This DIY Starbucks vanilla bean powder can be made at home with just 2 ingredients: sugar and vanilla bean caviar!
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Here is why this recipe is amazing:
- 2 ingredients and you have can make all the copycat Starbucks vanilla based drinks you want!
- Scale this recipe up or down to suit how much you and your family will use.
- Make in big batches to give as holiday gifts.
Ingredients needed to make vanilla bean powder:
- Vanilla beans – scraped
- Powdered sugar
Where do you buy vanilla beans in bulk?
Vanilla beans are very pricey when you purchase them in the grocery store. Be prepared to pay $10-$20 PER BEAN when you are looking to purchase them at the grocery store.
But with so many things, there is power of pooling resources and buying in bulk. I found a Facebook group that is a co-op that and the organizer for buying responsibly sourced vanilla beans. The group is Vanilla Bean Co-Op. There are questions to answer before you are allowed into the group.
Read through all the files, all the instructions and learn before you put in an order. You are able to purchase vanilla beans by the ounce, not by the each. Keep in mind different beans from different regions of the world will have different flavor notes, length, width and moisture content. The admins of the group will tell you all about each bean before you purchase them.
To make my recipe of vanilla bean paste you are going to need 4 ounces of vanilla beans. But order as many as you want. This recipe can easily be scaled up.
How to make Starbucks vanilla bean powder, copycat recipe:
- Measure out powdered sugar and place in a blender.
- Cut and scrape out the caviar of 2 vanilla beans, dropping the vanilla bean caviar on top of the powdered sugar.
- Close the blender and pulse on low for 30 seconds or until completely combined.
Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:
Finely ground vanilla beans is also called vanilla powder because it is a single ingredient product. Vanilla bean powder is a two-ingredient product and will dissolve differently than vanilla powder. Vanilla bean powder is sweetened and vanilla powder is just vanilla beans
Save the scraped vanilla bean pods and add them to any vanilla extract that you may be making.
When making vanilla bean powder use powdered sugar so that it can easily dissolve in cold drinks. Granular sugar can be used but you will need to pulse it longer in the blender and it still not dissolve completely in cold drinks.
Additionally, the small percentage of corn starch that is found in commercial powdered sugar will help keep this sugar from clumping.
Keep the vanilla bean powder stored in a closed container, away from moisture and heat. A zip top bag or other air tight container will work well.
When the recipe calls for a ‘scoop’ it means 1 teaspoon of powder.
Vanilla Bean Powder (Starbucks Copy Cat)
Ingredients
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 vanilla beans scraped
Instructions
- Measure out powdered sugar and place in a blender, powdered sugar and vanilla beans in a blender.
- Cut and scrape out the caviar of 2 vanilla beans, dropping the vanilla bean caviar on top of the powdered sugar.
- Close the blender and pulse on low for 30 seconds or until completely combined.
Notes
Nutrition
Sarah Mock
CEO/Owner/Founder/Culinary Blogger
Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 12 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.
Linda says
What an awesome DIY recipe! Now I can skip going to Starbucks and make my own coffee at home.