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    You are here: Home » Food » Sauces and Rubs » Easy 3 Ingredient Hot Honey Recipe

    Easy 3 Ingredient Hot Honey Recipe

    January 4, 2023 By Mary Leave a Comment

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    Jump to Recipe
    Jar of hot honey
    A jar of easy hot honey with a honey stick

    If you want a fun spicy-sweet condiment idea that is versatile for sweet and savory dishes then this easy hot honey recipe is for you. With only three ingredients, balancing out sweet, heat, and acidity, this is the perfect hot honey sauce!

    A jar of easy hot honey with a honey stick

    Hot Honey Recipe Highlights

    • This recipe is ready in less than 20 minutes.
    • Perfect as a topping for a cheese platter, hot honey pizza, hot toddy, or anything fried.
    • A jar of hot honey makes a perfect gift.
    • Up your flavor profile by using smoked honey.
    Jump to:
    • Hot Honey Recipe Highlights
    • Simple Ingredients
    • Fresh Chile Versus Dried Chili Flakes
    • Heat Profile
    • How to Make Hot Honey
    • Storing Hot Honey
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Best Ways To Use Hot Honey
    • Easy Hot Honey Recipe

    It’s no secret that Mike’s Hot Honey created a huge trend that you now see all across the country, from grocery stores to restaurants. The sweet honey combined with savory and heat elements make for a delicious condiment that we basically use on everything from honey butter, to a charcuterie board, to even drizzling over pizza. The spicy flavors are very mild and you likely have these ingredients in your pantry right now.

    Simple Ingredients

    You can use just honey and red chili pepper flakes if you’d like, but that tends to run very sweet. Adding a touch of apple cider vinegar gives a little balance to the spicy honey.

    • Raw Honey – Ideally source a local honey.
    • Red Pepper Flakes – Your favorite chili flakes will bring the heat flavor and infuse with the honey as you warm it. Note that all brands of red chili flakes have different heat levels.
    • Apple Cider Vinegar – The added acidity for the vinegar helps balance the sweet and heat.

    Portions are in the recipe card.

    A top down photo of hot honey with chili flakes

    Fresh Chile Versus Dried Chili Flakes

    We prefer dried chili flakes over fresh chiles as the texture is better when it simmers and cools. If you are straining, then you can substitute fresh chiles if you have a crop from the garden you’re trying to utilize. Though the hotter the chile the hotter the sauce will be (like scotch bonnet or habanero).

    Heat Profile

    The level of heat for this hot honey sauce recipe is mild. For your first time making this hot honey recipe you can always reduce the amount of red chili pepper flakes by half. That way you can have a little heat and then increase it the next time you make it to match your preferences.

    How to Make Hot Honey

    1. In a small saucepan combine honey, red chili pepper flakes, and apple cider vinegar over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Stir and lower heat.
    2. Continue to simmer at medium-low heat for 20 minutes to let the chili pepper flavor infuse. The honey will liquify, which is normal. If the honey is bubbling over then the heat is too high. Be sure the heat is as low as you can to maintain a simmer.
    3. Remove from heat and place in a container. Will thicken up as it cools again. Optional: You can strain if desired, but it is not necessary. Will last up to three months in a dark cupboard.

    Chef’s Note: DO NOT let the honey come to a boil – use the lowest heat you can to keep it at a simmer. Boiling the honey will caramelize it and it will become thick almost like a caramel. So be sure to stay close to the pot and keep it at a simmer.

    Storing Hot Honey

    You can strain the red chili pepper flakes with a fine mesh strainer, although we prefer the chunks for look and flavor. Hot Honey will last a long time, up to three months. Store in a small jar (we prefer mason jars). Jars of honey should be stored in a cool dark cupboard.

    Likely this will be your new favorite way to use honey and a pantry staple.

    Hot Honey in a jar with a honey stick drizzling on top

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is hot honey made of?

    Hot honey is a simple combination of honey, vinegar (for acid), and red chili pepper flakes (for heat). It’s slowly simmered to infuse flavor. You can adjust the flavors with your favorite ingredients like our ginger hot honey.

    Does hot honey need to be refrigerated?

    No, hot honey is best if you leave at room temperature to avoid it thickening. It will last up to three months but likely it’ll be gone well before that.

    Will hot honey lose the honey’s nutrients?

    When heating honey some of the nutrients within the honey will break down. This is why we advise not to boil the honey and keep the simmer as low as you can to minimize this.

    Best Ways To Use Hot Honey

    • In place of regular honey in most recipes
    • It makes a great gift packaged in a mason jar with a bow
    • Pour over a hot honey pizza.
    • Over fried chicken
    • Over or in your favorite cornbread recipe
    • Drizzle over your favorite biscuit recipe.
    • Hot honey butter
    • In a salad dressing
    • As a dip for bread or crackers
    • On ribs like our hot honey ribs recipe
    • Drizzle over goat cheese on a cheese and charcuterie board

    Tried this recipe? Give us a start rating and we would love to see! Mention @vindulge or use the hashtag #vindulge on all the social media handles. And consider subscribing to our newsletter where we drop all our favorite ideas and inspirations every week.

    This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you click on the link, we may receive a small commission if you purchase through the link. We partner with brands we know and love and use and it helps keep the blog going!

    Easy Hot Honey Recipe

    This easy three ingredient hot honey is the best topping for pizza, fried foods, cheese, or baked brie. Ready in 20 minutes.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 1 cup
    Calories: 1049kcal
    Author: Mary Cressler | Vindulge
    Cost: $5.00

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup honey
    • 2 tablespoons red chili pepper flakes
    • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine honey, red chili pepper flakes, and apple cider vinegar, and bring to a simmer. Stir and lower heat.
    • Continue to simmer at the lowest heat for 20 minutes to let the chili pepper flavor infuse. The honey will liquify, which is normal. If the honey is bubbling over then the heat is too high. Be sure the heat is as low as you can to maintain a simmer.
    • Remove from heat and place in a container (I like a glass mason jar). Will thicken up as it cools again. Optional: You can strain if desired but it is not necessary. Will last up to three months in a dark cupboard.
    Find the perfect wine pairing at the Vindulge Wine Shop

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1ounce | Calories: 1049kcal | Carbohydrates: 282g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 295mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 280g | Vitamin A: 286IU | Vitamin C: 45mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? We would love to see!Mention @vindulge or use the hashtag #vindulge

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    Mary-Cressler-Sept-2015-smI'm Mary, a wine/food/travel writer, Certified Sommelier, mom of twins, former vegetarian turned BBQ fanatic, runner, and founder of Vindulge and author of Fire + Wine cookbook.  Thanks for stopping by!

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