When you think of infusing sugar you usually don’t think of using ginger, but you should, because infused ginger sugar adds the perfect touch to teas, cookies, lemonade… and that’s just for starters.
You can make ginger sugar three different ways: by adding ground ginger to sugar, by adding candied ginger, or by adding fresh ginger. So let’s do all three…..
First a word about the difference between crystallized and candied ginger…..
The words crystallized and candied are used interchangeably by the commercial food industry. So really you need to examine the type of ginger to determine what you have. Crystallized ginger is dried ginger that has been sprinkled with sugar. Crystallized ginger is too hard to make infused sugar with so I do not recommend using it. Candied ginger has been cooked in a sugar syrup over a period of time so that all the water in the cells has been replaced with sugar. Candied ginger is usually gummy and may or may not be sprinkled with sugar. Learn how to make your own candied ginger in our dehydrating eCourse.
How To Make Ginger Infused Sugar
Ginger Infused Sugar With Candied Ginger
You will need
- 2 cup (1 pint) Mason jar
- ¼ to ½ cup candied ginger
- 1 ½ cup organic sugar
Cut candied ginger into ¼ inch pieces. Use ¼ cup candied ginger for a mild taste, or add up to ½ cup ginger for a stronger taste.
Add sugar and ginger to the Mason jar in layers.
When the jar is full, place the top on and give it a good shake.
Set aside for 2 to 3 weeks, giving it a shake every now and again. After your sugar has infused for a few weeks you can strain it to remove the candied ginger pieces if desired.
Ginger Infused Sugar With Ground Dried Ginger
You will need
- 1 cup (1/2 pint) Mason jar
- 4 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 cup organic sugar
Place all ingredients in a high powered blender or food processor. Blend for 30 to 45 seconds. Learn how to make homemade ground ginger in our dehydrating eCourse.
Place mixture in a ½ pint Mason jar and enjoy.
Ginger Infused Sugar With Fresh Ginger
You will need
- 2 cup (1 pint) Mason jar
- 1 inch of ginger (1 tablespoon grated)
- 2 cups organic sugar
Place ginger in a food processor to grate.
Pulse until ginger is grated. Add 2 cups of sugar and pulse for 45 seconds.
Spread onto a baking sheet to dry overnight.
Sugar will break apart into sheets.
Place in plastic bag to separate the crystals with your hands or place back into food processor and pulse for 10 seconds.
Place the mixture into a Mason jar.
Enjoy ginger infused sugar in any dish or drink that you need to sweeten, or that would be accented with a ginger flavor. Some ideas include sprinkling over a fruit salad, mixing in your gingerbread dough, sprinkling on top of berry cobbler, or making gingersnap cookies a little extra snappy by adding infused ginger sugar to the dough.
Have you used ginger infused sugar for anything special? Tell us about it below.
