Vanilla Sugar Substitute (2024)

If need avanilla sugar substitutefor your next sweet dessert, you have plenty of options! In this guide, I share several alternatives for vanilla sugar that you can add to your favorite baked goods to enhance the flavor and take your taste buds to new levels. You'll also find an easy-to-make recipe for making vanilla sugar at home so that you always have it handy in your pantry!

What is vanilla sugar?

A common ingredient in European desserts, vanilla sugar is a mixture of granulated sugar and vanilla, which comes from whole vanilla bean, pure vanilla essence, or vanilla powder. It is a popularsubstitute for vanilla extractand regular sugar in recipes where vanilla is a welcomed flavor. You will likely find vanilla sugar used as a topping sprinkled on top of baked desserts such as cookies, cakes, and pies. However, it is also a common ingredient in cooking sauces and marinades.

Whilepre-packaged vanilla sugaris available, it can be pricey in its natural form (versus artificially flavored). It can also be challenging to find in grocery stores outside of Europe. However, you can easily make it at home using the recipe at the bottom of this guide.

What is the difference between vanilla sugar and regular sugar?

Besides the vanilla flavor, there isn't much difference between vanilla sugar and regular sugar. Vanilla sugar is a combination of regular granulated sugar and vanilla beans, resulting in an aromatic sweetener for baked goods and drinks. You can use it interchangeably with regular sugar in a 1:1 ratio.

Vanilla sugar vs. Vanilla extract

Both vanilla sugar and vanilla extract are popular flavoring agents in various baked goods and desserts. However, while vanilla sugar is an infusion of granulated sugar and vanilla beans, pure vanilla extract is a liquid made by washing and soaking vanilla beans in an alcohol solution (typically vodka). Check my homemade vanilla extract recipe.

More commonly found in Europe than in the United States, vanilla sugar is an infusion of sugar and vanilla beans. For recipes that call for sugar, it's an easy1:1 replacement. In addition to replacing vanilla extract, you can sprinkle it on top of baked goods such as cookies, pies, and cakes for an extra vanilla touch. It is also the perfect vanilla extract substitute forFrench toast.

What can I use instead of vanilla sugar?

Plenty of substitutes will provide you with the same vanilla essence that using vanilla sugar would. However, since each vanilla sugar substitute has varying textures and strengths, you will need to consider your recipe before choosing an alternative. Below I list some of the best vanilla sugar substitutes and how to use them as a replacement:

1. Vanilla Powder
2. Pure Vanilla Extract
3. Vanilla Bean Paste
4. Vanilla Syrup
5. Vanilla Pod
6. Vanilla Flavored Milk
7. Regular Sugar
8. Icing Sugar (or Powdered Sugar)
9. Palm Sugar
10. Coconut Sugar
11. Brown Sugar
12. Honey
13. Pure Maple Syrup
14. Almond Extract

1. Vanilla Powder

Made with ground vanilla beans, vanilla powder is an excellent vanilla sugar substitute when making baked goods, blending into hot drinks, or incorporating into foods such as cereal or oatmeal. Because it comes directly from the vanilla bean, it will give your recipe an intense vanilla aroma and rich taste. It also has a very similar color and texture to vanilla sugar, making it easy to integrate into your recipe.

2. Pure Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extractis an infusion of vanilla beans and ethyl alcohol. As a widely used ingredient in baked goods and desserts, it is widely available in stores and an easy vanilla sugar substitute. It is not a suitable alternative for recipes where vanilla sugar is a topping.

Because vanilla extract contains no sweetener, when used on its own, it is best in recipes that require a vanilla essence but not necessarily a sweet flavor. Otherwise, you can combine it with regular sugar to best mimic the taste and texture of vanilla sugar.

How to use it:

Substitute vanilla extract for vanilla in a 1:1 ratio for the vanilla flavor however add some extra sugar. To mimic the flavor and texture of vanilla sugar, mix ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract with one tablespoon of granulated sugar and substitute it for one tablespoon of vanilla sugar. It is important to use pure vanilla extract and not imitation vanilla extract.

3. Vanilla Bean Paste

A delicious combination of vanilla extract, vanilla beans, and sugar, vanilla bean paste has an intense flavor that makes it an excellent vanilla sugar substitute in recipes where vanilla is the star, such as ice cream,custard, or cookies. Because of its syrup-like consistency (versus a paste-like its name implies), it is best used as a vanilla sugar substitute as an ingredient versus a topping. Vanilla bean paste includes specks of vanilla beans so it looks particularly appetizing in vanilla ice cream, custard, etc.

How to use it:

For each tablespoon of vanilla sugar, use one teaspoon of vanilla bean paste. Because of its intensity, vanilla bean paste is best added in small amounts and increased as needed. In addition, vanilla bean is not as sweet as vanilla sugar, so more sugar may be necessary for your recipe to achieve the same taste. You can also combine vanilla bean paste with granulated sugar to achieve a similar consistency as vanilla sugar. To do so, add one teaspoon of vanilla bean paste to each cup of granulated sugar.

4. Vanilla Syrup

Made with simple syrup infused with vanilla bean, vanilla syrup is a common sweetener that can be used in place of vanilla sugar. It has a similar taste and a delicious aroma that will add a great touch to your recipe.

Vanilla syrup is best used as a vanilla sugar substitute when the wet-to-dry ratio isn't essential, such as when preparing hot drinks. You can also use it to sweeten baked goods, though you may need to adjust the other ingredients in the recipe to maintain the same consistency as you would with vanilla sugar. You can typically find it in your local grocery store, but if not, it can be made at home by cooking one cup of sugar with one cup of water until syrupy then mixing it well with two tablespoons of vanilla extract.

How to use it:

Substitute each tablespoon of vanilla sugar with one tablespoon of vanilla syrup. You may need to adjust the other ingredients in recipes that include dry ingredients to achieve the same consistency.

5. Vanilla Pod

A fresh vanilla pod combined with granulated sugar is an excellent vanilla sugar substitute, especially in recipes that require dry ingredients. Not only will a fresh vanilla pod prevent any additional moisture from being incorporated into the recipe, but it will also add a natural vanilla fragrance. Even better, you can use the vanilla bean pod to make homemade vanilla extract!

How to use it:

Slice the vanilla pod to expose the vanilla beans. Stir the vanilla beans into 1 cup of sugar and use as you would regular vanilla sugar. For a stronger vanilla flavor, use 1 vanilla pod and ½ cup sugar ratio and let the vanilla pod infuse in the sugar for a few weeks before using it.

6. Vanilla-Flavored Milk

Although vanilla milk isn't as sweet as vanilla sugar, it is still an excellent vanilla sugar substitute because it is packed with vanilla flavor.
Because it is a liquid, vanilla-flavored milk is best as a substitute in drinks that call for vanilla sugar. You can also use it in baked recipes but would need to adjust the other ingredients in the recipe to compensate for the added moisture.

How to use it:

Add twice the amount of vanilla milk for each tablespoon of vanilla sugar. To mimic the sweetness of vanilla sugar, consider adding more sugar to the recipe.

7. Regular Granulated Sugar

Since vanilla sugar is a simple combination of vanilla beans and granulated sugar, in recipes where the vanilla flavor isn't strongly necessary, you can use regular sugar on its own.

How to use it:

Regular granulated sugar is an easy 1:1 vanilla sugar substitute. You can also use regular sugar to make vanilla sugar at home. Check out my homemade vanilla sugar recipe below!

8. Icing Sugar (Powdered Sugar)

Like powdered vanilla sugar, icing sugar (also known as powdered sugar) has a sweet taste and is commonly used to decorate. Because of its fine texture, it is an excellent vanilla sugar substitute for baked dessert recipes that require that the sugar be sprinkled on top, such as cakes, cookies, and other pastries. It is also delicious when sprinkled over french toast and can be used to make ice cream and icing.

How to use it:

You can use icing sugar as a vanilla sugar substitute in a 1:1 ratio. Of course, it won´t taste vanilla so you might want to think about another flavor eg. lemon zest, cinnamon powder, or espresso powder, if appropriate.

9. Palm Sugar

Palm sugar comes from the sap of palm trees and has a sweet taste similar to brown sugar. Although it doesn't have a vanilla flavor, it is still an excellent vanilla sugar substitute due to its notes of molasses that pair well with flavored desserts and foods.

How to use it:

Substitute palm sugar for vanilla sugar in a 1:1 ratio. Consider using another spice that is appropriate in your dessert.

10. Coconut Sugar

Coconut sugar is another excellent substitute for vanilla sugar in any recipe that calls for it. Made from coconut palm tree sap, coconut sugar has a caramel color and tastes similar to brown sugar. It also has some vitamins and nutrients, making it a healthier choice than other vanilla sugar substitutes.

Coconut sugar is best as a vanilla sugar substitute in baked goods such as cakes and cookies, when used as a topping over cereals, and when used as an ingredient in sauces.

How to use it:

Substitute vanilla sugar for coconut sugar in a 1:1 ratio. You might want to think about to add some other spice to compensate the lack of vanilla taste.

11. Brown Sugar

Although it does not have a vanilla taste, brown sugar is a great vanilla sugar substitute and flavor enhancer in baked goods and hot beverages. Made from a combination of white sugar and molasses, brown sugar is sweet like vanilla sugar, but with flavors of caramel and toffee. Like coconut sugar, it is especially delicious when used as a dessert topping. However, brown sugar takes more time to dissolve than vanilla sugar does.

How to use it:

Substitute brown sugar for vanilla sugar in a 1:1 ratio. Bear in mind that brown sugar has more of a toffee taste than vanilla.

12. Honey

If you have honey in the pantry, it can be a great substitute for vanilla sugar although without the real vanilla taste. Although honey has a natural mild vanilla-like taste, it is much sweeter than sugar. It is best used in baked goods and drinks that call for vanilla sugar as a sweetener.

How to use it:

For each tablespoon of vanilla sugar, use half a tablespoon of honey. Try to use honey that has floral and vanilla notes.

13. Pure Maple Syrup

If vanilla isn't your forte, but you still want a sweet flavor in your favorite dessert, 100% pure maple syrup is an excellent vanilla sugar alternative. Because of its distinct flavor, it goes great in recipes where vanilla is usually the star, giving it a different twist on the flavor. It also has a consistency that helps to improve the moisture content of baked goods such as cookies and cakes.

How to use it:

Use a half tablespoon of maple syrup for each tablespoon of vanilla sugar.

14. Almond Extract

Much to the surprise of many, pure almond extract has more vanilla notes than the taste of almond. For that reason, it is an acceptable vanilla sugar substitute. However, like vanilla extract, it is best used to replace vanilla sugar when mixed into recipes versus as a topping.

The downsides of using almond extract are that it has an overpowering taste and is not sweet. For that reason, you would only want to use it in recipes where the other ingredients don't play a significant role.

How to use it:

Substitute one tablespoon of vanilla sugar with ¼ tablespoon of almond extract. To mimic the sweetness of vanilla sugar, you will need to add sugar to your recipe.

15. Leave it out

If you do not have vanilla sugar or other vanilla products at hand, do not worry, very likely that your dessert will still taste delicious. When vanilla is the hero flavor I recommend trying your best to find one of the vanilla flavor vanilla sugar alternatives, however, for other desserts feel free to experiment with whatever you have at home eg. lemon zest, cinnamon powder, espresso powder, cardamom, pumpkin spice, etc.

How to make vanilla sugar at home

To avoid having to search for store-bought vanilla sugar or one of its substitutes when making your next decadent dessert, you can make your own vanilla sugar at home with this simple homemade vanilla sugar recipe!

Ingredients for the homemade vanilla sugar

All you need is one cup of granulated sugar and one good quality 15 cm / 6-inch vanilla bean, which you can find in the spice aisle of your local grocery store oronline.

How to make homemade vanilla sugar

1. Place the sugar in a bowl
2. Cut one vanilla bean pod in half lengthwise to expose the seeds. Gently scrape out the seeds and place them on top of the sugar.
3. Whisk or blend the mixture until the vanilla bean seeds are well blended into the sugar.
4. Pour the blended mixture into a jar.
5. Use immediately, or ideally seal the jar and place it in a dry place for at least two weeks to intensify the flavor.

For an even stronger vanilla aroma, use only ½ cup of sugar with one vanilla pod. To increase the amount of vanilla, you can submerge the empty bean pod into the sugar to extract vanilla flavor. Or, save the empty vanilla bean pods to make your ownvanilla extractat home!

So what is the best vanilla sugar substitute?

As you can see, several vanilla sugar substitutes serve the same purpose and deliver delicious results without sacrificing much flavor or texture, if any at all. When looking for a vanilla sugar substitute with a similar texture and essence, combining regular sugar with vanilla powder, paste, or beans does the best job.

However, the "best" vanilla sugar substitute highly depends on the particular recipe you will use it for. Therefore, when deciding between substitutes, you must take into consideration the following:

• The amount of vanilla flavor you require or desire
• The texture and consistency of the substitute
• The role that vanilla sugar initially plays in the recipe (whether it is a topping, a key ingredient, or to enhance the flavor)

Once you have determined the above, you can choose which is the best vanilla sugar substitute for you.

Vanilla sugar substitute FAQs