Hot Honey Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links.

This Hot Honey Recipe is seamless, easy and much more affordable than buying it pre made. You decide the heat level! Ready in 20 minutes. Just a few simple ingredients will give you a cup of homemade hot honey to add to chicken, salmon, tacos and more.

Up close photo of hot honey in a jar.
Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!

Why Make Your Own Hot Honey

  • Affordable. The ingredients are minimal and affordable, so yu can save money making your own.
  • Customizable. You can decide the heat level of this honey.
  • Versatile. Hot Honey can be used on Pizzas, Tacos, Chicken Skewers, and so much more!
  • Quick & Easy. Ready in 20 minutes and easy to make.

Ingredient Notes

Overhead photo of ingredients in small bowls and measuring cups.

All other ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card towards the bottom of this post. 

  • Honey. use any honey you love! I grab a local honey that’s affordable.
  • Red Pepper Flakes & Cayenne Pepper. This is what gives it heat! You can also use fresh sliced jalapeño or Serrano peppers.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar. This is optional, it adds a little bit of a tang to the honey and only a little is needed.

How To Make Hot Honey

Steps to make hot honey in a sauce pan with red pepper flakes.

Step One. Simmer The Ingredients. Add the honey, crushed red pepper flakes (or fresh peppers) and cayenne pepper to a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the honey begins to simmer a bit.

Step Two. Remove the honey from the heat, whisk and set aside to let the flavors infuse! Let it sit for 10-15 minutes.

Step Three. Give the honey a taste! Make sure there is enough spiciness to your liking, you can add more peppers if you’d like.

Step Four. Strain The Mixture. Once the honey has reached the desired heat level, strain the honey through a small fine mesh strainer into a clean storage jar. Stir in the apple cider vinegar until evenly combined. You may need to press the honey with a spoon to help it through the strainer. Discard the pepper flakes/or fresh peppers.

Up close photo of a jar with hot honey in it.

Recipe Pairings

There are so many great things that pair with hot honey. It’s versatile, it’s sweet with a little savory. It elevates o many dishes.

  • Chicken Tenders. Dunk or drizzle tenders or wings with it!
  • Pastries. Elevate sweet treats and give my apple pastries a light drizzle before enjoying!
  • Pizza. You can drizzle it n pizza or on my Pizza Bowls for a nice kick of flavor.

Hot Honey Tips

  • Don’t burn the honey! Just heat it up enough to help it infuse the heat.
  • If the honey gets too thick to work through the mesh strainer, simply reheat it just a bit to help thin it out and get it moving.
  • Store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • The apple cider vinegar is optional, a lot of recipes call for it or brands will have it in theirs. If you leave it out, the honey will have a longer shelf life.
How Long Will Hot Honey Last

For the longest result, omit the apple cider vinegar. Hot honey can last for several months if stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place like the refrigerator.

Do I Have TO Heat The Honey?

Unfortunately for the best result the honey will need to be lightly heated to infuse the spice. You can however, just add the pepper flakes and cayenne pepper to honey and keep it room temperature. It just won’t result in as much heat!

Other Sauces & Dressings To Try

If you loved this recipe let me know! Also, follow me on Instagram & Pinterest for even more fun recipes to make you feel good from the inside out. Thanks for being here.

A jar full of honey with a honey stick.
5 from 1 vote

Hot Honey Recipe

This Hot Honey Recipe is seamless, easy and much more affordable than buying it pre made. You decide the heat level! Ready in 20 minutes.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 7 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 16

Equipment

  • medium saucepan
  • whisk

Ingredients 

  • 1-1.5 cup honey , *use any honey you prefer
  • tbsp crushed red pepper flakes, *sliced jalapeño or serrano peppers will also work
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper, more as needed
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar , optional! Please read the notes.

Instructions 

  • Simmer The Ingredients. Add the honey, crushed red pepper flakes (or fresh peppers) and cayenne pepper to a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat until the honey begins to simmer a bit.
  • Remove the honey from the heat, whisk and set aside to let the flavors infuse! Let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
  • Give the honey a taste! Make sure there is enough spiciness to your liking, you can add more peppers if you'd like. 
  • Strain The Mixture. Once the honey has reached the desired heat level, strain the honey through a small fine mesh strainer into a clean storage jar. Stir in the apple cider vinegar until evenly combined. You may need to press the honey with a spoon to help it through the strainer. Discard the pepper flakes/or fresh peppers. 

Notes

  • Don’t burn the honey! Just heat it up enough to help it infuse the heat. 
  • If the honey gets too thick to work through the mesh strainer, simply reheat it just a bit to help thin it out and get it moving. 
  • Store in the fridge for up to 5 days. 
  • The apple cider vinegar is optional, a lot of recipes call for it or brands will have it in theirs. If you leave it out, the honey will have a much longer shelf life. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1Tbsp | Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.05g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 571IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Bailey
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Course: Sauces & Dressings
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16
Calories: 70
Keyword: Hot Honey Recipe
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!

About Bailey


You may also like

5 from 1 vote

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




1 Comment