Easy Homemade Hot Honey Recipe

If you enjoy the combination of sweet and spicy, this super quick and easy to make hot honey recipe is one you’ll want to make over and over again. Back in the day, when I discovered how incredible the combination of sweet and spicy can be, I started experimenting with different ways to blend these together seamlessly. And after some time, this hot honey recipe popped up. It’s so simple to make and it takes no time at all. It’s super versatile, you can use it in so many applications and when stored in the fridge it keeps for a long time. And if you’re wondering what to put hot honey on, this hot honey sauce works well on everything from fried chicken, pizza and roasted vegetables to ice cream, desserts and even coffee and tea. It only takes a handful of ingredients and less than 10 minutes to make.

What is Hot Honey?

For those who have never heard of hot honey (or chili honey), it is very simply honey that is infused with a combination of dry and fresh hot peppers, creating a honey and hot sauce combination that adds both heat and sweetness to food. It is made by combining honey, dried and/or fresh chilies and other spices and simmering it on the stove top at a very low heat for a short amount of time. After it is taken off the heat, the rest of the magic happens with time. The longer it sits, the more flavorful it becomes. 

Although hot honey can be found and bought in certain grocery stores, making it at home is simply a  no brainer. It is so quick and easy, ingredients are all easy to find, but most importantly you can easily adjust how spicy you want to make just by putting in more or less chili.

Why is Homemade Hot Honey Better?

Aside for freshly made right at home, homemade hot honey miiiiiiiles better that store bought because it is:

• Customizable – Adjust the heat level to your liking. Experiment with different kinds of chilies and spices.
• Cost-effective – No need to overpay for store bought hot honey.
• Free from preservatives – Made with simple, easy to get ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
• A great homemade gift – Package it up in a nice mason jar and it makes for the perfect holiday gift for friends and family.

Okay, let’s dig in to it!

Hot Honey Ingredients

To make this hot honey sauce, you’ll need:

• 1 cup of honey – A high-quality honey will give the best flavor, but you can use any honey you like.
• 2 tablespoons of chili flakes – Red chili flakes are easy to find and since they’re dried they keep for a very long time. If you only have red chili flakes, that is ok, you can still achieve a really nice spicy flavor without any other additional ingredients. Using only dried chilies will allow the honey to stay fresh longer.
• 1 tbsp of paprika – This is totally optional but I love the addition of paprika because it adds a smoky layer of flavor and really does a great job enhancing the color, giving you a deep rich red tint, making your dishes pop. If you can get smoked paprika, even better.
• Pinch of kosher salt – Helps bring out all the flavors going into our hot honey. You can use any salt you have, but I personally like kosher salt for its milder, more subtle taste.
• 2 tablespoons of white balsamic vinegar – The addition of vinegar, when added in the right proportions, really helps achieve a beautiful balance by cutting through the sweetness. Although this step is optional, it really makes a big difference in the end result. You can always experiment with different kinds of vinegars, like apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar for a slightly different tone in flavor.

Ingredient Variations

Butter – Adding a tablespoon of unsalted butter will give you a more creamy and fatty flavor.

Fresh chilies – This is where you can really get creative. Adding fresh hot peppers can give you more options in terms of heat level and flavor profile altogether. Jalapenos offer a milder level of heat. Scotch bonnets and thai chilies will give you a more intense heat level experience. You can control the heat level even further by removing some or all the seeds from the peppers, which is where most of the heat comes from.

Hot sauce – If you’re a hot sauce lover and you have some on hand in the fridge, you can use it as a substitute for the vinegar and cut out some of the dried or fresh chilies. Tabasco and Frank’s Red Hot are perfect for this, since they are on the milder side and leave you more room to add more hot sauce without making the overall flavor too spicy.

Citrus – If you want to avoid using vinegar altogether, any kind of citrus can work really well like lemon, lime or even orange juice to add more sweetness.

Dry seasonings – A ton of different combinations and possibilities here. Adding different dry spices and seasonings can add new layers of aromatic tones and flavors to your hot honey recipe. Cinnamon and nutmeg would pair nicely with desserts and sweets. Oregano, rosemary and thyme add herbaceous tones and aroma. Garlic and onion powder help enrich the base flavor and make it a perfect pairing to go with chicken or beef.

How to Make Hot Honey

1. Combine Ingredients

Right in a small sauce or frying pan, combine all ingredients together.

2. Warm the Honey

Turn the heat to low and gently simmer the honey for 5 minutes. Be careful to not let it boil as it burns quite easily if the heat is too high. Always simmer it gently all the way through.

3. Add the Vinegar

After 5 minutes, turn the heat off and stir in the white balsamic vinegar. Adding it after the cooking process will help cool down the honey and interrupt the residual cooking process and allow the vinegar to remain raw and uncooked.

4. Strain and Store

Straining it is optional. Depending on what chilies you added and how you cut them and what application you’re going for, you could leave the solids in and end up with a “chunky” hot honey. If not, then simply run it through a fine mesh strainer for a silky smooth finish. Transfer the finished hot honey sauce to a clean jar and let it cool before sealing. Done and done.

What Can You Use Hot Honey With?

The beauty of this hot honey recipe is how versatile it is. Believe me when I tell you this is one of those discoveries you can quickly develop an addiction to because of just how well it pairs with almost anything. Here are some of my favorite ways to use it:

• Drizzle over fried chicken for a balance of sweet and spicy.
• Add to pizza to complement salty toppings like pepperoni or prosciutto.
• Spoon over biscuits or cornbread.
• Stir into cocktails.
• Mix into salad dressings to add a sweetness and heat.
• Drizzle on roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts or carrots.
• Pair with charcuterie boards to contrast with sharp cheeses and cured meats.
• Use as a dipping sauce for fries, nuggets, or wings.
• Stir into your coffee and tea.

Adjusting Heat Levels

If you want to adjust the heat for hot honey, you can go about it in several ways:

To increase the heat – Add more chili flakes and dried chilies, experiment using different kinds of fresh hot peppers with different heat levels or remove some or all the seeds from fresh hot peppers. Also important to note that not straining your hot honey and leaving all your solids in will gradually increase the heat level as time goes on. Straining it will stop the increase in heat level.

To decrease the heat – Use less and remove all the seeds from both dry and hot peppers, and strain the hot honey after cooking.

Storage and Shelf Life

• You can store it in an airtight jar at room temperature for up to three months.
• If you’re using fresh chilies, store it in the refrigerator and use within one week.
• If you’re adding butter, store it in the refrigerator and reheat before using.

Nutritional Information (Per Tablespoon)

• Calories: 64
• Carbohydrates: 17g
• Sugar: 16g
• Fat (if butter is added): 1g

Final Thoughts

This hot honey recipe truly is a game changer in so many ways and we can’t wait for you to give it a shot in your favorite meals. What’s your go-to dish to pair with hot honey? Let us know in the comments what you think! Follow us in all our socials for more recipes just like this!