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Home » Recipes

Hot Honey Recipe

By: D. Durand Worthey  »  Updated: April 7, 2023  »   View our disclosure policy

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Our Hot Honey Recipe is almost addictive; it has sweet, savory, and spicy flavors. 

With six ingredients, we are going to make a flavor bomb you might be able to get enough of.

It’s true, our hot honey has a lot of competing flavors, yet they compliment each other perfectly.

 

a jar of hot honey made with red pepper flake.

Hot Honey Recipe

The origin story of hot honey is murky; some claim it’s a sweet and spicy condiment created in Brazil; all I know is it’s so good!

hot honey in a glass jar with a ribbed brass honey dipper.

What You Need To Make Our Hot Honey Recipe:

Honey. Hot honey’s base is honey. There are several options when it comes to what type of honey to use. I recommend using local honey, but if you want to up your cheese board, use honey that pairs well with the types of cheeses you love. Aged cheeses pair well with buckwheat or chestnut honey, while floral varieties like lavender and wildflower honey work well drizzled on brie or goat cheese. 

Red Pepper Flakes & Hot Sauce. You can’t have hot honey without bringing the heat, and for this recipe, we are using a heaping tablespoon of dried red pepper flakes. But when it comes to adding heat, you have options. The following  peppers are worth exploring:

  • Aleppo peppers—these Syrian peppers have fruity cumin-like flavors, which add a nice complexity to your hot honey. 
  • Ancho peppers—when dried and ground, ancho peppers possess a sweet, smoky, flavor profile with notes of plum and raisin.  
  • Chipotle peppers—these dried and smoked jalapeno peppers, add their characteristic classic chipotle flavor that is earthy with a bit of subtle heat. 
  • Urfa biber—this dried Turkish chili pepper is best described as smokey, sweet, and salty with sour notes. 

Sweet Paprika. This is one of my favorite seasonings, and its sweet smokey taste profile works insanely well in this hot honey recipe. 

Hot Sauce. Adding a splash or two, maybe three, of your favorite hot sauce to your hot honey is a great way to add the right amount of heat. Add as much or as little as you need to achieve hot honey perfection.   

Vinegar. When making hot honey, I love adding a bit of vinegar to help balance the sweetness with a little acidity. I recommend apple cider vinegar, but you can also use red wine or balsamic vinegar.  

Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Most hot honey recipes do not include olive oil, but this is a game-changer in my books. I recommend trying it and tasting it for yourself. 

a glass measuring cup with honey and red pepper flakes.

Hot Honey Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of honey, local organic honey works well
  • 1 tsp chili powder or sweet paprika; I’m fancy, so I used ground ancho chili powder
  • 1-2 tbsp of your favorite hot sauce
  • 1-2 tbsp of crushed red pepper flakes; I used one tablespoon; add as much or little as you prefer
  • 2 tbsp of red wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp of good olive oil, optional

a honey bear container being poured into a measuring cup.

Directions:

  1. Add honey, chili powder, hot sauce, crushed red pepper flakes, vinegar, and olive oil into a canning jar.
  2. Place a pan over medium-high heat, place the jar into the center of the pot, and add a few cups of water.
  3. When the water begins to simmer, continue heating the contents for a few minutes, do not allow the water to come to a high boil, as it will ruin the beneficial qualities of the honey. 
  4. Remove the jar from the water bath and allow it to cool; the hot honey will last six (6) months.

a bagel topped with a fried egg with a drizzle of hot honey on top.

Hot honey is versatile, and you will love it on many of your favorite foods.

I love it on eggs, pizza, and grilled meats like lamb chops and baby back ribs.

And it is perfect on our jerk chicken wings. 

Jerk chicken wings with hot honey on a wire rack.

Do I need to refrigerate homemade hot honey?

Honey is a natural preservative, hot honey is best stored at room temperature in a tightly sealed container. 

Should hot honey come to a boil when making it?

When making hot honey, allow the mixture to come to a simmer for a minute or two; boiling it will ruin the essential enzymes and nutrients in the honey.

How long will homemade hot honey last?

Properly stored hot honey will last up to six (6) months. 

Hot honey stored in a glass jar with a spoon.

 

Hot Honey recipe in mason jar with gold spoon

Hot Honey Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Servings: 0
Author: This Worthey Life
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup of honey local organic honey works well
  • 1 tsp chili powder or sweet paprika; I'm fancy so I used ground ancho chili powder
  • 1-2 tbsp of your favorite hot sauce
  • 1-2 tbsp of crushed red pepper flakes; I used one tablespoon; add as much or little as you prefer
  • 2 tbsp of red wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp of good olive oil optional

Instructions

  • Add honey, chili powder, hot sauce, crushed red pepper flakes, vinegar, and olive oil into a canning jar.
    Place a pan over medium-high heat, place the jar into the center of the pot, and add a few cups of water.
    When the water begins to simmer, continue heating the contents for a few minutes, do not allow the water to come to a high boil, as it will ruin the beneficial qualities of the honey. 
    Remove the jar from the water bath and allow it to cool; the hot honey will last six (6) months.
Tried this recipe?Mention @thiswortheylife or tag #thiswortheylife!
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