Scented sugars are so easy to create and are just wonderful. They are also perfect gifts.

To make your own scented sugars, you’ll need some clean, dry jars with good seals, cheesecloth, lots of granulated sugar (and other sugars, if you’d like), and a good variety of herbs, spices, and flowers (always choose fresh herbs and flowers that you DO NOT use). have been sprayed with chemicals).

Try the following combinations, then experiment to create your own variety of scented sugar.

NOTE: Herbs and spices will begin to flavor the sugars in about 3 days, but let them sit in the jars, undisturbed, in a cool, dry place, out of direct sunlight, for about 2 weeks for maximum flavor. taste.

LAVENDER SUGAR

Put 2 tablespoons of dried lavender in a piece of cheesecloth and tie it closed. Place cheesecloth in a jar and add 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Close the jar lid tightly.

VANILLA SUGAR

Split a whole vanilla bean and place it in a clean, dry jar. Bury the bean in granulated or icing sugar. Close the jar lid tightly.

GINGER SUGAR

Mix 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger with 1/2 cup of granulated sugar in a clean, dry jar. Close the jar lid tightly.

STAR ANISE SUGAR

To create this licorice-flavored sugar, put 8 whole star anise and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a clean, dry jar and mix together. Close the jar lid tightly.

Clove sugar

Combine 10 whole cloves with 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a clean, dry jar. Close the jar lid tightly.

CITRUS SUGAR

Use a vegetable peeler to remove long strips of peel (the outer skin) from a large orange, 2 medium lemons, or 4 medium limes. Put the zest in a clean, dry jar and bury it with granulated sugar. Close the jar lid tightly.

MINT SUGAR

Wash and thoroughly dry some fresh mint leaves (use your favorite variety of mint: spearmint, peppermint, chocolate mint, etc.) Put some granulated sugar in the bottom of the jar, then add a layer of mint leaves, then another layer of sugar. Keep layering the mint leaves and sugar until the jar is full. Close the jar lid tightly.

AROMATIC GERANIUM SUGAR

Wash and thoroughly dry some scented geranium leaves (rose, lemon, orange, pineapple, or chocolate scented geraniums, etc., not regular geraniums). Put some granulated sugar in the bottom of the jar, then add a layer of scented geranium leaves, then another layer of sugar. Keep layering the scented geranium leaves and sugar until the jar is full. Close the jar lid tightly.

TO USE THE FLAVOR SUGARS:

Sprinkle any variety of scented sugar over hot or cold fruit or cereal.

Use scented sugar instead of regular sugar in a sugar cookie recipe, or in any cake, cookie, or custard recipe that calls for granulated sugar.

Add citrus sugar to hot or iced tea.

Try a little vanilla sugar in your coffee, or mix it with cinnamon powder and use it for cinnamon toast or French toast.

Add mint sugar to tea or lemonade.

Use scented icing sugar when making frostings for cakes and brownies.

Final Note: Once the herbs, spices, or flowers have flavored the sugar, remove them from the jars if you are using the sugar jars as gifts.