Hot Honey
Sweet, sharp heat you can drizzle on anything.
10 min total, minimal dishes
Timing: 10 mins
Hot Honey
Sweet, sharp heat you can drizzle on anything.
10 min total, minimal dishes
Timing: 10 mins
Key move
To avoid bitterness, maintain the lowest heat during the INFUSE step, ensuring the pepper flakes gently warm for 3-5 minutes without bubbling the honey.
Cook mode keeps your place
Larger text, ingredients in reach, and saved step progress while you cook.
The Setup
- Cutting Board
- Chef's Knife
The Mise en Place
5 of 7Your prep station before cooking begins
Quick (10 min) (0/4)
Infused (cleaner heat, longer shelf) (0/3)
My hot honey tastes bitter, not sweet and spicy.
Ah, that's usually a sign the honey got a little too enthusiastic on the heat.
My honey isn't spicy enough. I can barely taste the chili.
Don't worry, we can boost that heat! It sounds like you might need a bit more chili power or a touch more time. Try adding a few more pepper flakes, then let it infuse gently for a…
Chef's Notes
Gently warm honey to make it easier to stir and incorporate chili flakes evenly. Avoid boiling.
Drizzle over fried chicken, pizza, cornbread, or roasted vegetables for a sweet and spicy kick.
Add a pinch of smoked paprika or a few star anise pods while infusing for deeper, complex flavors.
The Method
WARM
Add honey (1 cup)honey (1 cup) to a small pot. Warm on low until fluid (not bubbling).
Overheating: Bubbling honey will caramelize and lose its delicate flavor profile.
Honey is fluid and warm, but not bubbling.
INFUSE
Stir in pepper flakes (or chiles). Warm 3-5 minutes on the lowest heat.
Honey scorching: If the honey bubbles or darkens, the flavor will turn bitter and the texture will become grainy.
Pepper flakes are infused and the honey is fragrant, without any signs of scorching.
FINISH
Off heat, stir in vinegar and salt (optional).
Over-acidification: Add vinegar gradually; too much can thin the honey's viscosity and overpower the delicate pepper flavor.
Vinegar and salt are fully incorporated into the honey mixture.
BOTTLE
Cool 10 minutes, then pour into a clean jar.
Jar cracking: Pouring honey while too hot can shatter glass jars; ensure it has cooled sufficiently.
Honey has cooled slightly and is ready to be jarred.
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