Vanilla Sugar

Vanilla may be considered the least exciting of flavors but for this recipe it becomes the star that transforms plain old sugar into something special and unexpected. Vanilla sugar is surprisingly easy to make--you can whip some up in the morning and sprinkle it on your cereal the next day--and it's great for baking and sweetening beverages like coffee and tea. Plus it makes a sweet gift--just store in a pretty jar, tie a ribbon around it, and give it to the baker in your life. Here's what you need to do:

Cut one vanilla bean in half lengthwise and place in a sealable jar. Pour one cup of granulated sugar over the vanilla, cover, and let it sit for 24 hours. Once the sugar has absorbed the vanilla flavor it is ready to use. And don't throw the vanilla beans away--you can replenish the sugar as needed because the vanilla beans will continue to flavor the sugar for up to a year!

photo by Angelica Golden