Description
This Hot Honey recipe blends sweet honey with spicy red pepper flakes to create a versatile condiment perfect for drizzling over pizza, fried chicken, vegetables, or breakfast dishes. The honey is gently heated in a water bath to infuse it with chili flavor, resulting in a balanced, flavorful, and mildly spicy honey that can be enjoyed immediately or allowed to develop deeper heat over time.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes (adjust based on spice preference)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Add the honey and red pepper flakes into a clean glass jar and stir well to combine.
- Prepare Water Bath: Fill a pot with water to about 1 inch depth and place it over medium heat. Carefully set the jar in the pot ensuring it does not touch the sides.
- Heat to Infuse: Allow the water to gently simmer and let the honey warm for 5 to 10 minutes. This melts the honey and infuses it with the spice from the chili flakes.
- Cool and Seal: Remove the jar carefully from the water bath, stir again thoroughly, and let it cool to room temperature. Seal with a lid once cooled.
- Optional Flavor Development: Use the hot honey immediately or place it on a windowsill for 4 to 5 days to let the flavors intensify.
- Optional Strain: To remove the chili flakes, rewarm the jar in the water bath for a few minutes until the honey is liquid, then strain into a separate jar and seal tightly.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to control the heat level to your preference.
- Use a heat-proof glass jar to prevent cracking or breaking in the water bath.
- Do not overheat the honey; keep the water at a gentle simmer to avoid degrading the honey’s flavor.
- Storing on the windowsill for several days intensifies the infusion but is optional.
- Straining the flakes is purely for texture preference; leaving them in adds visual appeal and extra heat.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: hot honey, spicy honey, chili honey, infused honey, sweet and spicy condiment, easy homemade hot honey
