Hot Honey Recipe | How to Make Hot Honey for Best Recipes
7 mins read

Hot Honey Recipe | How to Make Hot Honey for Best Recipes

HOW TO MAKE HOT HONEY Recipe

Hot Honey Recipe – The full detailed recipe for how to make hot honey is included in the recipe at the bottom of this page, but here is the basic overview (with a few optional variations):

  • Bring the honey and hot peppers to a simmer. I usually just do this on the stove in either a saucepan or sauté pan, but you’re welcome to heat the mixture in a measuring cup in the microwave if you prefer.
  • Let it all infuse. Once the honey *just* reaches a simmer, remove it from the heat and let the mixture rest for 10-15 minutes so that the hot peppers can infuse the honey.


  • Give it a taste. Dip a clean spoon in the honey and give it a quick taste to test the heat level. If you want the honey to be spicier, you can either add in more hot peppers and/or let the honey continue to infuse for another 10 minutes. If you want the honey to be less spicy, add in some extra plain honey to dilute the mixture a bit.
  • Strain. At this point, I prefer to pour the honey through a fine mesh strainer into a clean jar to remove the hot peppers, which essentially halts the infusion so that you can control the level of heat. That said, many people prefer to leave the hot peppers in their jar of hot honey when storing it, which will likely increase the heat quite a bit. It’s up to you.
  • Use and enjoy. Then your homemade hot honey is ready to go! See below for all sorts of delicious ways that you can put it to use.

HOW TO MAKE HOT HONEY Recipe

WAYS TO USE HOT HONEY

Are you looking for some fun ideas for how to use hot honey? The options are endless, but here are a few of my faves:

  • PizzaI’m completely obsessed with adding a drizzle to any type of pizza, although I’m convinced it pairs especially well with pepperoni.
  • Biscuits and breads: Hot honey tastes divinely drizzled on a warm biscuit, a slice of cornbread, or French toast. But feel free to also drizzle it on any of your favorite breads.
  • VegetablesAdd a drizzle to your favorite grilled or roasted vegetables or stir-fry. It’s also fabulous with corn on the cob!


  • Meats, seafood and tofu: Hot honey chicken wings are a classic! Hot honey also tastes delicious drizzled on steak, pork, shrimp, sausage, bacon, fish, scallops, tofu, and any other favorite proteins.
  • Fried foods: Hot honey fried chicken (or fried fish) is another match made in heaven. It’s also fantastic for french fries and various other fried foods.
  • Charcuterie boards: Serve hot honey as a dipper with your next cheese board, or drizzle it atop a wheel of baked brie.
  • Vinaigrettes: Hot honey is a great way to sweeten your favorite salad dressing while adding in a touch of heat.
  • Desserts: Drizzle it over ice cream, brownies, cheesecakes and more.
  • Drinks and cocktails: Use hot honey as a spicy sweetener in your next cocktail (I especially love it in an old-fashioned, mojito, or gimlet) or stir it into your next hot cup of tea or hot toddy.


WHAT DO YOU EAT HOT HONEY WITH?

The lure of hot honey lies in its versatility. Here are just a few ways to incorporate this sweet heat into your meals:

  • Drizzle over fried chicken or pizza for a spicy-sweet kick.
  • Spoon some over Flaky Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits or Green Chile Cornbread.
  • Make a tasty glaze for Smoked Spiral Ham.
  • Add it to pork ribs before you wrap it in foil.


  • Mix into marinades or salad dressings for added depth of flavor.
  • Kick up the heat in the Sweet Honey Bourbon BBQ Sauce recipe.
  • Glaze roasted vegetables or grilled fruits for a twist.
  • Stir into cocktails for a flavor boost.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

For such a simple condiment, there’s a lot to love. My top 3 reasons I keep a jar of hot honey on hand at all times would have to be these:

  • QUICK AND EASY. With just 4 simple ingredients and minimal prep time, this recipe is a breeze to make and have ready as soon as the craving strikes.
  • YOU CHOOSE THE HEAT LEVEL. Are you more of a fire-breathing-dragon type or do you want just a hint of heat? Adjust the amount (and type!) of chili flakes to fit your tastes.
  • USE IT ON EVERYTHING. Hot honey is a versatile sauce that can be used on pizza, roasted vegetables, meats, sweets, and more. You’ll find a million recipes that can be made more delicious with just a drizzle.


FAQs about this Hot Honey Recipe

Why is hot honey so popular?

It adds a unique flavor to dishes that‘s both sweet and spicy! Hot sauce or honey alone wouldn’t elevate a dish the same way hot honey does!

Is hot honey really spicy?

It can be as spicy as you want when you make it at home! For my homemade version, most of the heat comes from the cayenne pepper. So if you use less, it won’t be as spicy!

How does hot honey taste? 

Hot honey starts off sweet and tapers off a bit with a kick on the tongue! It works beautifully with carbohydrates and protein!


What kind of cheese is good with hot honey?

Anything creamy like burrata, brie, mozzarella, or even goat cheese works beautifully.

What to have hot honey with?

 I love serving it with my pretzel chicken fingers. It’s also great on my homemade pizza, in my hot honey cranberry goat cheese balls, with blackened salmon and broccoli, and on my charcuterie boards.

What does Hot Honey taste like?

At first, it’s what you would expect. The sweetness of the honey hits your tastebuds first and, in this recipe, you get a subtle hint of garlic next. Last but not least you get a flash of back of the throat heat. It’s incredible.


Is hot honey vegan?

Hot honey is not vegan, but you can easily make this exact recipe with agave or maple syrup to still enjoy the spicy-sweet flavors.

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