Homemade hot honey is so easy to make with just 3 ingredients. This sweet and spicy "sauce" is great on a charcuterie board, drizzled on pizza, fried chicken, or anything your heart desires!
The Inspiration
I heard about the hot honey trend but never tried it until a few months ago when I tried a "Mike & Roni" pizza at Spizzico Italian Kitchen in Arnold, MD.
I loved the combination of sweet and spicy and wow, it was genius to put it on pizza.
You're going to want to keep a jar of hot honey on hand at all times!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It only has 3 ingredients!
- It requires minimal prep and cooking.
- It's adaptable to your taste.
Ingredients
Substitutions
- Rice vinegar- apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or regular vinegar will work.
- Chili flakes- use your favorite dried chili peppers. Try Szechuan, Thai, chili de arbol, or even guajillo peppers for a smoky flavor. Some peppers may be hotter than others.
How to Make Hot Honey
- Simmer the honey, chili flakes, and rice vinegar for 5 minutes then turn off the heat.
- Let the honey infuse for at least 20 minutes. Transfer to an airtight glass jar.
You can strain the chili flakes through a fine mesh sieve but I like leaving the chilis in for texture and color.
It's easier to strain while it's hot, because the honey will thicken as it cools.
Just note the honey will get spicier over time if you leave the chili flakes in!
You can even strain half of it to have the best of both worlds.
Slow Infusion Method
Heat can reduce the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant levels of honey. If you are concerned about maintaining the health benefits of the honey, try the slow infusion method.
Mix honey, red pepper flakes, and rice vinegar in a sealed jar and let it sit for at least one week, stirring occasionally. The longer it sits the spicier it will be.
Tasty Tips
- Add a little sriracha, cholula, or tabasco for color and flavor.
- Share with friends and family! Hot honey jars make a great gift for the holidays or favors for parties.
FAQs
Hot honey goes well with roasted vegetables, cheese like a baked brie, cornbread, dressings, fried chicken and many more things. Whenever you feel like some sweet heat, drizzle that hot honey on!
I like to store mine in the fridge for up to a month and take it out a few hours before using to let it come to room temperature.
Recipes You Can Drizzle Hot Honey On
- Million Dollar Candied Bacon
- Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Purple Cauliflower
- Fried Green Tomatoes
- Maple Soy Brussels Sprouts
How to Make Hot Honey
Ingredients
- 1 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
Instructions
- In a saucepan on low heat, bring honey, red pepper flakes, and rice vinegar to a simmer for 5 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and let the honey infuse for 20 minutes. Transfer to an airtight glass jar.
Notes
- You can strain the chili flakes through a fine mesh sieve if desired. The honey will get spicier over time if you leave them in.
- Apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or regular vinegar can be substituted.
- Heat can reduce the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant levels of honey. If you are concerned about maintaining the health benefits of the honey, try the slow infusion method. Mix honey and red pepper flakes in a sealed jar and let it sit for at least one week, stirring occasionally. The longer it sits the spicier it will be.
Melissa says
Love this recipe. I put it on pizzas, breaded chicken/pork chops.