It doesn’t get much easier than this! So much flavor, so little effort! But what’s it for? Almost anything, really. It’s delicious on cereal, in tea or coffee, and can be used in any baked goods you fancy. Just that hint of vanilla flavor gives a delightful boost. In a cute jar, it also makes a great gift! I found these jars on Amazon. They’re the same jars that Smitten Kitchen uses for spices, and I confess I’ve been looking for an excuse to buy some ever since I saw them there. They’re so cute! (No, I don’t get anything from Amazon, I’m just including the link in case someone wants to buy some.)

Ingredients:

1 vanilla bean

1 cup (200 g) of sugar

Preparation:

1.) Slice the bean lengthwise with a sharp knife.

2.) Use the back of the knife to scrape out the seeds from both halves of the bean. 

3.) Stir the seeds into the sugar, mashing with the back of a spoon to evenly distribute them. 

4.) Sift through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any fragments of the pod. You may save the pod for another use, or stuff it down into the sugar for a little extra flavor. Cover tightly and let sit for at least a week. Vanilla sugar keeps for up to six months.