Homemade Hot Honey Easy Recipe

A quick and easy combination of honey and hot sauce, it’s simple, but it’s a culinary masterpiece. Once you try it, you’ll want it on pizza, bread, fried chicken, muffins – EVERYTHING. It’s a total game-changer! And yes, you can easily buy a bottle at the grocery. But why waste your money when you only need two ingredients? Plus, making it yourself means you can add as much (or as little) hot sauce as you like. This homemade hot honey couldn’t be easier to make! Let me show you how it’s done.

What is Hot Honey?

Hot honey is honey infused with hot sauce. The two need to be heated and stirred to combine before cooling. The sweet honey and spicy hot sauce balance each other out perfectly, creating a wonderful flavor harmony. Sweet, spicy, and sticky, this condiment truly is a work of art. Its popularity is growing, and you’ll see it pop up on menus all over the country. While hot honey is available in most grocery stores, it’s also a bit pricey. A single jar can cost over $10. That’s insane, considering how its ingredients are so affordable and it’s so easy to make. So, save a few bucks and whip it up at home.

Ingredients

Honey – Well, duh! You’ll want to use premium-quality honey here because it’s basically the main component of this condiment.Hot Sauce – Any brand works. Pick one whose taste you like.

How to Make Hot Honey

While other recipes call for cooking honey with chili flakes or red peppers (often for hours), you’ll need less than 2 minutes for this one. Here’s how to make hot honey in the microwave: It’s so easy it’s embarrassing.

Tips and Tricks

If your honey crystallizes, microwave it in 10-second increments and stir it in between. This should melt the crystals. That said, if you only have older honey that’s already crystallized, you might want to buy a new jar.If you choose to add chili flakes, make sure they’re fresh. They lose their heat over time, so you might just end up with pure honey.

How to Use Hot Honey

I’m not exaggerating when I say you’ll want to drizzle hot honey on literally everything. It just makes all kinds of food a hundred times more mouthwatering! Whether it’s pizza, fried chicken, biscuits, pancakes, or grilled cheese — you name it, hot honey tastes great with it. Looking for more ideas? Drizzle hot honey over any of these:

Buffalo Wings – these are already pretty spicy, but that infusion of honey will make them wonderfully addictive.Chicken Tenders – if you like honey mustard on your chicken, I think you’ll love this spicy version.Cornbread – many people add plain honey to cornbread, but this way, you’ll get a kick of heat to boot.Waffles – waffles + bacon + hot honey = breakfast heaven!Popcorn Shrimp – honey enhanced the sweetness of the shrimp and I adore the sticky-spicy finish you get with hot honey drizzled over the top.Guacamole – you’ll just have to trust me on this one!

Hot honey also has other uses besides drizzling! Here are some other ways you can incorporate it into your dishes:

Spread it over cakes and bread.Use it as an ingredient in marinades or salad dressings.Add it to your charcuterie board.Toss it with roasted vegetables.Use it to sweeten and spice up cocktails and refreshments.Use it to garnish your favorite ice cream.

Other Chilis You Can Use

I like to use hot sauce for convenience and simplicity. But, if you like a more complex flavor, go for real peppers! Whether you use serranos, habaneros, poblanos, or jalapeños, you can’t go wrong. You can also go for dried chiles and chili flakes for a hint of smokiness. When it comes to measurement, let your taste buds be your guide. Use as little or as many peppers as you can handle. For reference, here’s a guide on the heat level of some of the most popular chilis: Fresh Chilis:

Anaheim – mildGuajillo – moderateChipotle – hot Chili de Arbol – very hot

Dried Chilis:

Korean Pepper Flakes (Gochugaru) – mildRed Pepper Flakes – hotDried Smoky Chili – mild to hot; also, smokey

Note: When using fresh chilies, keep in mind that adding the seed will increase the spice level. Also, the hot honey’s shelf-life reduces to 1-2 weeks.

How Long Does Hot Honey Last?

Hot honey should last up to three months if you store it the right way. Place hot honey in a jar or airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2-3 months. Honey thickens when chilled. So, let it warm to room temperature or microwave it for 10-15 seconds before use.