This is the most amazing homemade Hot Honey Recipe for guaranteed sweet & spicy addiction. The sweet heat is something you will fall in love with. This 2-ingredient condiment is the ultimate dip or drizzle.
Why this Hot Honey Recipe is Amazing: This is an easy copycat recipe for Mike's Hot Honey or Trader Joe's Spicy Honey. It not only costs less to make at home but you control how spicy it is - mild to extremely hot!!
I have made this at least a dozen times because it is that good. We put it on everything from Buttermilk Chicken Tenders to Deep-Fried Sweet Potato Fries.
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Best Peppers for Hot Honey?
Wondering how spicy hot honey is & which peppers to use? For this recipe, I am using and recommending Fresno chili peppers. Here's why ...
- Medium-Heat level between a jalapeno & a serrano.
- The heat tends to not linger for a quick spicy kick that pairs great as it mellow with the sweetness of honey.
- Fruity & smokey taste in this variety.
- Gorgeous red color.
For more varieties & substitutions, check out this full guide to chili peppers and how hot (Scoville Level) some can get - CHILI PEPPER TYPES.
- Jalapeno - mild green chili
- Serrano - green hot chili
- Habanero - many colors and very hot chili
Ingredients
All you need is honey and the chili peppers of your choice. For this chili-infused honey recipe, we are using two Fresno chili peppers for hot honey that will have medium heat.
- Unfiltered Honey - Raw pure honey is best.
- Fresh Fresno Chili Peppers - the small red peppers have a medium-level heat; including the seeds
How to Make Hot Honey
The equipment you will need is a small saucepan for cooking the slow simmering the condiment ingredients. Also recommended is a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid for storing.
Thinly slice 2 Fresno chili peppers. Do not discard the seeds or membranes to get the full medium heat you will want from this choice in a pepper.
To a small saucepan add the honey.
Add the thinly sliced peppers to the hot and stir. Over medium heat bring to a slow boil.
Once bubbling, reduce to low and simmer for about 30 minutes. It will thicken and the honey will take on the pepper essence and some red hues.
Cool to store for using later.
What to Serve with Hot Honey
What Pairs well with Hot Honey : Dip, drizzle, & top a million things with this. Try it on pizza, cornbread, biscuits,
Try some of my favorites like:
Storing & Reheating Tips
I store mine in a glass jar with a tight sealing lid. Hot honey stores well in the refrigerator for months.
You will want to heat the hot honey in a saucepan or microwave to warm up the next time you use it as it will thicken when chilled. ** as an alternate you can even add a splash of apple cider vinegar to the recipe for an additional pop of acid to the overall flavor and help thin it out.
FAQ
Heating the honey when making this recipe helps it to infuse with the peppers. That infusion process of cooking is what brings the two flavors together.
Many store brands, like Mike's Hot Honey, include vinegar. My guess is to make it more shelf stable. It also helps thin it out to make is easier to squeeze or pour from a bottle. This recipe is made without vinegar.
This doesn't last long in our house. However, honey is shelf-stable for years before going bad or expiring.
Since peppers have been added, the honey will last up to a year & isn't going to last as long as pure raw honey. Check for mold, discoloration, growths, or odd smell or texture - throw it out if anything questionable happens.
Some crystallization due to the refrigeration is expected and that is ok. If in doubt, throw it out!
Homemade Hot Honey Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 C honey
- 2 Fresno Chili Peppers sliced thin
Instructions
- To a small saucepan add the honey. Thinly slice 2 Fresno chili peppers. Do not discard the seeds or membranes, add them too.
- Over medium heat bring to a slow boil. Once bubbling, reduce to low and simmer for about 30 minutes. It will thicken and the honey will take on the pepper essence and some red hues.
- Serve immediately with your favorite foods or store for later. I store mine in a glass jar with a tight sealing lid. Refrigerate for usage later.
- To Reheat or Thin - You will want to heat the hot honey in a saucepan or microwave to warm up the next time you use it as it will thicken when chilled. ** as an alternate you can even add a splash of apple cider vinegar to the recipe for an additional pop of acid to the overall flavor and help thin it out.
Notes
- Place leftovers in a mason jar or other container with a tight-fitting lid.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
- Do not recommend freezing.
- Use Jalapenos for a milder version.
- DO NOT add the seeds or membranes also for less heat on the Fresno chilis.
- For more heat, use habanero peppers.
Nutrition
Recipes Using Hot Honey
Here are some easy spicy recipes for using hot honey:
Rochelle says
Made this...so easy and absolutely delicious. It was gone in a day. A great way to incorporate some spice in my 4 year olds food 🙂
Angela says
I am so glad you and the 4-year-old loved the Hot Honey Recipe. It is amazing how something so simple to make can be so amazing and flavorful.
Nisha says
That sounds really delicious and yum! Sweet n spicy is sure to make all the taste buds come alive .Thanks for sharing!
Ai says
Sounds delicious! I love that you used raw honey too! Tastes so much better than regular honey 🙂
Nart at Cooking with Nart says
Love this! Though I would probably add more peppers because I'm a crazy Thai, haha.
Angela says
Go for it, make this hot honey as spicy as you want. That is the beauty of this easy and customizable recipe.
Beth Shields says
I am intrigued and this looks delicious. Love hot things and just thinking about all the applications. Thanks for sharing.
LaRena Fry says
A great sounding sweet and hot sauce. Perfect for all kinds of meats and chicken.
Jacqueline Debono says
I'm a big honey user but have never had or made hot honey. Love the idea and definitely going to give it a try!
Beth says
I am going to make a batch of this for my daughter-in-law, who enjoys things much more spicy than I typically do. I love how easy it is!
Angela says
YOu can make to batches - one spicy and one mild for yourself.
Dee | Grammy's Grid says
Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 16, open until September 26!
Alpa says
Love the combination of sweet and spicy flavors. I bet this must be an awesome condiment.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
Ohhh - can't wait to try this - Pinned! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party! Hope to see you back tomorrow.
Lathiya says
I never heard of this honey. Sounds interesting.
foodopium says
Very good combination sweet and spicy.....never thought of this combination. Perfect example for a sweet and hot recipe 🙂
Ashley Charpentier says
Super easy to make and delicious! I also did a batch with half jalapenos and half fresnos for a different flavor and both were delicious! Thank you for the recipe!
Angela says
Thanks, Ashley for sharing your tasty version of this recipe. It sounds great and I will try that sometime myself.
Angela says
I made this exactly as you suggest and the heat was perfect. We had it with fried chicken and cornbread and it was fantastic. So easy and so much flavor. Thank you.