Hot honey is the quintessential sweet and spicy drizzle that can take pizza, chicken biscuit, roasted veggies, and so much more to the next level. This easy hot honey recipe uses simple pantry staples and comes together in just 30 minutes, making it the perfect homemade condiment to keep on hand. Once you learn how to make hot honey at home, you’ll never need to buy an expensive bottle from the grocery store again.
Why You’ll Love This Hot Honey Recipe
You’ll love this hot honey recipe because it’s incredibly versatile, easy to make, and a flavorful condiment to always have on hand. Whenever I want to jazz up a charcuterie board or add a sweet and spicy spin to a pan of freshly roasted vegetables, I make a quick jar of homemade hot honey.
This simple recipe pairs beautifully with everything from crispy chicken and pizza to barbecue meats, savory biscuits, sandwiches, and even freshly roasted vegetables. This homemade hot honey recipe brings the perfect balance of sweet heat to everything you drizzle it on. I love making my own because it’s more affordable than store-bought versions, contains simple ingredients with no unnecessary additives, and lets you customize the sweetness and spice level to suit your taste.
Although it is made with pantry staples like honey, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and crushed red pepper flakes, this hot honey comes together in just 30 minutes. Just warm the ingredients over low heat, let the flavors infuse, and you’ll have a delicious homemade hot honey ready to drizzle on just about anything.
Hot Honey Ingredients
Less is more, and this easy hot honey recipe comes together with just four simple pantry staples. There’s a good chance you already have everything you need, so you can make a fresh batch of homemade hot honey today. Now let’s get into it!
Honey– Obviously, this is the most important ingredient! I like to purchase local honey from my town’s farmers’ market. Purchasing local honey helps to support the local economy. Using locally sourced honey is also said to build immunity and desensitize the body to local allergens and illnesses. Commercial honey is highly processed and often contains additives, unlike local honey.
Red Pepper Flakes– Spice is the second most important ingredient. Red pepper flakes are dried and crushed chili pepper, usually cayenne. Be sure to grab a batch that is fresh nd still packed with flavor.
Apple Cider Vinegar– This is such an underrated ingredient. Its pungent flavor and smell meld perfectly with this hot honey recipe. It balances the sweetness and gives the finished hot honey a more complex flavor.
Sea Salt– Just a sprinkle is all you need! I always use kosher salt because it isn’t processed with harsh metal, therefore it doesn’t alter the flavor. Sea salt enhances both the sweetness of the honey and the warmth of the pepper flakes, bringing all the flavors together.
How to Make Hot Honey
Despite its bold, sweet, and spicy flavor, this homemade hot honey recipe couldn’t be easier to make. There are no complicated techniques or fancy equipment required; just a saucepan, a few pantry staples, and about 30 minutes of your time. Once you learn how to make hot honey at home, you’ll always have an easy way to elevate everything from pizza and fried chicken to biscuits and a charcuterie board.
Add the honey, crushed red pepper flakes, apple cider vinegar, and sea salt to a medium saucepan.
Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and warm the mixture for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not let the honey come to a boil. If it begins to bubble, immediately reduce the heat. The goal is to gently infuse the honey with the spicy flavor of the pepper flakes without scorching the honey.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the hot honey sit for about 10 minutes. This extra resting time allows the crushed red pepper flakes to continue infusing the honey, creating an even richer, sweet, and spicy flavor.
Pour the hot honey into a clean glass jar. You can serve it warm right away or let it cool completely before storing it for later. Drizzle it over pizza, fried chicken, biscuits, roasted vegetables, or any of your favorite sweet-and-savory dishes.
Ways to Use Hot Honey
One of the best things about homemade hot honey is just how versatile it is. Hot honey’s perfect balance of sweet and spicy brings out the crunchy, salty, or sweet flavor in any dish. The perfect balance of sweet and spicy makes it an easy finishing touch for both savory and sweet dishes. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:
Pizza: Drizzle hot honey over pepperoni, sausage, veggie, or cheese pizza just before serving for the perfect sweet and spicy finish.
Fried Chicken: Spoon it over crispy fried chicken or chicken tenders to balance the savory crunch with a touch of sweetness
Chicken Biscuits: Add a generous spread to a crispy chicken biscuit for an easy breakfast upgrade.
Chicken Wings: Toss freshly cooked wings in hot honey or drizzle it over your favorite dry-rub wings before serving.
Barbecue Meats: Brush hot honey over grilled chicken, ribs, pork chops, or smoked sausage during the last few minutes of cooking for a flavorful glaze.
Roasted Vegetables: Drizzle over roasted Brussels sprouts, carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, or cauliflower for an irresistible sweet heat.
Biscuits: Replace regular honey or butter with hot honey for an extra burst of flavor.
Charcuterie Boards: Pair hot honey with sharp cheddar, goat cheese, brie, blue cheese, crackers, nuts, fresh fruit, and cured meats. This is my favorite way to incorporate hot honey.
Sandwiches and Burgers: Add a drizzle to chicken sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, burgers, or wraps for a sweet and spicy kick.
Avocado Toast: Finish your avocado toast with a drizzle of hot honey and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
Salmon: Brush hot honey over baked salmon during the last few minutes of cooking to create a beautifully caramelized glaze.
Ice Cream: Pour a little over vanilla ice cream for a surprisingly delicious sweet-and-spicy dessert.
Chicken and Waffles: Swap maple syrup for hot honey when you’re craving something a little different.
Variations
This recipe is super easy to customize and really make your own! Here are a few ideas!
Extra Spicy Hot Honey
Love the heat? Double the amount of crushed red pepper flakes, or let the honey steep for an additional 10 to 15 minutes after removing it from the heat. Steeping means allowing the pepper flakes to remain in the warm honey so they have more time to infuse their spicy flavor. Once the honey reaches your desired heat level, strain out the pepper flakes if you prefer a smooth hot honey, or leave them in for an even spicier flavor over time.
Mild Hot Honey
For a gentler sweet-and-spicy flavor, reduce the amount of red pepper flakes or strain the honey after just a few minutes of steeping.
Garlic Hot Honey
For a savory twist, add one lightly crushed garlic clove to the saucepan along with the honey, red pepper flakes, apple cider vinegar, and sea salt. Allow the garlic to warm with the honey for the full 15 minutes, then remove the saucepan from the heat and let everything infuse together for another 10 minutes. Before transferring the hot honey to a jar, remove and discard the garlic clove. Because fresh garlic can introduce moisture and create storage issues, it’s best to remove the garlic before storing it rather than leaving it in the jar. The result is a subtle garlic flavor that pairs especially well with pizza, fried chicken, roasted vegetables, and sandwiches.
Smoky Hot Honey
Stir in a pinch of smoked paprika or use a combination of crushed red pepper flakes and chipotle flakes for a smoky twist.
Citrus Hot Honey
Add a strip of fresh orange or lemon peel while the honey cooks for a bright citrus flavor that pairs wonderfully with seafood and roasted vegetables.
Storage Instructions
Allow the hot honey to cool completely before transferring it to a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight for up to 3 months. If your honey begins to crystallize, place the jar in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes until it becomes smooth again. Avoid microwaving or boiling the honey, as high heat can affect its flavor.
FAQs
Is hot honey spicy?
Hot honey has a mild to medium heat level. The sweetness of the honey balances the crushed red pepper flakes, creating a flavorful kick rather than an overwhelming burn. You can easily adjust the spice level by using more or fewer pepper flakes.
What is hot honey made of?
This homemade hot honey is made with just four simple ingredients: honey, crushed red pepper flakes, apple cider vinegar, and sea salt.
How long does homemade hot honey last?
When stored properly in a sealed jar at room temperature, homemade hot honey will stay fresh for up to 3 months.
Do I have to strain the pepper flakes?
No. Leaving the pepper flakes in the honey allows the flavor to continue developing over time. If you prefer a smooth drizzle, simply strain them out before storing.
What can I drizzle hot honey on?
Hot honey is delicious on pizza, fried chicken, chicken biscuits, wings, roasted vegetables, salmon, biscuits, charcuterie boards, sandwiches, burgers, and even vanilla ice cream.
Can I use fresh peppers instead of crushed red pepper flakes?
Yes! Fresh jalapeños, serrano peppers, or Fresno chiles can all be used to infuse honey with heat. Just slice them thinly, warm them with the honey, and strain them out before storing.
Why didn’t my hot honey get spicy enough?
The longer the pepper flakes steep, the more heat they’ll release into the honey. You can also increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to create a spicier homemade hot honey.
Closing
If you loved this homemade hot honey recipe, don’t stop there, y’all! Homemade condiments are one of the easiest ways to elevate everyday meals with fresh, simple ingredients and bold flavor. It is also a great way to showcase your culinary skills to family and friends.
Looking for more delicious ways to dress up your favorite dishes? Try my Homemade Southern BBQ Saucefor smoky, tangy barbecue favorites, Lemon Dijon Honey Vinaigrette for bright, fresh salads and grain bowls, or pair this hot honey with my Cajun Salmon Recipe for an easy dinner that’s packed with sweet heat and Louisiana-inspired flavor.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating to let me know how you used your homemade hot honey. Did you drizzle it on pizza, fried chicken, biscuits, or discover a new favorite? Happy cooking!
This easy hot honey recipe is made with honey, crushed red pepper flakes, apple cider vinegar, and sea salt for the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s delicious drizzled over pizza, fried chicken, biscuits, roasted vegetables, sandwiches, and more.
Combine the ingredients. Add the honey, crushed red pepper flakes, apple cider vinegar, and sea salt to a medium saucepan and stir to combine.
Warm the honey. Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not allow the honey to come to a boil. If it begins to bubble, immediately reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer.
Let the flavors infuse. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the hot honey rest for 10 minutes. This allows the red pepper flakes to continue infusing the honey with their sweet and spicy flavor.
Store or serve. Carefully pour the hot honey into a clean glass jar. Serve warm immediately, or allow it to cool completely before sealing the jar and storing it for later use.
Notes
Watch a full video of this recipe being made here.
Adjust the heat: For a spicier hot honey, add more crushed red pepper flakes or allow the honey to steep for an additional 10–15 minutes before straining.
For a milder flavor: Reduce the amount of crushed red pepper flakes or strain them out after the initial steeping time.
Straining is optional: Leave the pepper flakes in the jar for a hotter honey that continues to infuse over time, or strain them out for a smooth drizzle.
Storage: Store homemade hot honey in a clean, airtight glass jar in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months. Refrigeration is optional but may cause the honey to crystallize more quickly.
If your honey crystallizes: Place the jar in a bowl of warm (not boiling) water until the honey returns to a smooth, pourable consistency.
Serving ideas: Drizzle over pizza, fried chicken, chicken biscuits, wings, roasted vegetables, cornbread, biscuits, charcuterie boards, sandwiches, or even vanilla ice cream for the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.
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