Hot Honey Recipe

Close-up of a clear glass jar filled with golden hot honey, chili flakes suspended throughout, and a wooden honey dipper resting inside.

5 from 1 vote

This quick and easy hot honey recipe is spicy, sweet, and absolutely delicious. Learn how to make classic hot honey using crushed red pepper flakes, honey, apple cider vinegar, and have fun exploring the countless ways to use it!

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Servings: tablespoons

Calories: 65kcal

Chef: Jessica Randhawa

Ingredients

▢ 1 cup honey
▢ 1 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes
▢ 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

Combine the ingredients: Add the honey and chili flakes in a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Set the heat to medium and stir gently to combine.
Heat until just bubbling: Warm the mixture until it begins to bubble lightly, but do not let it boil. Once small bubbles form around the edges and the honey is fragrant, remove the pan from the heat immediately.
Add the vinegar and steep: Stir in the apple cider vinegar, cover the pot with a lid, and allow the mixture to steep for at least 15 minutes or up to 1 hour. Note: The longer it steeps, the more intense the heat will become.
Strain (optional): Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a clean jar to remove the chili flakes and seeds.
Cool and store: Let the honey cool completely, then transfer it to a clean, airtight container or glass jar. Store at room temperature in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months. See notes about storing hot honey made with fresh chiles.

Notes

If your honey is made with fresh peppers (like jalapeño, serrano, or habanero), it lasts significantly less time (about 1-2 weeks). Always strain out the fresh pepper slices and keep stored in the refrigerator. If you notice any cloudiness, bubbling, off-putting smells, or mold, please discard immediately.

Please refer to the full post for ingredient notes and substitutions, tips on using hot honey, and suggested flavor variations! Enjoy!

Nutrition

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