Hot honey is just like what it sounds. It's a chili pepper infuse honey that combine sweet and heat for the perfect spicy honey! This hot honey recipe is quick and easy to make and combines fresh serrano peppers and dried chili peppers as well.
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If you are anything like me, you like spicy food and hot peppers! We grow cayenne peppers in our garden every year, snack on them throughout the summer, and we string them up and dry them in the fall. Nothing is better than a little spice with your food, and this hot honey recipe is no different!
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This spicy honey sauce is the perfect mix of sweet and heat, it reminds me of my favorite wings sauce at Buffalo Wild Wings which is mango habanero, although it is not the same by any means.
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What is hot honey?
There are different hot honey recipes out there. Some are more of a hot honey sauce that is mixed with sriracha or another type of hot sauce. This is NOT that recipe. This is an actual chili infused honey. The flavor of the honey will not be changed much, if at all, however after infusing the honey it will become spicy.
If you have ever had Mike's Hot Honey, this is very similar, and you could say it's a copycat to Mikes Hot Honey recipe. It really is, honey with a kick and a true southern recipe.
🍯 Ingredients
Ok this is an easy one!! The only ingredients you need are...
- honey
- hot peppers!
What kind of hot peppers should I use?
This is really up to you, but I do recommend using a mixture of fresh hot peppers and dried. You don't want to overpower the flavor of the honey with fresh hot peppers, but you do want to infuse the honey with enough heat. I personally used 2 fresh serrano peppers and about 10 dried cayenne peppers.
Some people like the heat and flavor of habaneros for more of a honey habanero sauce. I personally love serrano peppers for their flavor and heat. I also prefer dried cayenne peppers. If you don't have dried cayenne peppers then use chiles de arbol (a dried Mexican pepper). They are almost exactly the same and are easy to find.
However, I do recommend NOT using ghost peppers. They have a very pungent smell and taste to them. If you want your honey REALLY spicy, double the amount of peppers and infuse it for longer.
🔪 Instructions
How to make hot honey:
If you have never learned how to infuse honey before, let me just tell you that IT IS EASY! Coarsely chop your fresh hot peppers of choice without removing the seeds. After they are chopped, add them to a small saucepan along with the honey and the dried peppers.
Bring the pot of honey and hot peppers to a simmer, you don't want to boil it on high heat, just a small simmer. Let it bubble for about 10-15 minutes. The longer you let it simmer, the more infused your honey will be with the spice and heat of the peppers.
Remove the pot from the heat and let cool for a few minutes. Strain out the hot peppers.
Storage
How to store spicy honey:
Honey is one of those foods that lasts thousands of years at room temperature. However since this homemade hot honey is infused, it is best to refrigerate it. It should last up to 4 weeks in the fridge.
Serving suggestions
What to eat with hot honey:
Hot honey goes with a slew of savory dishes. I love to eat it with these:
- Biscuits, check these out from The Art of Food and Wine!
- Chicken and Waffles
- Any Fried seafood
- You could make it into a honey muster dipping sauce!
- Oven Fried Chicken , Chloe at "Feast Glorious Feast" has a great recipe
- You could even use it in hot toddies for health if you have a sore throat!
- Use this Hot Honey recipe for pizza! Spicy Honey Pizza
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📖 Recipe
Hot Honey Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Honey
- 2 fresh hot peppers of choice I used serranos
- 10-15 dried hot peppers chiles de arbol or cayenne peppers
Instructions
- Roughly chop the fresh peppers
- Pour the honey into a small saucepan and add all of the hot peppers, fresh and dried
- Simmer on medium heat for 10-15 minutes or longer. The longer it is simmered, the spicier it will be
- Remove from heat and let it cool for several minutes
- Strain the honey into a jar and store in the fridge for up to 4 weeks
KATHARINE WARMERDAM
Thanks for sharing! <3
Tiffany
I'll have to make this the next time we have wings to use it as a sauce. Thanks for sharing!
Larissa
Sounds yummy! Just curious how "hot" it is on the scale from 0 - 10
Emily Ackerman
I would say mine was somewhere in the middle, maybe 5-6. It made my kids want a glass of milk, but we do have a high tolerance. Next time I think I will add more hot peppers and simmer it longer for a higher heat
Alexis Farmer
I'm obsessed with hot honey! Sweet and spicy anything is my favorite.
Sabrina DeWalt
The beauty of making it yourself is you can adjust the heat to your liking.
Emi Sorensen
Yum. This would be perfect in a tea to help soothe a sore throat! Have you tried honey garlic? We fermented a bunch and it is delicious!
Emily Ackerman
I have not, but I know people who do this alot
Chantelle
Ohh!! My boys and hubby will love this!
Barbara
Interesting use of honey.
Lisa S
Hot Honey sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing.
heather J Jandrue
I have never heard of hot honey! It sounds amazing. I need to try this. I am already thinking of things I can use it with, such a chicken. Yum!
Marianne
Im not good with spicy foods... but this really does sound yummy. And to make it into a honey mustard sounds awesome!
Maria Gustafsson
I've never heard of hot honey, but this is very cool. I may have to make a jar for my brother!
Kristen W Allred
I've seen Mike's Hot Honey and know it's really popular. I would love to try this recipe to replicate it!
Cindy Moore
I've heard of hot honey but I've never tried it! Sounds amazing.