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Lavender sugar is easy to make at home and makes a lovely gift for the holidays. It adds floral flavor to baked goods, tea, and more.
This recipe has been retested and updated since first publishing in December 2013.
Lavender has been a flavor I’ve enjoyed for years, ever since I came across lavender sugar on a trip to the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco.
I credit San Francisco with quite a few wonderful food memories, and as someone who loves to visit any market or grocery store when traveling, the Ferry Plaza market is an inspiration.
Once I used up that first jar of lavender sugar, I knew I had to make it at home. It’s been a go-to foodie gift ever since!
If you’re already a fan of lavender, floral flavors, or are looking for something special to add to shortbread and scones, this sugar will be a new favorite ingredient. It’s also a great gift idea for the baker in your life.
What is lavender sugar?
Lavender sugar is exactly what it sounds like — sugar that has been mixed with dried lavender.
The sugar takes on the fragrance and flavor of the lavender. It is sweet, aromatic, and feels luxurious. Seriously, you feel infinitely fancier just owning a jar of lavender sugar.
What you’ll need
I love making flavored sugars and salts because you only need two ingredients (or more if you’re making a special blend).
This recipe uses regular granulated sugar and culinary grade dried lavender flowers.
You’ll also need a food processor. A mini food processor works best here, since we are just making a small amount.
Where to buy dried lavender
Lavender buds can be purchased in many places, including independent spice shops, gourmet kitchen stores like Williams-Sonoma, and sometimes at the grocery store.
Of course, when in doubt, you can always find dried lavender online!
Do not just open a sachet and have at it — you want culinary lavender, which is free of chemicals and safe to eat.
How to make lavender sugar
Combine the sugar and lavender in the bowl of a food processor. Lock on the lid.
Pulse the lavender buds and sugar together in the food processor until the lavender is chopped and distributed evenly throughout the sugar.
While the lavender will be in small pieces, it won’t be completely ground. If you prefer to have the lavender ground, I recommend using a dedicated spice grinder (not your coffee grinder!) to pulverize the lavender, then mix into the sugar.
Take care opening the food processor, as the sugar dust will go up into the air.
That’s it! The flavored sugar is ready to package up in an airtight container, or scoop into jars and gift to your favorite baker. It’s the easiest yet fanciest hostess gift you could possibly make.
Ways to use lavender sugar
Now that you’ve made your own fancy sugar, how should you use it? It turns out that lavender sugar is an excellent addition to all manner of things, especially for baking.
It adds a wonderful floral note to pastry, and I think it’s pretty perfect for anything involving strawberries, such as Strawberry Doughnuts or Strawberry Vanilla Jam.
A peek into The Flavor Bible (one of my favorite books!) tells us that lavender also pairs well with pistachios, plums, honey, lemon, peaches, and my beloved raspberries — or any berry, in fact. Lavender sugar could be really lovely incorporated into raspberry jam cookies, or swap the sugar and lavender buds in this lavender cookies recipe!
Sprinkle it on top of blueberry lavender cake in place of frosting or use when making lemon shortbread. Love a lavender latte? Make it iced and add a lavender sugar rim, or use it for a cocktail rim!
Also try your hand at lavender lemonade, perfect for summer.
Don’t forget about the simple simplicity of adding it to your tea, of course.
You’ll find all sorts of uses for this aromatic sugar!
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Lavender Sugar
Ingredients
- 1-2 tablespoons lavender buds
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Pour lavender and sugar into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until lavender is chopped and evenly distributed throughout sugar. For a finer blend, pulse more.
- Be careful removing the lid, as the sugar will be a bit dusty now.
- Scoop sugar into airtight containers (glass canning jars are perfect).
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate based on online calculators. Any nutritional information found on Stetted should be used as a general guideline only.
About Megan
I learned how to cook by exploring seasonal ingredients, and you can too! Meal time shouldn’t be stressful or complicated, and with fresh ingredients and easy methods, I’m here to help you enjoy the time spent in the kitchen. Read more…
I still have dreams of that lamb chop.
I love lavender shortbreads with tea – might have to add this to a weekend baking list.
Should this be made with fresh or dried lavender?
@Sylvia You should use dried lavender.
What if you didn’t pulse the buds before adding it in because I don’t have a good processor
Can you use spanish lavendar for this recipe?