Rosemary Salt and Rosemary Sugar: Two Easy Infusions
Two simple pantry infusions - rosemary salt and rosemary sugar - that stretch a small herb harvest into a long-lasting staple and a good homemade gift.
Infusing rosemary into salt or sugar is one of the simplest ways to stretch a small amount of fresh herb into a pantry staple that lasts for months, and both make good homemade gifts with almost no effort involved.
Rosemary Salt
Prep time: 5 minutes, plus drying | Makes: about 1 cup
Ingredients
- 1 cup coarse sea salt or kosher salt
- 3 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
Instructions
- Combine the salt and chopped rosemary in a bowl and mix thoroughly, rubbing the rosemary between your fingers as you mix to help release its oils into the salt.
- Spread the mixture on a baking sheet in a thin, even layer and let it air dry at room temperature for 24 to 48 hours, stirring occasionally, until the rosemary is fully dried and no longer feels damp.
- Alternatively, dry it faster in an oven set to its lowest temperature (under 180°F/82°C) with the door propped open, checking every 15 minutes until dry, about 30 to 45 minutes total.
- Once fully dry, transfer to an airtight jar. It keeps well for several months at room temperature.
Rosemary Sugar
Prep time: 5 minutes, plus infusing | Makes: about 1 cup
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Layer the sugar and rosemary sprigs in a clean, airtight jar, burying the sprigs in the sugar.
- Seal and let it sit at room temperature for at least a week, shaking the jar occasionally, to let the sugar absorb the rosemary's aroma.
- Remove the rosemary sprigs before using. The sugar can stay in the jar indefinitely at this point, since the moisture content of dry sugar doesn't support spoilage the way a wet infusion would.
How to Use Rosemary Salt
- Finishing salt on roasted meats, vegetables, or focaccia right before serving
- Rimming a savory cocktail glass, like a rosemary-forward gin drink
- Seasoning popcorn for a more grown-up snack
- Sprinkled over a simple fried or soft-boiled egg
How to Use Rosemary Sugar
- Sweetening tea or coffee for a subtle herbal note
- Rimming the glass on a rosemary cocktail (paired well with the rosemary simple syrup)
- Sprinkled over the top of shortbread or other simple butter cookies before baking, similar in spirit to our rosemary shortbread
- Mixed into a simple fruit salad, particularly with citrus or berries
Why These Work as Gifts
Both infusions look attractive in a small jar, cost very little to make, and last for months, which makes them a good low-effort homemade gift for people who cook or bake. A small handwritten label with a use suggestion or two goes a long way toward making a jar of rosemary salt feel like a thoughtful gift rather than a plain pantry staple.
These are two of the simplest possible ways to get more mileage out of a rosemary harvest. For more, see the complete rosemary guide.
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