There are hot honey sauce recipes and jars everywhere you look these days. With good reason: it's an irresistible sticky, sweet, and spicy condiment that's ridiculously versatile! Elevated hot honey makes a great addition to this easy charcuterie board or these hot honey chicken sandwiches!
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Hot honey is surprisingly versatile. You can drizzle it on anything from eggs to smoked pizza, fried chicken to ice cream, and brie to biscuits! It's a perfect way to sample hot honey while impressing your friends.
Here, we've added another phenomenal and versatile seasoning, Everything but the Bagel. We also used a lovely wildflower local honey for our version of an Elevated Hot Honey! We've included some cayenne powder for added spice and ginger for dimension. We especially love this hot honey slathered on smoked candied salmon!
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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Foolproof! This is an easy hot honey sauce recipe, with just enough changes to elevate it to an ultra-condiment.
- Delicious! A sweet heat that is addictive and a taste that complements such a variety of flavors.
- Adaptable! You can infuse with chili peppers of your choosing or use red pepper flakes or cayenne to achieve your desired heat level.
- Economical! This elevated hot honey sauce costs so much less to make at home. A bottle of Mike's Hot Honey sets you back over $10!
- You can make this recipe using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, and it's gluten-free!
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Honey: We like a local wildflower honey, but any kind can be used.
- Chilis: Fresh or dried. Experiment! Try jalapeños or habanero peppers, or add some chipotle peppers for a nice smokiness.
- Vinegar: Vinegar adds a great tanginess and extends shelf life. Apple Cider Vinegar was used here, though White Wine and Rice Vinegar are also acceptable. You may use hot sauce, but be careful, as it will add spice to an already spicy condiment!
- Spices & Herbs: Ginger is a wonderful addition to honey as it cuts the sweetness and adds dimension to the flavor profile. Experiment with herbs as well. Rosemary, lavender, tarragon, and thyme are all complementary.
🍯 How to Make Elevated Hot Honey
Step 1: Pour honey, chili pepper flakes, Everything but the Bagel seasoning, cayenne pepper, and ginger into a small saucepan. Stir to combine.
Step 2: Cook on medium-low heat and allow to simmer for ten minutes, stirring occasionally, until bubbling on sides. Careful not to boil!
Step 3: Turn heat off and add vinegar. Stir to combine. Cover and allow the mixture to infuse for 15 minutes.
Step 4: Add hot honey to a mason jar and store in a dark, cool place for one month, or refrigerate up to three months for a longer shelf life.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Homemade Hot Honey makes a tasty addition to all your favorite recipes. Try adding a couple of tablespoons to your next batch of roasted rainbow carrots or grilled chicken. You can also drizzle it on these frozen air fryer chicken wings or this gourmet pizza recipe featuring goat cheese and figs!
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
Anything and everything! You'll love it with eggs, chicken, salmon, and roasted veggies. A couple of teaspoons on toast with cheese is a dream.
Regular honey can last forever! Hot Honey includes some ingredients that may shorten the shelf life, but it should still last a good while. At least six months if properly stored.
Though unnecessary, some may feel safer with refrigerating it, and it may extend the shelf life. However, crystallization may occur. Soak the sealed jar in warm water for a quick fix. Another option for crystallized honey is to make this yummy whipped honey!
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- To strain or not to strain: That's a personal choice! If straining, do so when still warm. It will become quite viscous as it cools.
- If using whole chili peppers, crush them with a mortar and pestle to loosen seeds before adding!
- If refrigeration is chosen, let the jar sit for a while to loosen up and re-liquify the hot honey. A warm water bath can quicken the process.
- Using dried chili flakes, as opposed to fresh peppers, extends the shelf life of Elevated Hot Honey.
- Mix it up and use a combination of your favorite hot peppers for added complexity. A few have been named, but the chili world is your oyster.
- Though there are no perishable ingredients in this Elevated Hot Honey, it is infused, and as such is best used within three months for the best flavor.
- This small batch of Hot Honey can easily be scaled up to share with family and friends!
- Customize the recipe according to your spice level. Start low and slow. You can always add spice, but you can't remove it!
- If adding to cocktails, make sure you strain it first! No one wants bits of garlic in their beverage! 😉
🫙 More Sauce Recipes
If you enjoyed this Hot Honey Sauce recipe, be sure to try these other delicious condiments.
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📖 Recipe
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Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Pour honey, chili pepper flakes, Everything but the Bagel seasoning, cayenne pepper, and ginger into a small saucepan. Stir to combine.
- Cook on medium-low heat and allow to simmer for ten minutes, stirring occasionally, until bubbling on sides. Careful not to boil!
- Turn heat off and add vinegar. Stir to combine. Cover and allow the mixture to infuse for 15 minutes.
- Add hot honey to mason jar and store in a dark cool place for one month, or refrigerate up to three months for longer shelf life.
Nutrition
Notes
- To strain or not to strain: That's a personal choice! If straining, do so when still warm. It will become quite viscous as it cools.
- If using whole chili peppers, crush them with a mortar and pestle to loosen seeds before adding!
- If refrigeration is chosen, let jar sit for a while to loosen up and re-liquefy the hot honey. A warm water bath can quicken the process.
- Using dried chili flakes, as opposed to fresh peppers, extends the shelf life of Elevated Hot Honey.
- Mix it up and use a combination of your favorite hot peppers for added complexity. A few have been named, but the chili world is your oyster.
- Though there are no perishable ingredients in this Elevated Hot Honey, it is infused, and as such is best used within three months for best flavor.
- This small batch of Hot Honey can easily be scaled up to share with family and friends!
- Customize the recipe according to your spice level. Start low and slow. You can always add spice, but you can't remove it!
- If adding to cocktails, make sure you strain it first! No one wants bits of garlic in their beverage! 😉
barbara vogelman says
I don't see Gatlic in the recipe. GINGER yes. Garlic...NO
Hilda Sterner says
Hi Barbara, you are correct. This recipe does not include garlic, however you can easily add some if you'd like! We decided not to add any perishable ingredients so that it would keep longer.
Kim says
I tried this honey on chicken and pork ribs. I was not disappointed. Great spicy honey flavor. Really gave the food a kick. Thanks Hilda.
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Kim! I really appreciate you!
Jess says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Jess, I really appreciate the review!