Spiced Vanilla Sugar, with fragrant Indian spices turn ordinary coffee into an aromatic flavor explosion. Use in tea, oatmeal, on fruit and baked goods too.
Spiced Vanilla Sugar
Yes, yes, I am a goof and love cutesy things. I love kitties too, especially if they are real and mine. 🙂
What better way to stir my Spiced Vanilla Sugar into my espresso than with a kitty spoon? This isn’t your ordinary vanilla sugar. No, it is so much more. We’ve been making Vanilla Sugar for years and love a sprinkle on top of the milk foam on our coffee. This Spiced Vanilla Sugar recipe is just another flavor alternative and boy, is it incredible.
I was gifted a canister of “Coffee Sugar,” and thought it was fantastic. But for the price, yikes! Plus, I wanted a low carb option. I let my taste buds and my nose do the work and came up with my own Spiced Vanilla Sugar. Guess what, I love it so much more.
Cast of Ingredients for Spiced Vanilla Sugar
Whether you use white sugar or a granulated sugar substitute your morning espresso, cappuccino, coffee or tea will never be the same. Just a pinch over the top is needed, so if you like a sweetened coffee, first sweeten your coffee as desired and then sprinkle one pinch over the milk foam and don’t mix in.
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Cast of Ingredients for Spiced Vanilla Sugar
- White Sugar or Granulated Sugar Substitute
- Vanilla Bean(s)
- Green Cardamom Pods
- Cinnamon Stick
- Star Anise
- Whole Cloves
- Gourmet Cocoa Powder
Slice Vanilla Bean From End to End
There are a couple ways you can make Spiced Vanilla Sugar. Both version start with a good vanilla bean.
Use a small paring knife to cut the vanilla beans. There is no need to scrape out the caviar.
How to Make Spiced Vanilla Sugar
Whole Spice Method
- Simply add the whole spices to your Mason jar. This makes a beautiful presentation and great six weeks for the flavors to infuse.
The whole spice method is super pretty. It is great for gift giving. Remember to prepare the Mason jars at least six weeks prior to your event.
Crushed Spice Method
- The spices are crushed and added to a tea ball or small spice bag. This releases the flavor right away.
- The Spiced Vanilla Sugar is ready to use in a couple of days.
This method is nice for hostess gifts too as if you have a stock pile ready to go, just grab a jar and present it to your host.
I like to do a combination of both for gift giving.
Whole Spices and Sugar
16 ounce Wide Mouth Mason Jars work well for this recipe, but use whatever you like. I use these storage caps instead of the canning lids that come with the jars.
If you enjoy Indian spices like this, you will love my Pressure Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala with Butter Rice recipe.
The Cocoa
Make sure to use a high quality cocoa like Rodelle Gourmet Baking Cocoa. wanted just a hint of the chocolate.
How to Crush Spices
Crushing the spices first is a really nice method to use as the Indian coffee sugar will be ready to use in just a couple of weeks. Depending on if I am gifting to someone who enjoys tea, I may use a tea ball for the spices. Otherwise, I like to use a small spice pouch.
Tea Ball Method
Tea Ball Method – Grind the Spices
A Mini Chopper is handy to use to gently crush the spices. When using a tea ball, this is the best plan. I recommend the RSVP Tea Infuser for this.
For this container, I put all spices, except for the vanilla bean and the cocoa powder into the tea ball.
Check out my Pressure Cooker Chicken Biryani recipe, which you can either toast the spices and eat around them, or just pop them into this tea ball and then remove the tea ball from the pot
Spice Pouch Method
Add Spices to Small Spice Pouch & Crush
When using a small spice pouch, a mallet or a heavy headed ice cream scoop can be used to crush the spices.
Watch the video below to see how easy this method is and how to prepare to give as a gift.
When crushing the spices, you don’t want to put them directly into the sugar. The small particles can cause choking and we sure don want anyone to choke on a sharp spice.
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Add Cocoa and Sugar to Mason Jar
For a beautiful visual effect and perfect for gift giving, I suggest using a combination of both the whole method and crushed method.
Use a nice tea ball or a spice bag for the crushed spices. Your recipient can re-purpose the tea ball and use it for…guess what? Tea of course.
Shake Until Well Combined
The Spiced Vanilla Sugar is very potent, so it is to be used as a sprinkling and not in place of a cup of sugar. I mean you can, but whoa, that would be a very strong dessert cake! In this case, you would want to use a nice baking sugar for scones, cookies or cake like Demerara Sugar. If your recipe calls for a cup of sugar, add a couple of Tablespoons of the spiced sugar and then add the remainder with the plain sugar.
Pro Tip: Mixing the cocoa and some of the sugar together allows the cocoa to incorporate nicely with the sugar. Otherwise, the cocoa won’t be as easy to mix with a full jar of spices and sugar.
Add the Crushed Spices, Cinnamon Stick and Vanilla
Add some whole spices to the sugar, so you can see them through the jar. This makes a nice conversation piece.
For a beautiful visual effect and perfect for gift giving, I suggest using a combination of both the whole method and crushed method.
Use a nice tea ball or a spice bag for the crushed spices. Your recipient can re-purpose the tea ball and use it for…guess what? Tea of course.
Shake it Up Really Well
Add some whole spices to the sugar, so you can see them through the jar. This makes a nice conversation piece.
For a beautiful visual effect and perfect for gift giving, I suggest using a combination of both the whole method and crushed method.
Use a nice tea ball or a spice bag for the crushed spices. Your recipient can re-purpose the tea ball and use it for…guess what? Tea of course.
Wrap with Cellophane and Ribbon
Clear cellophane wrapping with a nice ribbon and bow is all you need for a beautiful present. You can buy a set of bags and ribbons or buy rolls of cellophane.
More Uses for Spiced Vanilla Sugar.
- For Chai.
- Sprinkle over scones of cookies before baking.
- Use for dipping strawberries.
- Sprinkle over ice cream.
- Replace for plain sugar in the top layer of my Pressure Cooker New York Cheesecake Recipe.
As far as the spices are concerned. If you want a more potent vanilla flavor, use more vanilla beans.
As the flavor develops and you decide what your taste buds love, you can adjust flavors in future batches.
Watch the video below as I walk you through every step and detail of this recipe. I’ve given you a ton of information above, but sometimes a live visual of the process helps so you can follow along. I have my own cooking show on my YouTube Channel, so be sure to check it out and subscribe!
Watch my video and then scroll to the bottom for the printable recipe card.
The cellophane comes in colorful rolls too!
Some Colorful Gift Ideas for Spiced Vanilla Sugar
- Valentine’s Day – wrap with red cellophane
- Easter – wrap with pink or purple cellophane
- Chanukkah – use a blue cellophane wrapping.
- Christmas – red or green cellophane would be appropriate
Indian Spiced Vanilla Sugar
So, I kept changing the name of this Spiced Vanilla Sugar. Indian Coffee Sugar? But, you can use it in tea too. Indian Spiced Sugar? But Star Anise is popular in many Asian Countries.
Asian Spiced Sugar? Well, I grew up making Peppernuts Cookies and I use cardamom in my Pressure Cooker Peppernuts Cheesecake, so it could be an American name too…. I did not want to eliminate anyone, so I went with Vanilla Spiced Sugar. But I kinda want to call it Cardamon Vanilla Spiced Sugar for Coffee, Tea, Baked Goods and so much more. 🙂
Enjoy I hope your morning coffee or tea is delightful.
Recipes for Spiced Vanilla Sugar
- Instant Pot Bhapa Doi {Steamed Yogurt Pudding}
- Red White Blue Fresh Berry Cheesecake Salad
- Instant Pot Cranberry Spice Couscous + Video
- Creamy Grapes Salad
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- J.A. Henckels Classic Paring Knife
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Simply Gourmet (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- My FANTASTIC Teak Cutting & Charcuterie Board & Compartments
- Ball 16 oz Wide Mouth Mason Jars
- Vanilla Beans
- RSVP Tea Ball or Small Spice Pouch
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Here is your handy printable recipe:
Ingredients
- 2 cups White Sugar (or Granulated Sugar Substitute)
- 1 whole Vanilla Bean sliced
- 2 whole Cinnamon Sticks
- 1.5 teaspoon Rodelle Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder
- 6 whole Green Cardamom Pods
- 2 whole Whole Star Anise
- 4 whole Whole Cloves
Recommended Products
Instructions
- With a sharp knife, slice vanilla bean from end to end. Pull open the cut side to expose the vanilla bean caviar. Set aside.
- Add star anise, cardamom pods, one cinnamon stick and cloves to spice bag. Tighten string to close.
- Use a mallet, hammer or ice cream scoop and give it a few smashes. (If using a tea ball, smash the spices on a cutting board first and then add to spice ball.)
- Add half the sugar and the cocoa to Mason jar. Cover jar with lid and shake to combine.
- Stuff the spice bag into the Mason jar.
- Add vanilla bean and one cinnamon stick.
- Add enough sugar to almost fill the jar.
- Cover jar and shake well.
- Let the jar sit for three weeks, shaking it every so often. It needs time for the sugar to become flavored.
Video
Notes
For Gift Giving and Hostess Gifts
- Add one whole star anise, a couple of whole cardamon pods and a couple of whole cloves to Mason jar, so the recipient can see the various spices used. Because they are whole, they won't strengthen the Spiced Vanilla Sugar much.
- Use cellophane and wrap the Mason jar. Tie with a pretty strand of material and make a bow.
- Use colored cellophane for holidays!
Nutrition
PIN this Spiced Coffee Sugar!
Spiced Vanilla Sugar for Coffee, Tea, Baked Goods, Fruit
I put this spiced sugar on grapefruit sections and it’s absolutely delicious!! I instinctively made two batches and I’m so happy I did. I will cherish this recipe and share it with friends and family.
You are the queen of clever! That was a fun video!!!
Thank you so much, Jane. Jill