With Christmas around the corner, I’ve been thinking of some ways I can show people I appreciate them without going over budget. Cookies are always great, but I wanted to do something a little different, more creative. The thought came to me while opening a jar of vanilla sugar from Hawaii. What a perfect inexpensive treat to bless teachers, neighbors, coworkers, and Bible study leaders with! Add a cute mug, some good coffee, and you have a gift basket that can’t be beat!

What you will need:

  • Mason jars (You pick the size.)
  • Sugar (I use Sugar in the Raw. I like the way it tastes. But you can use regular sugar to keep the costs down.)
  • Vanilla Beans (Now, these can be very expensive, so look around for the best deal. You need one vanilla bean for every 2 cups of sugar. I got mine on Amazon: a pack of 10 for only $12.99. I’ve heard Costco has a great deal too.)
  • Chalkboard labels, canning labels, gift tags, etc.
  • Fabric, paint, ribbons, etc., to decorate your lid

Directions:

  1. Decide on what size jar you would like to use. Remember, it is going to be 1 bean for every 2 cups of sugar. The jars I have pictured use 1 1/2 cups sugar.
  2. After you have measured the sugar, pour it in your jar.
  3. Take a vanilla bean and slice it lengthwise. Open it up and begin to rub sugar into the center, removing some of the seeds, but not all of them.
  4. Now, stick the vanilla bean into the sugar by digging it into the center. The sugar can’t be used for at least 2 weeks; it has to absorb the flavor.
  5. Decorate your lid with fabric, ribbons, or whatever you decide. Get creative!
  6. Now place a label somewhere on your jar (I decided on chalkboard labels). Write, “Vanilla Sugar” on it, and also include the date you made it. The longer it sits, the more flavorful it is. It’s fun to let your recipient know when you made it and how long it has been soaking up the flavor.

Keep in mind, you can make this as costly or inexpensive as you like. Mine came to about $5.00 per jar. Be sure to make yourself a couple jars while making gifts!