Munstead Lavender Infused Sugar Recipe

To create fragrant lavender sugar, combine your favorite sugar with fresh or dried culinary lavender. For powdered sugar, dried lavender works best as it helps prevent moisture and clumping. Be sure to use edible Lavandula angustifolia, Munstead Lavender or you can also use English Lavender. Non-culinary lavenders can have a strong, camphorous flavor that may overpower the sugar.

What is Munstead Lavender

Munstead lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead') is a compact, hardy cultivar of English lavender known for its fragrant violet-blue blooms and silvery-green foliage. It grows about 12-18 inches tall and is valued for its sweet, calming scent, making it ideal for culinary uses like lavender sugar, teas, and baked goods. Munstead thrives in full sun, well-draining soil, and is drought-tolerant, suitable for USDA zones 5-9. Named after Gertrude Jekyll's Munstead Wood, it’s popular for its versatility in aromatherapy, home decor, and attracting pollinators, while requiring minimal maintenance.

Ingredients for Lavender Sugar

This recipe uses just two ingredients - sugar and either fresh or dried lavender buds. If you prefer using fresh lavender from the garden and decide to wash it first, that's no problem - just make sure to let it dry thoroughly on a paper towel before use. It should only take about a day, and the lavender will still be fresh and ready to use.

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 rounded tablespoon fresh lavender buds - or use
• 1 rounded teaspoon dried lavender buds

Dried lavender buds are generally more fragrant than fresh lavender. This is because drying concentrates the essential oils, intensifying the scent. Fresh lavender contains more moisture, which can dilute its fragrance, whereas dried buds have had the water content removed, leaving behind a more concentrated aroma. This is why dried lavender is often preferred for long-lasting scent in sachets, potpourri, and some culinary uses.

Instructions for Making Lavender Sugar

1. Add the lavender buds and sugar to a clean, dry glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
2. Seal the jar and shake well to combine.
3. Let it sit for at least 2-3 days to allow the lavender to infuse the sugar, shaking the jar occasionally.
4. Once infused, grind the lavender sugar in a coffee grinder, a little at a time, until well mixed.
5. Return the sugar to the jar and use as desired.

Lavender sugar will keep for six months or longer if stored properly - in a cool dark place like a pantry.

Uses for Lavender Sugar

Where to use lavender sugar:

• Baked goods like cookies, cupcakes and cheesecake. (you can see I like sweets)
• Sprinkle on top of fruit.
• Sprinkle on ice cream and use it in your homemade ice cream recipes.
• Enjoy it in tea such as: chamomile, peppermint, green tea, and chamomile.
• Dip the rim of a glass in the sugar - works lovely with cocktails.
• Sprinkle it over the honey spread on your toast.

What happens if my sugar gets hard:

• If your lavender sugar gets hard, make sure the jar has a tightly sealed lid. To soften the sugar, place the amount you need in a small dish, like a ramekin, and microwave it on low power for a few seconds.
• Lavender sugar can harden even in a tightly sealed container. If this happens, instead of using the microwave, you can easily break it up by pushing it through a strainer.

Either one of these will work if the lavender sugar hardens.

Thankfully, this recipe is foolproof! Enjoy this easy to make infused sugar recipe.

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