regular sugar and vanilla sugar is also quickly answered by this: vanilla sugar is regular sugar flavored or infused with vanilla.

    As the basis of vanilla sugar, white sugar is a sweet-tasting [fine-grained, loose, white-looking] substance obtained from certain plants (especially sugar beets and sugar cane).

    Adding vanilla bean to preserving jar filled with granulated sugar.

    📖 Making your homemade vanilla sugar

    Now, suppose we start from the above definition. In that case, vanilla sugar is straightforward to make yourself by flavoring (infusing) white sugar or brown sugar with vanilla or adding Vanillin to regular sugar.

    A third possibility is to use ground vanilla (i.e., vanilla powder) instead of Vanillin.

    This process, as a result, brings the "vanilla sugar with dark spots" or the brownish-looking vanilla sugar. If you buy it as a packet in the store, this is often called "bourbon vanilla sugar."

    Three ways to make vanilla sugar at home

    🤷‍♀️ Difference between Vanilla and Vanillin

    Vanilla

    Did you know that the vanilla plant is an orchid genus? Spice vanilla - pronunciation: [vaˈnɪlə; -ljə]; or true vanilla is an orchid plant. The name comes from the Spanish vainilla ('small pod or pod', to Latin vagina) via the French vanille. Spiced vanilla is sold commercially under the names of origin Bourbon vanilla (from the islands of Madagascar and Reunion [formerly Bourbon]), Mexican vanilla and vanilla from Tahiti (compare Tahitian vanilla). The plant has greenish-yellow flowers and produces seed pods from which the spice vanilla is made.

    Source: Wikipedia

    "Vanilla" is a spice, not a flavoring. In ground form, it is used in baked goods and confectionery, for example. To ensure that the flavor comes exclusively from vanilla, you should check the ingredient list. In addition to the often heavily advertised "real vanilla," there are often flavors in the product that contribute significantly to the taste.

    Vanillin

    You can artificially produce Vanillin or derive it from natural sources. The natural source does not necessarily have to be food, not the vanilla bean. For example, Vanillin is produced from sugar beet pulp with the help of microorganisms. It is much cheaper than making it from real vanilla. It can then be called "natural flavoring vanillin." However, if the ingredient list only says "vanillin flavoring," this is more likely to indicate artificially produced Vanillin.

    Pouring in a cup of granulated sugar into a preserving jar.

    🍨 Substitute for Vanilla Sugar

    What can you use to replace vanilla sugar if you don't have any "real" vanilla sugar at home?

    Vanilla sugar: You can use a cheap alternative by buying vanilla sugar instead of vanilla sugar.

    Vanilla paste: You can buy this viscous paste in most supermarkets, but like vanilla sugar, it is straightforward to make yourself.

    Vanilla syrup: The syrup is not only for baking purposes, but also to refine ice cream, coffee and cocoa. You can buy vanilla syrup at the store, but it is also effortless to make yourself at home. The pulp of the vanilla bean is boiled with water and sugar and thickened. This boiling process creates an intense vanilla flavor similar to vanilla sugar, which adds a pleasant aroma to baked goods.

    Coconut sugar: The sugar extracted from the coconut is another alternative to replace vanilla sugar. You can buy it in certain supermarkets or health food stores. Unfortunately, when using coconut sugar, you lose that significant vanilla flavor that is desired in many recipes.

    🌱 Is Vanilla Sugar Vegan?

    Vanilla sugar is vegan because it contains sugar (made from the sugar beet or sugar cane) and vanilla, a plant. When buying, always look at the ingredients list or ask the manufacturer.

    Unfortunately, it also happens that there is animal charcoal in sugar.

    Avoid refined sugar and products containing it and use whole cane sugar instead to be safe.

    Whole cane sugar has other advantages over refined sugar:

    Since cane sugar contains molasses, with its valuable minerals and vitamins, it is considered the healthiest type of sugar.

    🪴 Can I grow Vanilla myself?

    Yes, this possibility also exists, although it is not always easy with the vanilla flower, as it needs to be very warm and humid. If you want to learn and practice the art of planting vanilla, I found the following article for you: How to Plant vanilla?

    Preserving jar filled with a mix of granulated sugar and vanilla powder.

    🍨 You might also like

    • Loaf pan filled with homemade vanilla ice cream and scooped out vanilla icecream. With pink ice cream cones alongside.
      Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe
    • Two sponge cakes on cooling rack from the side.
      Viennese Sponge Cake Bases Recipe
    • How to bake cookies from leftover egg yolks
    • Thin pancake dough, filled with delicious vanilla bean ice cream, drizzled with chocolate sauce, and refined with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles!
      Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Pancakes {Palatschinken}

    More Austrian Dessert

    • Delicious almond cream cake garnished with whipped cream, grated chocolate, and Giotto. It stands on a white wooden background surrounded by red glass hearts.
      Delicious Almond Cream Cake
    • Thin pancakes with apricot jam, a classic Austrian dessert that can be made in a few easy steps!
      Thin Pancakes with Apricot Jam
    • Serve a delicious slice of Sacher cake with a dollop of whipped cream.
      Homemade Sacher Torte
    • With the ladyfingers as the final layer, the dessert has an even greater visual impact!
      Simple Layered Eggnog Vanilla Pudding Dessert

    Sharing is caring!

    43 shares
    • Flipboard
    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    • WhatsApp

    Recent Posts

    • Cranberry Aperol Spritz
    • Sweet Dips for Cookies
    • White Chocolate Coconut Truffles
    • Festive Cranberry Gin and Tonic
    • Melt-in-your-Mouth Butterball Cookies

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      I'm eggcited to hear from you! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Keri

      October 12, 2022 at 8:27 am

      I love making things like this myself! Thank you for another great recipe.

      Reply
      • Nora

        October 12, 2022 at 11:08 am

        Thank you, Keri! Happy you liked it!

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    Preserving jar filled with a mix of granulated sugar and vanilla powder.
    1 Cup sugar with vanilla bean on top.
    Adding vanilla bean to preserving jar filled with granulated sugar.
    1 Cup sugar with vanilla bean on top.

    Seasonal

    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn/Fall
    • Winter
    combinegoodflavors author nora

    Hi, it's me, Nora! I love good food, especially when it's homemade. I am a home chef with a passion for baking and mixing drinks.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • How to make homemade advocaat egg liqueur? - explained step by step.
      How to make a delicious homemade Advocaat egg liqueur
    • A big slice of deliciousness - the no-bake chocolate ricotta cheesecake!
      No-Bake Chocolate Ricotta Cheesecake
    • Meringue nests filled with whipped cream, decorated with blueberries and mint leaves, and dusted with powdered sugar. Placed on black serving plate.
      Mini Blueberry Pavlova
    • With the ladyfingers as the final layer, the dessert has an even greater visual impact!
      Simple Layered Eggnog Vanilla Pudding Dessert

    Seasonal

    • Two glasses filled with delicious cranberry Aaperol spritz, placed on snowy ground, garnished with a delicious berry mix.
      Cranberry Aperol Spritz
    • Charming coconut truffles in green bowl next to Christmas decoration.
      White Chocolate Coconut Truffles
    • Gorgeous Christmas ornament shaped glass filled with festive cranberry gin tonic, placed on glass coaster.
      Festive Cranberry Gin and Tonic
    • Super soft and delicious pumpkin cookies placed on black leaf shaped dish.
      Fall in Love with these Soft Pumpkin Cookies

    Footer

    AS SEEN ON ABC NBC...
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    Free Basic Dough Recipes

    My Favorites

    Two glasses filled with delicious cranberry Aaperol spritz, placed on snowy ground, garnished with a delicious berry mix.
    Three beginner-friendly chocolate dips that only require five simple ingredients. Piped in small gorgeous Christmas dipping bowls.
    Charming coconut truffles in green bowl next to Christmas decoration.

    Footer

    Preserving jar filled with a mix of granulated sugar and vanilla powder.
    1 Cup sugar with vanilla bean on top.
    Adding vanilla bean to preserving jar filled with granulated sugar.
    1 Cup sugar with vanilla bean on top.

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Imprint

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Free Discount Library

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with me
    • Guest Posts
    • Media Kit

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Combine Good Flavors

    43 shares