Infusing sugar is one of the easiest things to make and can add flavor and charm to recipes. The wonderful uses of infused sugars are endless! Lear how to make make your own with our step by step tutorial and how-to video!
I love the idea of infusing sugar! You can use the citrus or lavender sugar in a poundcake or sugar cookie recipe to add a hint of flavor or simply place a teaspoon in your coffee (think espresso bean-infused!) or when mixing a cocktail.
It can also be used to garnish the glass rim of some fresh-squeezed lemonade or another delicious drink!
The sugars make wonderful gifts and for a special touch, attach your favorite recipe that the sugar would compliment. Any type of citrus zest, vanilla bean or herb will work perfectly. Read below to find the secret to infusing sugar ; )
Infusing Sugars (Step by Step)
Supplies
Sugar – Cane or
Air Tight Glass Containers
A zester
Ribbon and Twine to Garnish the bottles.
Herbs, Dried Flowers, Citrus or whatever you are using to infuse the sugar.
Directions
- Zest the fruit you want to use to give your sugar a touch of flavor. Leave it out overnight to dry COMPLETELY, especially if you’re using fruit!
- Layer the sugar and the zest in a glass container. When you reach the top add some extra zest for color.
- Let the sugar sit for at least one week before you use or hand them out as favors. This will give the sugar optimal flavor!
- If you use lavender or espresso beans you can remove them by straining the infused sugar into a separate bowl before using it in a recipe or coffee. Or you can grind the beans and lavender to a super fine consistency and leave them in the sugar!
Flavor Ideas to Add to Sugar
Here is a list of some flavors you can easily add to infuse sugar:
- Citrus Zest – Lemon, Lime, Orange, Grapefruit.
- Dried Flowers – Rose Petals, Lavender, Hibiscus (will make pink sugar!)
- Vanilla Bean
- Espresso
- Spices – Cinnamon, Cayenne, Allspice, Cardamom – use any spice to add a kick to the sugar!
- Dried Herbs – Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano… the possibilities are endless with dried herbs.
- Ginger
Let us know if you make these! They are wonderful gifts for birthdays, teachers and holidays!
dreams on 34th street says
Eden…I love this post…I have been thinking
of infusing sugars for a while now…your chic
post was appropriatly timed and lit a fire under me! You have a charmed blog!
~Lynne
[w/l]
feelincrafty says
I’ve never had infused sugar, but these beautiful pictures are very inspiring to try. Or even just make it becuase it looks so pretty!
Ashley says
i have never done that, but it looks beautiful..i may just have to give em a try!!
xoxo
ash
amy walters says
Your site is always chalked full of the best pics 😉 I love visiting your blog Eden!
April of A. Liz Adventures says
I’ve got some lavender at home right now just BEGGING to be made into lavender-infused sugar that I can add to my morning tea. Thanks for the inspiration!
amy walters says
Me again! I just selected you for the Versatile Bloggers Award. Check out my post for details 😉
Cheers,
amy*
Karen says
Ooh, yum. I was just laying in bed this morning, looking at the dried lavender in my window from last year, thinking this year I’ve got to do something more useful with it!
Madeleine @ NZ Ecochick says
I love this post. I have featured it on NZ Ecochick. Please view my post on: http://www.nzecochick.com/2011/11/christmas-ideas.html Feel free to grab my featured on button. Thanks for the great idea. I can’t wait to make some.
Joi says
Could you please tell me where you got the jars from??
Rach says
I’ve seen them at Michael’s Arts and Crafts.
Anonymous says
I am thinking of doing these as wedding favors. Glass Ball Mason jars are a bit cheaper than the jars pictured here. Do you think that would work and do you need to sterilize the jars first?
Thanks!
Mariana says
Adorei a sugestão e o blog. Parabéns!
Mariana Pereira (Brasil)
Cedarcrest Middle School says
Could you tell me approx. how many coffee beans you would use (I plan on grinding it fine and leaving it in the sugar) per cup of sugar. These would make the perfect gift! Thanks!
Sugar and Charm says
Hi! I actually didn’t make one with coffee beans… It was just an idea and I think it would be awesome! I would just grind the beans and then place a layer on top of the sugar, like the pictures above. I don’t think you need to measure. Have fun!
heidi says
This is such a good idea. Where did you get the jars from?
Jillian says
This is such a cool idea!! Will the sugar go bad sooner?
Fran DeWitte says
Thanks for the great idea. This is the first year I have my own lavender to harvest so it will be fun to make my own infused lavender sugar.
Have a great day!
Joanna says
Would you mind telling me where you bought the jars and what size they are? thanks!
Sav says
I love this idea and am planning on making lavender infused sugar for my upcoming wedding. Can you please tell me where you purchased these jars and what size the jars are? Thanks so much!
Leslie says
Where do you get the cute glass jars? Thanks!
Manuela says
Hello,
I’m preparing a post on home made Xmas presents and I would like very much to have this suggestion of your shared on my post. Can I have a foto and the link to your post on Girls Just Like Us.
Thank you,
Manuela
nicki says
fab little site thankyou
Mariah says
Do you think this would work well to make into a sugar scrubs?
Eden says
Hi Mariah! I think infusing the sugar before making a sugar scrub would work great!
Lisa says
This will be awesome for upcoming Yule gifts
MEAl5 says
Thanks for the great idea.
Maurita says
I was wondering how you could infuse a juice to the sugar. I grow passion fruit and scoop out the pulp to make the juice there is no way to “zest” a passion fruit
I would love any thoughts on this Thank you!
Naomi says
I’ve done this with spearmint. I’m not sure where I’ll use it, but I tried it in shortbread, and it was very subtle.