How to Make Lavender Sugar

As a Tea Enthusiast, I am always looking for new ways to add a gourmet touch to my tea parties. Lavender sugar is truly a gourmet treat and one of the ways you can make your next Afternoon Tea event a hit. You can either purchase ready-made lavender sugar (which can be somewhat expensive), or make your own at a fraction of the cost (you’ll get three to four times as much sugar for the price of the ingredients). This recipe makes enough lavender sugar to use in baking cakes, cookies or even in homemade lavender ice-cream. If you like the smell of lavender and are looking for an herbal alternative to plain and ordinary sugar, experiment with this recipe.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 4 Cups White Sugar
• 1 1/3 Cups Culinary Lavender
• 2 Gallon-size Re-Sealable Plastic Bag
• Wooden Spoon
• Glass or Plastic Mixing Bowl

1. Pour white sugar into mixing bowl. White sugar is best for this recipe because the molasses in natural or brown sugars can overpower the lavender flavor.

2. Add culinary lavender. It is important to use culinary instead of aromatic lavender to keep any additives like scented oils or pesticides from tainting the sugar.

3. Stir with wooden spoon; pour into plastic bag and seal. Shake the sugar mixture and place the sealed bag inside of another plastic bag. Seal once more.

4. Store the sugar in a cool dry dark place for two weeks. At least once a week, shake the bag to mix the lavender. After two weeks, open the bag to see if the sugar is ready. You will know by the scent. If there is a strong lavender aroma, then the sugar is ready for use.

5. When used as a sweetener, strain the sugar just before use to remove the lavender buds. Do not discard the buds. Pour them back into the plastic bag, add additional sugar to replace what you have used, and re-seal.

6. For cooking, grind the lavender sugar (buds and all) in a food processor or blender and then add to your favorite baking recipe.

Tips & Warnings

• Mix a few drops of red and blue food coloring to make a light purple or lavender shade for the sugar. Add the mixed coloring to the lavender sugar a tiny bit at a time until you get the desired color. Spread the moist sugar onto a cookie sheet or waxed paper to dry. Return to plastic bag for storage after drying.
• Always re-seal the bag after every use. This will keep your lavender sugar fresh for a year.
• Place some of your lavender sugar in a festive glass jar or fabric bag and give as a gift.

Resources

• Where Life Relaxes with a Cup of Tea
• Simple Solutions for Family & Home

[EnlightenedPen]

on 2/20/2009 I love lavender. This is a great homemade gift idea.