Today’s recipe isn’t for a meal or a snack or even a dessert — it’s for something that can add some delicious flavor and heat to all of the above!
We’re sharing a recipe for Hot Honey, and we hope you’ll love this deliciously spicy take on the sweetness of honey as much as we do. It’s a super simple recipe that’s so easy to make.
Table of Contents
Why we love Hot Honey
We love this recipe because it combines the sweetness of honey with a strong kick from the peppers and sriracha! The heat cuts down on the sweetness, and simultaneously said sweetness mellows out the spiciness. It’s a perfect blend.
We love to eat Hot Honey on so many things — you can add it to a pizza if you want to go fancy, drizzle it over some cheese, serve it with fried feta rolls, or even put it on a breakfast sandwich. The options are nearly endless!
Health benefits of honey
Obviously one of the core ingredients of Hot Honey is…honey! And we love that, because honey is such a naturally good-for-you ingredient. In addition to being absolutely delicious, it also has several health benefits.
Honey is filled with vitamins, minerals, iron, zinc, and antioxidants, and can be used as an anti-inflammatory.
How to make Hot Honey
- In a small pot on medium heat add honey, red pepper flakes, salt and dried chili peppers.
- Stir ingredients together and bring in to a light simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low and continue to simmer to 2 minutes.
- Add the apple cider vinegar and mix together.
- Take off heat, stir, and set aside to cool.
- Store in an airtight container or mason jar.
How to store Hot Honey
Pour the honey into a mason jar and let cool. Once it’s no longer hot, you can seal it tightly. If sealed properly, Hot Honey will last for several months on the shelf, so you’re free to enjoy it as long as you can!
Common Questions about Hot Honey
Hot honey is so versatile – it’s amazing drizzled on pizza (especially pepperoni), fried chicken, biscuits, cornbread, and roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts or sweet potatoes. It works magic on cheese boards paired with sharp cheeses, transforms vanilla ice cream into a sweet-heat dessert experience, and makes an incredible glaze for salmon or chicken wings! I’ve even added it to cocktails for a spicy-sweet kick that gets everyone asking for the recipe.
The spice level in hot honey varies dramatically depending on who makes it! Commercial brands usually offer different heat levels from mild to extra hot, while homemade versions can be customized exactly to your preference. Most hot honeys provide a pleasant warming sensation rather than overwhelming heat – the sweetness of the honey actually balances and tames the chili peppers so you get that satisfying spicy experience without the burn lingering too long.
Hot honey carries many of the same potential benefits as regular honey – it contains antioxidants and has antimicrobial properties. The capsaicin in hot peppers might provide additional benefits like boosting metabolism and reducing inflammation. That said, it’s still primarily sugar, so moderation is key! The good news is that a little goes a long way flavor-wise, so you can enjoy its amazing taste while using relatively small amounts.
Hot honey works surprisingly well in many baked goods! It adds amazing complexity to cornbread, biscuits, and savory muffins. For cookies and cakes, use it in recipes that already have complementary spices like ginger or cinnamon – hot honey ginger cookies are absolutely mind-blowing! Just remember that the heat will mellow somewhat during baking, so you might want to use a spicier honey than you would for drizzling.
Hot Honey Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic raw honey
- 2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
- 5 dried chili peppers
- 1/8 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- In a small pot on medium heat add honey, red pepper flakes, salt and dried chili peppers.
- Stir ingredients together and bring in to a light simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low and continue to simmer to 2 minutes.
- Add the apple cider vinegar and mix together.
- Take off heat, stir, and set aside to cool.
- Store in an air tight container or mason jar.
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Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
