With this quick hot honey recipe, you’ll be able to drench all of your favorites in the homemade hot honey. Things like pizza, fried chicken, biscuits, roasted veggies, and cocktails will all benefit from a visit from your homemade hot honey. It’ll definitely become a must-have item in your refrigerator. Since you control the spice, you can make the recipe whatever heat level you want!
What is Hot Honey?
Well the answer is pretty simple. Hot honey is honey that has been spiced up using chili flake, hot sauce, or fresh chilis. Hot honey is sweet first followed by the chili building to a sweet, clean heat. This recipe will help you make the best hot honey by avoiding that burnt or bitter taste some recipes have.
Equipment
- Small Saucepan
- Spoon/Whisk
- Fine mesh Strainer (Optional)
- Heat-Safe Jar
If you like bowl-style dinners, you may also like this Barabacoa Recipe.
Ingredients Required
Honey (a nice neutral or raw honey works best)
Crushed red pepper
Quick Swap: Fresh Pepper – Jalapeno, or Serrano, or Habanero
Apple cider vinegar (Optional): Brightens honey
Salt (Optional): Makes the honey “pop”
For an even quicker recipe, just skip the infusion and add a little hot sauce. However, the infusion is much smoother.
Basic Infused Hot Honey Recipe
Yield
Approximately 1 cup (340 g).
Ingredients
- 1 cup (340 g) honey
- 1 to 2 tbsp crushed red pepper flakes (starting w/ 1 tbsp)
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (optional)
- Pinch of salt (optional)
Honey Infused Hot Honey Directions
Step 1: Heat honey
In a saucepan, warm honey and red pepper flakes with low heat for 3-5 mins.
(Note: honey degrades in flavor with a boil)
Step 2: Turn off the heat and infuse
After heating, take of the heat for 10-15 mins
Step 3: Add apple cider vinegar
Add a tiny pinch of salt and apple cider vinegar.
Step 4: The resting step (optional- for spicyness)
With this Hot Honey Infusion Recipe, rest with the flakes for spiciness, but take the flakes out for pleasantly sweet honey.
Heat Control Ingredients:
- Mild: 1 tsp pepper flakes
- Medium: 1 tbsp pepper flakes
- Hot: 2 tbsp pepper flakes
- Extra Hot: a few slices of fresh habanero (infuse briefly, then remove)
You add more spiciness, but you never take it back.
Ideas for your Hot Honey
- On Pizza (especially pepperoni)
- Fried Chicken or Chicken Tenders
- On Cornbread, Biscuits, or Toast
- On Roasted Vegetables like Carrots, Brussels Sprouts, or Sweet Potatoes
- On Charcuterie Boards (try drizzling it over Brie or goat cheese)
Hot Honey’s sweetness works well in a dressing or brews a spicy marinade.
Recipes & Variations
1) Garlic Hot Honey
While heating, add 1 smashed garlic clove and remove it before bottling. For best safety and flavor, store garlic-infused honey in the fridge and use it within 2 weeks.
2) Smoked Hot Honey
Add 1/2 a teaspoon of smoked paprika.
3) Hot Honey with Fresh Chiles
Use 1 sliced Jalapeno or Serrano instead of pepper flakes. Infuse for 10-20 minutes and then remove.
4) Lemon Hot Honey
Add 1/2 tsp of lemon zest after heating.
Storing Hot Honey
Store your Hot Honey in a sealed jar.
- Room temperature: up to 1 month (if just honey + pepper flakes)
- Keep in The Fridge: up to 3 months (especially with fresh chiles or garlic)
If your honey crystallizes, you can put it in a hot water bath.
It’s Too Spicy
The first thing to do is add more honey to dilute it a bit. Or, you can make a second batch that is a lot milder and combine it.
It tastes bitter
Most likely, you let the honey get too hot while cooking it. Next time, keep the heat lower and remove the jar from the stove sooner.
It isn’t spicy enough
If it isn’t spicy enough after a couple of days, simply add a few more flakes. Allow for a more extended infusion, or store the flakes in the jar to supplement the spicy flakes to the infusion.
It thickened too much
This is completely normal and expected. As honey cools, it thickens. They can drizzle it again after a slight warm-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use hot sauce instead of pepper flakes?
Yes. While, the smoother the heat, the more the infusion will be required for the hot honey recipe, and may be the best substitute, it will change the overall honey flavor and may create a more runny hot honey.
Is hot honey gluten-free?
Yes. As honey and pepper flakes are gluten-free, you should be fine. flavored seasonings.
Can I use this for cocktails?
Yes. Use a small spoon in drinks like margaritas or bourbon to add a sweet heat.
Conclusion
This hot honey recipe is fast, completely customizable, and incredibly useful. After the desired warmth and spice levels, it will be easily jarred for drizzling. Adding a sweet and spicy staple to the pantry will make the daily routine dishes exciting.
