Spicy Hot Honey

Name: Homemade Hot Honey
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 7 min
Ingredients: 1 cup honey; 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes (see note for heat levels); 1 to 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar (optional)

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Hot honey is one of those tiny kitchen upgrades that makes everything taste like you tried harder than you did. It takes about 15 minutes, uses three ingredients, and gives you a sweet, spicy drizzle for pizza, fried chicken, biscuits, and anything else that needs a little attitude.

This recpe keeps things simple: warm honey, dried chili flakes, and a small splash of apple cider vinegar if you want a brighter finish. You can keep the heat gentle or push it harder, depending on the chili flakes you use and how long you let them steep.

Spicy honey with dried pepper flakes in a jar next to a wooden spoon.

Here’s Why This Hot Honey Recipe Works

Simple ingredients: Just honey, chili flakes, and an optional splash of apple cider vinegar transform into a versatile condiment.

Customizable heat: Use crushed red pepper flakes, gochugaru, Sichuan chili flakes, or Thai chili flakes to create your preferred spice level.

Balanced flavor: A small amount of vinegar brightens the honey and keeps the sweetness from feeling heavy.

Endlessly versatile: This spicy honey works on everything from pizza and fried chicken to roasted vegetables and buttery cornbread.

Ingredients used to make spicy honey with dried chili flakes.

Recipe Tips

Keep the heat low: Warm the honey gently and avoid boiling, which can affect both flavor and texture.

Adjust the infusion time: A longer steep creates a stronger spicy honey, while a shorter steep keeps the heat mild.

Choose your chili flakes wisely: Different pepper varieties create different flavors, from smoky and fruity to sharp and fiery.

Strain for easier drizzling: Removing the chili flakes creates a smoother hot honey that’s easier to pour over pizza, biscuits, and fried chicken.

Refrigerate fresh pepper versions: If using sliced jalapeños, hatch chiles, or Thai peppers instead of dried flakes, store the finished honey in the refrigerator.

Adding chili pepper flakes to a skillet of hot honey.

How to Adjust the Heat

The chili flakes you use will change both the flavor and spice level.

Extra hot: Add a small pinch of cayenne or dried habanero flakes.
Mild: Gochugaru has a gentler heat and slightly fruity flavor.
Medium: Crushed red pepper flakes give the most familiar hot honey flavor.
Hot: Thai chili flakes create a sharper, stronger heat.

Pouring warm spicy honey through a strainer.

Questions and Answers

What kind of honey is best for hot honey?

Clover honey is a good all-purpose choice because it has a mild flavor and lets the chili flakes stand out. Wildflower honey adds a little more floral flavor, while darker honeys make a stronger, richer hot honey.

Can I use fresh peppers instead of dried chili flakes?

Yes. Jalapeños, Hatch chiles, and Thai peppers all work well. Because fresh peppers are perishable, refrigerate the finished hot honey.

Goat cheese log with hot honey, crackers, and utensils on wooden board.

Homemade Spicy Honey

Keep a jar around for pizza nights, fried chicken, biscuits, hot honey salmon, cheese boards, and all the other things that could use a little sweet heat. It takes minutes to make, which makes the price of store-bought hot honey feel a little rude.

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Hot spicy honey in a jar next to a spoon.

Prep Time: 2

Cook Time: 5

Total Time: 7

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Homemade Hot Honey

By Pat Nyswonger

This homemade hot honey is made with warm honey and dried chili flakes for a sweet, spicy drizzle you can use on pizza, fried chicken, biscuits, roasted vegetables, and cheese boards. Add a splash of apple cider vinegar for a brighter finish, or leave it out for a straight sweet heat.

If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating and comment.

Servings: servings

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Ingredients

▢ 1 cup honey
▢ 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes, see note for heat levels
▢ 1 to 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, optional

Instructions

Add the honey and chili flakes to a small saucepan. Set over medium-low heat and warm until the honey just begins to simmer, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from the heat and let the chili flakes infuse for 10 to 15 minutes.
If desired, strain the honey into a small lidded jar and discard the chili flakes. Stir in the vinegar, if using.
Let the honey cool, then add the lid and store in a cool, dry place.

Notes

Keep the heat low: Do not let the honey boil. You only want it warm enough to infuse with the chili flakes.

Adjust the spiciness: Use gochugaru for a milder hot honey, crushed red pepper flakes for medium heat, or Thai chili flakes for a hotter version. For extra heat, add a small pinch of cayenne or dried habanero flakes.

Strain if you want a smoother drizzle: Straining is optional, but it removes the chili flakes and makes the honey easier to drizzle.

Go easy on the vinegar: A small splash of apple cider vinegar brightens the flavor, but too much will turn the honey into more of a sauce.

Refrigerate fresh pepper versions: If you use fresh peppers like jalapeños, Hatch chiles, or Thai peppers, store the finished hot honey in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tablespoon, Calories: 66kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 0.1g, Fat: 0.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.01g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g, Sodium: 9mg, Potassium: 21mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 148IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 3mg, Iron: 0.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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