How to Make Vanilla Powder (+ Vanilla Sugar)

Swapping it in baked goods like my red velvet sheet cake and peach tarte tatin instead of extract provides a vanilla flavor boost.

I love using it in strawberry ice cream sundaes, cake pop frosting and many baked goods, not only because of the natural flavor, but I like seeing the specks of vanilla in the finished product.

As a bonus, I'm also going to show you how to use the powder to make vanilla sugar.

Vanilla Powder Vs. Extract

According to a Cook’s Illustrated comparison between vanilla powder and vanilla extract, vanilla powder was favored over vanilla extract for baked goods. The powder is an ideal alternative for those avoiding alcohol due to allergies, religious restrictions, or personal preferences.

Ingredients

You will need only one ingredient to make vanilla powder: vanilla beans. They are also known as vanilla pods.

Step #1. Preheat

Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Step #2. Cut a Slit

Cut a slit into the beans, lengthwise, and open them slightly.

Step #3. Bake

Place the vanilla beans on the baking tray. Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes, until they are dry. Watch that they don’t burn. Take them out of the oven and wait until they cool.

Pro Tip: The beans will become more brittle as they cool so make sure not to go over the 5 minutes, even if they seem to be flexible when they first come out of the oven.

Step #4. Cut into Pieces

Cut the vanilla pods into small pieces.

Step #5. Grind

Process the baked vanilla pods in a coffee grinder until you get a fine powder.

Step #6. Transfer

Transfer to a jar or another airtight container. Your vanilla powder is now ready to use.

Alternative Drying Methods

Drying the vanilla pods to remove the moisture is a necessary step when making vanilla bean powder, but there is more than one way to do this. Whichever way you choose, the beans need to be dry enough to grind into a powder.

1. At a Lower Temp in the Oven: This method takes longer than a 350ºF oven but you’re less likely to burn the pods. Preheat the oven to 170ºF (75ºC). This is the lowest temperature for most ovens. Bake the beans in the preheated oven for 90 minutes, until they are dry and brittle.

2. On the Counter (the slowest way): Let the pods dry on the counter for a few weeks.

3. In a Dehydrator: Dry the vanilla beans in the dehydrator until they are brittle.

How to Use Vanilla Powder

Vanilla powder can have many uses. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

½ teaspoon vanilla powder = 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• You can replace vanilla extract in your recipes with vanilla powder using the above ratio.
• Mix it into buttercreams and frostings.
• Just a pinch mixed with sea salt creates the perfect topping for cookies or chocolate caramel bars.
• You can also add it to your sugar jar for some vanilla-flavored sugar (recipe below). It is a great way to coat fried items like doughnuts or churros.
• Add it to your homemade ice cream or whipped cream.
• You can add it to cake batter and cookie dough.
• Stir it into your coffee, tea or other hot beverages.
• Combine it with ground coffee. Or, take your dried vanilla bean pods and add them to your grinder with roasted coffee beans. Simply grind them up together, add them to the coffee filter and the result is homemade French vanilla coffee.
• Blend it into smoothies and shakes.

Storage Tips

Once you are done experimenting, store your vanilla bean powder in a plastic or glass jar. Typically, it is best to keep ground vanilla in a dark area like a closet or cupboard that is not too close to the stove or microwave.

You never want to refrigerate vanilla powder because it will dry out the mixture and ruin the oils.

If stored correctly, vanilla powder should last for about 2 years, so you can make one large batch and save yourself some future hassle.

Vanilla Sugar

Ingredients

Vanilla sugar is simply a combination of vanilla powder and sugar.

*Check recipe card for ingredient amounts.

How to Make Vanilla Sugar

Combine the vanilla bean powder and sugar in a small bowl with a whisk or spoon. You can use it immediately or wait for a couple of weeks for the vanilla flavor to infuse into the sugar.

It can be stored in an airtight container in a cupboard/pantry for about 2 years.

Ways to Use Vanilla Sugar

You can use vanilla sugar similarly to vanilla powder; the difference is it will be sweetened.

• Stir it into coffee or other hot beverages.
• Stir it into coffee cream to make a sweet, vanilla-flavored creamer.
• Sprinkle it over freshly glazed donuts such as these chocolate donut holes and other baked goods.
• It's also great as a food gift when packaged in a nice jar.

Recipe FAQs

❤️Related Recipes With Vanilla to Consider