This hot honey sauce is easy to make. You only need four ingredients and 3 minutes of cooking time to infuse the chilies and honey. Drizzle over pepperoni pizza, chicken tenders, wings, biscuits, or fries.
What is hot honey? Hot honey is a sweet and spicy condiment made by infusing honey with chili peppers. It became trendy a few years ago and has lived up to the rave.
I’ll share other versions in the coming weeks, so keep refreshing this page.
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Why We Are Obsessed With This Hot Honey Sauce
- Quick and Easy: this sauce is exceptionally easy to make and can easily elevate a simple dish's taste. I like to drizzle it over this chicken pesto flatbread pizza or my air fryer tilapia recipe.
- Versatile: pair it with a plethora of dishes like your favorite veggies. If you are feeling bold, drizzle over ice cream for a sweet and spicy flavor.
- Make it your own: it is easily customizable. Make it mild or extra spicy, and add other flavors like herbs or seasonings to suit your taste. Check out some variations below.
📃Ingredient Description
Here is a list of what you'll need to make this recipe:
- Honey: pure raw honey is the base for this recipe, and it adds sweetness to the sauce. Using processed honey is equally fine, but the consistency might vary.
- Chili peppers: coarsely grounded chili flakes are my go-to for this recipe, but don’t be restricted to just dried. Fresh chilies or ground chili powder can be used as well.
- Hot sauce: any hot sauce will do, but I love using sriracha for its tart-y undertone.
💭Variations and Substitutions
Recipe Variations
These variations can add extra flavors to the sauce. Experiment to see what you like:
- Garlic: To jazz it up, use either ground or fresh garlic. Be sure to strain it before storing it to avoid spoilage.
- Fresh chilies: adjust any of these peppers according to your tolerance. Some examples are habanero, bird’s eye, jalapeno, serrano, anaheim, chipotle, or cayenne peppers.
Vinegar: Although I have yet to try the following acids, I’d recommend testing them with a small portion before adding them to the batch. Apple cider or white vinegar sounds like a good
It’s important to note that when making substitutions in recipes, the texture and flavor may be slightly different. However, these substitutes are the best options for changing the original recipe.
📝Step-by-Step Instructions
Detailed instructions are outlined in the recipe card below, but here are a few steps with visuals to guide you:
Step 1: Heat all the ingredients except the butter in a saucepan on low heat for a few minutes. Add the butter, then set aside to cool. We want the ingredients to meld and not scorch, so keep an eye on it.
Step 2: Transfer the cooled sauce into a clean, dry glass jar or squeeze bottle. If using pepper flakes, strain it or enjoy it as it is.
How To Store
If stored properly, this sauce can last up to 3 months. Store in a clean glass jar or squeezable bottle:
- Room temperature: Honey is generally shelf stable, so store it in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place like a pantry. Avoid direct sunlight and heat sources.
- Refrigeration: This recipe does not need to be refrigerated as no fresh ingredients are being used. However, refrigeration is best to avoid spoilage if you use one of the fresh variations above. Use within a few weeks.
👩🏽🍳Maur's Tips
- If you don’t like spicy hot honey sauce, use less chili powder. If you like spicy food, take the heat a notch with cayenne or more sriracha sauce.
- Heating the honey on low heat allows the flavors to marry well but not scorch or boil.
- Use a clean glass jar. To avoid contamination, I sterilize my jar by immersing it in hot water for 10 minutes and thoroughly drying it before storing the honey.
- If you prefer a smoother texture, strain the honey using a fine mesh to remove any solids, making it easy to pour.
- It’s best to allow the sauce to sit for a couple of hours to properly infuse before using it.
✅Recipe FAQS
Honey pairs well in various flavors, both in sweet and savory dishes. It complements herbs and spices like ginger and cinnamon, as well as citrus fruits like orange and lemon. Honey works well with nuts and dairy like cheese and yogurt. Honey pairs perfectly with savory dishes and elevates the flavors of animal protein like chicken, beef, seafood, and other veggies like carrots and asparagus, to name a few. Lastly, honey adds sweetness to beverages, drinks, and cocktails.
This sauce can be used as a topping in marinades and glazes, salad dressings, cocktails, roasted vegetables, and baked goods like bread or pizza dough.
Honey generally crystallizes over time, depending on the temperature at which it’s stored.
Crystallization doesn’t mean the honey has gone bad; it just makes it harder to pour. To prevent crystallization, use raw honey, as processed honey tends to crystallize faster because natural enzymes are removed during processing.
Use a glass jar instead of a plastic container, as it traps moisture efficiently. Store above 65 degrees F in a dry place. Cold temps generally increase the chance of crystallization. A squirt of acid aids in the prevention of crystals.
Love Honey? Here Are More Honey Related Recipes To Try
Have you given this recipe or any other from my website a try? Please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and sharing your experience in the 📝 comments section. Your feedback means the world to me, and I'm excited to hear from you!
PEACE & LOVE
Maureen
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📖 Recipe
Easy Hot Honey Sauce
Equipment
- 1 saucepan
- Fine sieve optional
- Jar or squeeze bottle
Ingredients
- 1 cup pure raw honey
- 1 tablespoon ground chili or chili flakes
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha or other tangy hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons Salted butter room temperature (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the honey, chili, and hot sauce in a saucepan on low heat for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat.1 cup pure, 1 tablespoon ground chili, 2 tablespoons Sriracha
- Add the butter, stir to combine (if using it), and set aside to cool down while it infuses for about 2 hours.*We want the ingredients to meld and not scorch, so keep an eye on it.2 tablespoons Salted butter
- Once cooled, transfer into a clean, dry glass jar or squeeze bottle. If using pepper flakes, strain it or enjoy it as it is.*It will be runny when hot but thickens while it cools.
Notes
- Use a glass jar instead of a plastic container, as it traps moisture easily. Store above 65°F in a dry place.
- If you don’t like spicy hot honey sauce, use less chili powder. If you like spicy food, add some cayenne or more sriracha sauce.
- If your honey crystallizes, gently reheat for 2 minutes to return the texture.
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