Recipe Overview

Why you’ll love it: Hot honey is very easy to make with only three ingredients. It’s a nearly perfect condiment that can be added to everything from pizza to ice cream. This taste sensation will revolutionize your kitchen!

How long it takes: just a few minutes
Equipment you’ll need: small saucepan
Servings: makes ½ cup

Sweet & Spicy Magic

You know when a dish just needs a little somethin’ somethin’, and you can’t quite put your finger on what?

This is it.

Hot honey is one of those simple things that somehow makes everything better. Sweet, a little spicy, a little tangy — it hits all the right notes. I tested it side-by-side with store-bought versions and ended up loving this homemade one even more. It’s a little more balanced, a little less aggressive, and honestly just easier to use on everything.

What makes mine special:

Kinder and gentler. The heat level of my homemade version is quite a bit lower than some store-bought versions, and we feel like the balance between sweet and spicy is better. You can easily add more spice if you like it hot!
Easy to make! Hot honey is not a complicated product. I have two easy methods for you to try. Try them both and see which one you like the best.
Simple ingredients. Take ordinary honey, mix in red pepper flakes and tangy apple cider vinegar, wave your magic cooking wand, and hey, presto! you have transformed these lowly ingredients into the best condiment ever.

What is hot honey good on?

Pretty much anything! If you do a little looking around on the web, you’ll find that hot honey can be drizzled on pizza (or pizza-stuffed spaghetti squash), roasted vegetables (we’re obsessed with it on roasted or air fried Brussels sprouts), Greek yogurt, or cornbread. Lately we’ve been eating a lot of roasted radishes and hot honey really is great on those, too. Be sure to try my hot honey chicken sheet pan dinner!

It’s a welcome addition to any charcuterie/cheese selection and it can be stirred into cocktails or added to a hot toddy. It’s good on breakfast sandwiches or avocado toast. I love it on these savory waffles made with ham, cheddar, and green onions. Hot honey goes well with cornbread pancakes, too. Anything crisp and salty is fair game for hot honey, including bacon, pan-fried salmon bites, sausage, or fried chicken bites. Try a little sweet heat on vanilla ice cream or pound cake for a real treat.

Tia Said:

“This hot honey was so easy to make! It has the perfect amount of kick! Such a great recipe!”

See More Reader Reviews

Selecting the Right Honey To Use

There are so many types of honey available. Honey can be delicately flavored depending on which type of flowers the bees have visited. Some varieties are much more expensive than others. l suggest choosing a generic brand of honey for hot honey since you’ll be adding flavors to it.

Raw honey is more nutritious than processed honey which loses some of the beneficial antioxidants and pollen through filtration and pasteurization.

Ingredient Notes

Honey: You’ll need a half cup of honey to start with although this recipe is easy to double if you want.
Red Pepper Flakes: Start with a teaspoon of red pepper flakes. The heat level of red pepper flakes can vary quite a bit. You can either leave them in for a hotter honey or strain them out for a more mild flavor.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds just a bit of sweet acidity to round out the package.
Hot Sauce, Option 2: Using hot sauce instead of red pepper flakes is another way to make hot honey. You won’t need apple cider vinegar if you use hot sauce, and you can make it in the microwave instead of on the stove. I love to use chipotle hot sauce for a smoky hot honey!

How to make Hot Honey

Option #1: With Red Pepper Flakes

Combine ingredients. Measure the honey, red pepper flakes, and vinegar into a small saucepan.

Heat. Over medium low heat, bring the mixture to a simmer. Remove the pan from the heat.

infuse. Let the honey infuse for thirty to forty-five minutes before using. This isn’t absolutely necessary but your hot honey will taste better if you do. I especially recommend it if you plan to strain out the red pepper flakes.

Strain (optional). Using a fine mesh strainer, strain out the red pepper flakes if you like a milder heat level, or leave them in if you love hot spice.

Honey with red pepper flakes in a saucepan.

Option #2: With Hot Sauce

Microwave ingredients. Stir a tablespoon of your favorite hot sauce (like Frank’s RedHot, sriracha, or chipotle hot sauce) into honey and microwave the mixture for 20 to 30 seconds. Add more hot sauce to taste.

I personally prefer the flavor of the red pepper flakes for the most versatile uses, but try both and see what you like!

Honey with red pepper flakes on a white surface.

Recipe Variations

Make a double or triple batch. I highly recommend this choice!
Make it really hot. Use dried habanero chiles or flakes. Habanero peppers rate 350,000 on the Scoville heat scale, 100 times hotter than jalapeño pepper. Crushed red pepper flakes range from 15,000 to 45,000 on the Scoville heat scale.
If you’re really liking hot honey, be sure to try my chipotle honey glazed meatballs. They have a smoky spicy flavor that is positively amazing.

Storage

Store at room temperature. Keep a jar of hot honey ready to use. You’ll find yourself reaching for it time and time again. Cool the hot honey to room temperature. Once it’s cool, store it in a covered glass jar or small container. It does not need to be refrigerated. It will keep for up to six months.

Pure honey has qualities that help it last for a very long time. It is slightly acidic and has antimicrobial enzymes which keep bacteria from forming. It may crystallize over time but that doesn’t mean the honey has gone bad.

More Recipes With Honey

Instant Pot Honey Sriracha Chicken

Baked Honey Mustard Chicken – super easy!

Roasted Grape and Ricotta Crostini

Honey Glazed Carrots with Chili Powder

Recipe