Four Seasons Vanilla Sugar Food

VANILLA SUGAR

Steps:

• If vanilla bean is whole, slice down side of bean with back of knife and scrape seeds into airtight container with the sugar. Bury bean in sugar and seal tightly with lid. Let sit for 1 to 2 weeks. Use as regular, granulated sugar.

VANILLA SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the butter and sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined.
• Add the flour mixture in 2 batches, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Beat until the dough just comes together, being careful not to over mix.
• Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Place the ball of dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper and roll out to 1/4-inch thick. Keeping the dough in the parchment, transfer to a cookie sheet and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut out the cookies in the desired shapes and place on a half-sheet pan lined with parchment paper or an un-greased nonstick cookie sheet, at least 1-inch apart. Transfer to the freezer and chill for at least 15 minutes or until they are firm.
• Bake until the cookies are light golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Let cookies cool completely on the sheets before decorating.

FOUR SEASONS VANILLA SUGAR

Steps:

• Cut beans into one-inch lengths and combine with the superfine sugar in a food processor. Process, using a pulsing motion, until the beans are well chopped. The sugar will be coffee-colored. Transfer to an airtight jar and allow to sit for one week.
• Strain the sugar through a fine sieve, reserving the bean pieces to use in the same way again. The sugar will strain more easily if spread on a flat pan and dried in a turned-off oven or one with a pilot light for two or three hours. Do not let the temperature exceed about 100 degrees.
• Measure the strained sugar and combine with an equal amount of confectioners' sugar. Store in a tightly closed container and use in place of regular sugar whenever a strong vanilla flavor is desired. It is delicious with hot chocolate and on fresh fruits, crepes, waffles and french toast, as well as in baked goods.