Last week, I received these fresh vanilla beans as a gift from Nicole, a reader all the way in Madagascar!
I resisted the urge to bake thirty batches of the ultimate vanilla frosting, and instead decided to make some simple holiday gifts, because well, tis the season!
These vanilla sugar jars are ridiculously easy to make and practically last forever. They’re perfect for foodie gifts and look super cute when tied up with ribbons and fun fabric!
I love a sprinkle of vanilla sugar in my morning cup of tea, and it adds a little a little somethin-somethin’ to lattes and cappuccinos, too.
Try it sprinkled on gingerbread cookie dough right before baking!
And, all you do to make this special special sugar is just add a vanilla bean or two in a jar along regular granulated sugar.
Done and done.
You don’t have to make such a big jar as me, either. I like the idea of using recycled spice jars for this! Just grab some holiday ribbon and go to it. I get the majority of my ribbons and fabrics from Beverly’s.
Makes me wish I knew how to sew.
And, if vanilla sugar ain’t your thing, you can always give the gift of a gumdrop tree.
These things never go out of style, even though you may try to sell them at family garage sales for five dollars.
it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
December 13, 2010 at 5:20 pmSuper cute gift idea!
Kendra
December 13, 2010 at 5:22 pmOh my gosh, vanilla is my favorite thing ever. I would so love vamilla from Madagascar. My friend once brought me some from Haiti and it was amazing.
Sarah @ See Sarah Graduate
December 13, 2010 at 5:23 pmhaha, LOVE it and the gum drop tree. I definitely have a few of those laying around at my parents house. 🙂
Anna
December 13, 2010 at 5:24 pmLOVE making vanilla sugar. I just posted today about making vanilla extract from beans, in fact.
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat)
December 13, 2010 at 5:25 pmWow, I’ve never seen actual vanilla bean. How interesting looking!
Annie@stronghealthyfit
December 13, 2010 at 5:29 pmClassy 😉
I love gumdrops!
RhodeyGirl
December 13, 2010 at 5:31 pmWhen we left Bora Bora the chefs from our cooking lesson came running after our boat to give us tons of beautiful fresh (vacuum sealed) vanilla. I finally used the last of it last month, and boy was I sad!!!!
Stacy @ Every Little Thing
December 13, 2010 at 5:37 pmWhat a great gift! My aunt is from Madagascar and it’s amazing the food they make there. She loves everything hot, hot, hot!
Marie
December 13, 2010 at 5:41 pmYum, I’ve never had vanilla sugar before. I’ll be on the lookout for some vanilla beans for sure. I love this gift idea!
Stephanie P
December 13, 2010 at 5:42 pmThis is such a great idea! I have a few people that I wasn’t sure what I was going to give… well now I know!!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
December 13, 2010 at 5:44 pmI love this idea. What I wouldn’t give for some of those vanilla beans!
Michele @ Healthy Cultivations
December 13, 2010 at 5:55 pmWhat an incredible gift from a reader. You must be overwhelmed with gratitude!!! Vanilla beans are worth their weight in gold — almost literally.
Nora
December 13, 2010 at 6:11 pmMMMMM love vanilla beans! Love homemade frosting!
stacey-healthylife
December 13, 2010 at 6:15 pmLove both ideas. 🙂
Lori Lieberman, RD, CDE, MPH, LDN
December 13, 2010 at 6:34 pmHow awesome! And I thought I was lucky getting sultans from England, after an Australian reader mentioned them in her comment and I said I didn’t know what they were. (fyi–I can’t tell them from raisins).
Lori Lieberman, RD, CDE, MPH, LDN
December 13, 2010 at 6:35 pmOops, I meant sultanas!
Cathy B. @ Bright Bakes
December 13, 2010 at 6:34 pmI make my own vanilla all the time, but have yet to make vanilla-sugar…why?????
love,
cathy b. @ brightbakes
Krystina (Basil & Wine)
December 13, 2010 at 6:43 pmI would absolutely LOVE to get vanilla sugar as a gift.
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
December 13, 2010 at 6:50 pmIsn’t fruit cake the gift that keeps on giving? As in, most families regift the same brick year after year? I’d rather have vanilla sugar.
Fancy
December 13, 2010 at 6:58 pmJenna!!!
Hi!!! What kind of baking pan is that with the gingerbread cookies on it? I always see you using it and I am very curious! 🙂
jenna
December 13, 2010 at 7:02 pmthat’s just a regular baking sheet lined with a Silpat! You can get silpats at any cooking store and they work basically as reusable parchment paper–highly recommend one!
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write
December 13, 2010 at 7:12 pmI literally laughed out loud at the picture of the $5 gum drop tree. That’s just too much.
Paige @ Running Around Normal
December 13, 2010 at 7:24 pmWhat a great idea!! Vanilla sugar!
And bahaha @ the tree. Love it 🙂
Natalia - a side of simple
December 13, 2010 at 7:25 pmWow, Madagascar? I really like the gift idea and the ribbon and fabric are the perfect “Little House” touch 😉
Danielle
December 13, 2010 at 7:30 pmPerhaps the sweetest of them all 🙂 yum! I hope to visit Madagascar some day…
Averie (LoveVeggiesandYoga)
December 13, 2010 at 7:30 pmThis is so ironic…I was JUST writing a friend an email about maybe making my own vanilla extract, i.e. soaking vanilla beans in vodka for like 3 months and stirring daily and then straining. It sure is cheaper and no doubt tastes awesome, but I wonder if it’s worth the work. Seeing these vanilla beans of yours moments after i JUST sent her an email makes me feel inspired 🙂
I love homemade gifts and mason jars and ribbons….for sure, all of that stuff is the stuff of LOVE and is lovely!
britt
December 13, 2010 at 7:38 pmgreat gift idea! any gift that involves mason jars and ribbons is a keeper in my book 🙂
Stephanie @ The Travelling Tastebuds
December 13, 2010 at 7:44 pmWow… that is SUCH a nice gift from a distant reader. Vanilla beans are super expensive… but make such a difference when baking with them. I definitely prefer them to vanilla extract. What nice readers you have 🙂
Ravenous Rowie
December 13, 2010 at 7:47 pmGreat idea! If you are using a tiny jar for the sugar, can you cut a vanilla bean in half? I totally want to make these for some of my friends!
jenna
December 13, 2010 at 8:20 pmabsolutely!
Krista (kristastes)
December 13, 2010 at 8:18 pmThis is an awesome idea — I saw it in the whole foods online gift guide and I SO want to do this…now if only I had a Madagascar hookup 🙂
nicole
December 13, 2010 at 8:28 pmFun idea and simple enough!
Amber K
December 13, 2010 at 8:33 pmVanilla sugar? Oh my gosh, I’m in love.
Heather (Heather's Dish)
December 13, 2010 at 9:51 pmi’ve wanted to make vanilla sugar since i saw the barefoot contessa do it years ago…i love your idea to add it to a cappuccino though!
Vanessa
December 14, 2010 at 3:57 amThat is an amazing gift. Although I think I wouldn’t know what to do with all those vanilla beans!!
mom
December 14, 2010 at 5:19 amVery funny, Jennifer…..
Christina
December 14, 2010 at 5:21 amLove vanilla beans.. I need to find some stat!
QUESTION: From your “an update” post.. where did you get that hat?
megan @ whatmegansmaking
December 14, 2010 at 5:38 amGreat idea with the vanilla sugar! If you use a smaller jar, do you just cut the vanilla bean in half or something?
Mary (Sisters Running the Kitchen)
December 14, 2010 at 5:52 amWow! I can’t believe you received that gift from a reader in Madagascar!!! That’s amazing! Around me, Madagascar Vanilla Beans are a hefty price…for just 2!
Amalfi Girl (EatRunHaveFun.blogspot)
December 14, 2010 at 6:02 amVanilla beans are always soooooooo expensive. You hit the jackpot, lady!
Rachel Wilkerson
December 14, 2010 at 6:16 amWhat a cool gift that she sent you!! And way to turn that into a great Christmas gift!
R @ Learning As I Chop
December 14, 2010 at 6:20 amWhat a thoughtful gift!
Maria
December 14, 2010 at 6:26 amVanilla beans make the perfect gift!! I would love a bundle!
Nicole from Madagascar
December 14, 2010 at 7:19 amJenna!!
I’m so glad that you liked them and could make gifts with them!!!
I’m a Canadian that has been reading Jenna’s blog FOREVER!!! I moved to Madagascar a year and a half ago and buy a lot of vanilla.
Its about 1/1000 of the price here as it is in North America.
A few months ago Jenna had wrote a post about vanilla and I thought that she should have the real deal!
Can’t wait to see what else you come up with!!!
Happy Holidays!!!
Nicole from Madagascar
December 14, 2010 at 7:24 amJenna!!
Ak! I’m having comment posting issues today!! Let’s see if this one makes me through.
Glad that you enjoyed them and that you are making a gift with them!!
I’m a Canadian living in MG for a year and a half now and a Jenna-blog follower for at least twice as long. 🙂
After Jenna did a post on vanilla awhile back, I felt it was only fitting that she had the real thing to try!!!
Can’t see what else becomes of them!!
Happy Holidays!!
Rebecca @ How the Cookies Crumble
December 14, 2010 at 10:15 amThose vanilla beans look beautiful! and must smell amazing!!
Gracie
December 14, 2010 at 11:56 amThe vanilla beans look absolutely heavenly and I’m sure the aroma made it all the more plausible!
I’m on the look out for vanilla beans to make vanilla sugar now!
Gracie
homemade snickerdoodle mix — Eat, Live, Run
December 14, 2010 at 12:31 pm[…] I separate the dry ingredients from the sugar by sealing the sugar in a little plastic baggie (vanilla sugar would be great!) and then stuffing it in the jar after the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and […]
Lacey @ Lake Life
December 17, 2010 at 4:32 pmThat is such a great idea! Isn’t vanilla bean expensive though? I don’t have any readers from Madagascar lol.