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Hot Honey

A quick, sweet-and-spicy condiment made by gently infusing honey with crushed red pepper flakes and brightening it with apple cider vinegar. Ready in 10 minutes, it adds a fiery kick to fried chicken, pizza, biscuits, cheese boards, and more.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main
  • 1 cup honey pure, raw honey preferred
  • 2 tablespoons crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Optional
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper for extra heat
  • 2 dried chili peppers whole or sliced
  • 1 clove garlic minced

Method
 

  1. 1. Measure all ingredients before starting to ensure a smooth cooking process.
  2. 2. Pour 1 cup of honey into a small saucepan and place it over low heat.
  3. 3. Warm the honey gently for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it becomes thin and fluid but never reaches a boil.
  4. 4. Stir in 2 tablespoons of crushed red pepper flakes (and any optional spices such as cayenne, dried chilies, or garlic). Continue to cook on low heat for 5 minutes, stirring once or twice to keep the flakes from settling.
  5. 5. Remove the pan from the heat and slowly add 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, stirring to combine. The mixture may bubble briefly.
  6. 6. Let the hot honey steep in the pan for 3 minutes to deepen flavor, then decide whether to strain out the pepper flakes with a fine-mesh strainer or leave them in for extra heat.
  7. 7. Transfer the finished hot honey to a clean glass jar and allow it to cool completely before sealing with a lid.
  8. 8. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. Warm gently before serving for easier drizzling.

Notes

Keep the heat low at all times—honey can scorch and turn bitter if it boils. For a milder result, start with half the pepper flakes and adjust during future batches. Leaving the flakes in the jar will cause the heat level to increase over time.