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Sweet, slightly savory and spicy, hot honey is the new "it girl." Drizzle it on anything from vegetables, to meats to even desserts for an added kick!
And the fact that it is sooooo easy to make in your own kitchen is just an added plus.
Seriously, this recipe takes like 10 minutes to make, and half of that is completely hands off. Then you have this amazing spicy, tangy, sweet deliciousness that you didn't have to pay a fortune for.
We are absolutely in love with this slathered on these air fryer biscuits with some salted butter (sooooo good guys).
Jump to:
What is Hot Honey?
We're not talking temperature hot here (although you can warm it when serving if you want).
Hot honey is basically honey that has been infused with chilies giving it a spicy flavor. The chilies can be of any variety, from less spicy to burn your ears off spicy. You can buy it, but it's ultra easy to make and much less expensive if you make it at home.
Why This Recipe Works
- Super simple ingredients make this recipe a pantry staple;
- It's easy to make only taking about 10 minutes so it's ready to use right away;
- You have the ability to adjust the heat depending on the type and amount of chili you use;
- It's shelf stable (as long as you use dried chilies) so it will keep in your pantry for months;
- It makes a great gift during the holiday season or for birthdays, etc;
- It's so versatile as it tastes great on meats, vegetables and desserts!
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Ingredients
The full list of ingredients and amounts is included in the recipe post at the bottom of the page.
I prefer to use local honey in this recipe but I understand not everyone has access to that. The boyfriends parents have bees so....
Any honey will work, but the higher quality honey you use, the better results you will have.
Dried chilies or dried chili flakes are used for this recipe, but you can use fresh as well. If you use fresh, you'll want to keep your honey refrigerated.
You can also use dried Thai chilies, Calabrian chilies, Aleppo pepper, or these Szechuan chili flakes. Be creative!
The apple cider vinegar is what adds the tang to the honey. Some people use hot sauce instead, but I prefer the vinegar.
Step By Step Instructions
Heat the honey and chili in a sauce pan over medium low heat until you start to see small bubbles forming.
Turn off the heat and stir in the apple cider vinegar.
Let it sit for 5 minutes then strain it into a glass jar. Now, you don't HAVE to strain it, some people like to leave the chilies in, but it will keep getting spicier the longer you leave chilies in.
Serve drizzled over sweet or savory dishes. I mean, how easy is that?
Expert Tips
- Don't let the honey boil or it will get too thick.
- If the honey start to crystallize, you can heat it in a warm water bath or just the microwave too.
- You can use other types of chilies - dried or fresh. If you use fresh, you need to store it in the fridge to keep the chilies from spoiling.
- If you want it to have a more savory quality, add ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt.
- Use hot sauce (like Louisiana hot sauce) in place of the vinegar if you prefer to add a little extra heat.
- Use lemon or lime juice in place of the vinegar if you want a slightly more citrusy quality.
How to Use Hot Honey
Like I said earlier, we LOVE it on biscuits, but you can also try it with these dishes:
- Cornbread!! Yes it's great on this air fryer cornbread, Instant Pot cornbread, or even this cornbread pudding!
- All the vegetables - My favorites are these:
- Also great on meats like these:
- Use it on pizza, cheese, or even breakfast sandwiches.
How to Store Hot Honey
If you used dried chilies, you can store it in the pantry pretty much indefinitely. Over time it will crystallize and this is totally normal.
If it does crystallize, just heat the jar in warm water or a quick 10-20 seconds in the microwave.
If you use fresh chilies, you need to store it in the fridge and use it within 10 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hot honey is mainly made from a combination of honey and dried chilies. In some cases, additional add-ins like vinegar, hot sauce, citrus juice or spices are added for extra flavor.
Homemade hot honey will stay good indefinitely if stored in a cool dry place in a sealed container, as long as it is made with dried chilies. If it is made with fresh chilies, it needs to be stored in the fridge and will keep for about 2 weeks.
It goes really well when drizzled on meats, vegetables, breads like cornbread or even garlic bread, and pizza. It also goes great with cheeses on a cheese board, or really anything else you would typically use honey for.
Recipe
Hot Honey
Ingredients
- 1 cup honey
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons chili flakes or 2 fresh Thai chilies
Instructions
- Heat the honey and chili in a sauce pan over medium low heat until you start to see small bubbles forming
- Turn off the heat and stir in the apple cider vinegar.
- Let it sit for 5 minutes then strain it into a glass jar.
- Serve drizzled over sweet or savory dishes.
Expert Tips:
- Don't let the honey boil or it will get too thick.
- If the honey start to crystallize, you can heat it in a warm water bath or just the microwave too.
- You can use other types of chilies - dried or fresh. If you use fresh, you need to store it in the fridge to keep the chilies from spoiling.
- If you want it to have a more savory quality, add ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt.
- Use hot sauce (like Louisiana hot sauce) in place of the vinegar if you prefer to add a little extra heat.
- Use lemon or lime juice in place of the vinegar if you want a slightly more citrusy quality.
Nutrition
jenny
So easy to make. I loved the spice and the tang. Awesome on sweet potatoes!
Danielle
So happy to hear it!