Homemade hot honey is one of the newer hot sauces in town. This tasty condiment is made with fresh or dried chilies and sweet honey and tastes delicious drizzled over all sorts of food. It’s become a staple at my house and really kicks up the flavor of things!
What is Hot Honey Made of?
The simple answer is honey and hot peppers. You can use raw or regular honey here since it’s going to be cooked. Local honey if you can find it is always a good option. For the sweet heat, I use cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes. If you want less of a kick, then you can sub ground chili peppers for the red pepper flakes.
Some recipes call for fresh chile peppers but most use dried chiles. Other fresh pepper options include jalapenos and habanero peppers (if you really like it spicy!).
The popular grocery store brand Mike’s hot honey adds vinegar for some more tang. If you want to make a DIY version of Mike’s then you could add a little bit of apple cider vinegar to the mix. The flavors are similar to my fire cider recipe.
What Do You Use Hot Honey For?
The better question is what can’t you use it for? Since it’s both sweet and spicy, homemade hot honey goes with a variety of foods. Both savory and sweet. My favorite ways to eat it are over chicken, burgers, stir-fries, or poke bowls.
Here are some more ideas for what to drizzle it on.
- Ice cream (vanilla or chocolate)
- Cooked veggies
- Brussel sprouts
- Roasted vegetables
- Cornbread
- Baked brie or feta cheese
- Chicken wings
- Chicken and waffles
- Fried Chicken
- Pizza
You can also use it along with the drizzle of olive oil for salad dressing. Hot honey makes a great addition to charcuterie boards too. Or mix it in some hot water with a little lemon for a throat soothing hot toddy.
Is Hot Honey Gluten Free?
Hot honey is naturally gluten, dairy, soy, grain, and egg-free. But if the hot honey is used on something that’s not gluten-free (like a Brooklyn-style pepperoni pizza), then that’s another story. Thankfully there are plenty of delicious ways to use it, whatever your dietary needs!
How to Store
So, does hot honey need to be refrigerated? Since honey basically lasts forever (archaeologists found some in King Tut’s tomb that was still good), it doesn’t need refrigerated. It stores best at room temperature since the colder temps can cause it to crystallize faster. If the honey does start to harden, simply place the glass jar in hot water to soften.
Hot honey made with fresh peppers instead of dried ones might not last as long though.
Easy Hot Honey Recipe
Servings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup honey
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes (or chili powder for less heat)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring to a boil and immediately remove from the heat.
- Let steep for one hour.
- Store in a glass jar at room temperature.
Nutrition
Notes
- This hot honey is pretty hot. If you only like a moderate spice level, halve the cayenne pepper to start, adding more later if you think you need it.
- Great drizzled on chicken, burgers, stir fry, poke bowls, and pizza.
More Recipe Ideas
Here are some more recipes to try hot honey on:
- Savory Korean beef and rice bowls
- Chicken pad Thai with veggie noodle option
- Steak fajita salad
- Stuffed acorn squash boats
- Sheet pan chicken fajitas
- Spinach artichoke chicken salad
What are your favorite foods to eat with hot honey? What do you plan to try with it first? Leave a comment and let me know!
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