Hot honey is a simple homemade condiment made by gently infusing honey with chili flakes (and a splash of vinegar for balance). It's ready in minutes, customizable for heat, and delicious on pizza, fried chicken, and biscuits.
Quick Look at the Recipe
Ready in: 15 minutes | Makes: 1 cup | Difficulty: Easy | Make-Ahead Friendly
"I recently showcased this recipe at a holiday cooking class and made 30 mini jars; everyone wanted to take some home. I use local tupelo honey from our area for the best flavor and silky texture."
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What is It
Hot honey is a fusion of sweet honey and chili heat that adds a kick to everything from fried chicken to ice cream.
Why I Love This Recipe (And You Will Too)
- Making homemade hot honey is not only simple but also allows for personalization. By adjusting the type and amount of chili peppers or flakes, you can control the spiciness to suit your taste.
- This homemade version is more cost-effective than store-bought options and is preservative-free. It would also be delicious served with these Nashville Hot Honey Chicken Sliders.
- Hot honey is a unique and thoughtful holiday or hostess gift for your foodie friends!
- After years of testing Southern condiments, this easy hot honey is my go-to drizzle for just about everything. It's also an excellent edible gift that looks beautiful in small jars, a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
"A little drizzle of hot honey can make plain chicken taste like a Southern special."
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Honey: The base of this recipe. Choose a high-quality honey, such as tupelo or wildflower, for the best flavor. I always use tupelo because it is made in our area. If you can find local honey, that would be all the better. Quick Tip: 1 cup of honey weighs about 12 ounces (it's denser than water).
- Crushed red pepper flakes: These provide the heat. You can substitute fresh peppers like jalapeños or hotter peppers like habaneros for more heat.
- Apple cider vinegar: Adds a subtle tang and helps balance the sweet and spicy flavors.
- Sea salt: just a pinch enhances the sweet and spicy flavors. You can substitute Kosher salt.
Recipe variations
- Citrus Hot Honey: Add orange zest or lemon peel.
- Smoky Hot Honey: Infuse with chipotle or smoked paprika.
- Hot Honey Butter: Mix with softened butter for biscuits or cornbread.
How to Make Hot Honey
- Combine honey and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan.
- Warm gently over medium heat until small bubbles appear (1-2 minutes). Don't boil; it can scorch or thicken too much.
- Remove from heat and let it steep for 10 minutes.
- Stir in apple cider vinegar and salt.
- Strain if desired, then pour into a clean glass jar and cool before sealing.
Optional: If you prefer, you can strain the red pepper flakes out. Let the mixture cool slightly, then strain it through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean jar to remove the pepper solids. Seal the jar.
Serving and menu suggestions
Use this sweet-spicy drizzle on:
- Fried chicken, pecan-crusted chicken, or to make hot honey chicken wings
- Cheese pizza or flatbread, fried burrata
- Sweet potato biscuits, Southern cornbread, or hoe cakes
- Charcuterie boards-especially with salty cheeses and prosciutto
And if you're gifting, small jars of homemade hot honey make delightful edible gifts for friends and neighbors.
Storage
Store hot honey in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 months. If it crystallizes, gently reheat the jar in warm water until it returns to a liquid state. Avoid microwaving, as it can overheat and degrade the quality of the honey.
Your hot honey should be stored in the fridge if you use fresh peppers.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Add sliced jalapeños or habaneros and simmer gently, but refrigerate afterward since fresh produce shortens shelf life.
Up to 3 months at room temperature (or in the fridge if using fresh peppers).
Add more chili flakes or use hotter pepper varieties to increase the heat. You can also let the mixture infuse longer before straining.
About 12 ounces. Honey is heavier than water, so don't be alarmed if your scale reads higher!
Tips to make hot honey perfectly the first time
- Watch the honey closely as it heats to prevent boiling, which can cause it to thicken or develop a burnt taste.
- Start mild, then steep longer or add more flakes if you prefer extra heat.
- Use fresh peppers for more kick, but refrigerate afterward since they shorten shelf life.
- Strain out the flakes for a smoother drizzle if desired.
- Use a kitchen scale - one cup of honey weighs about 12 ounces because it's denser than water.
- Store properly: keep it in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months, or refrigerate if you've used fresh peppers.
- For gifting: pour your homemade hot honey into small jars, tie with ribbon, and label it “Sweet Heat!” a favorite touch from my recent holiday cooking class, where it was the first thing to disappear.
More quick and easy condiment recipes
Join the Conversation
⭐ I'd love to hear how you liked this Hot Honey! Share how you used it; on wings, pizza, or your own Southern twist-and remember to leave a star rating and comment below.
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Easy Homemade Hot Honey
Ingredients
- 1 cup honey
- 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 ½ teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Add honey and red pepper flakes to a medium-sized saucepan. Turn heat to medium and bring to a low simmer, stir and simmer for one more minute.
- Remove the pan from heat and allow the honey mixture to rest for an additional 10 minutes.
- Add apple cider vinegar and a pinch of sea salt to the pan and mix well.
- Pour the hot honey mixture into a glass jar. Once cooled, place the lid on the jar and store it in a cool, dark place.
- Optional: If you prefer, you can strain the red pepper flakes out. Let the mixture cool slightly, then strain it through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean jar to remove the pepper solids. Seal the jar.
Notes
- Watch the honey closely as it heats to prevent boiling, which can cause it to thicken or develop a burnt taste.
- Start mild, then steep longer or add more flakes if you prefer extra heat.
- Use fresh peppers for more kick, but refrigerate afterward since they shorten shelf life.
- Strain out the flakes for a smoother drizzle if desired.
- Use a kitchen scale - one cup of honey weighs about 12 ounces because it's denser than water.
- Store properly: keep it in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months, or refrigerate if you've used fresh peppers.
- For gifting: pour your homemade hot honey into small jars, tie with ribbon, and label it “Sweet Heat!” a favorite touch from my recent holiday cooking class, where it was the first thing to disappear.
Nutrition
Southern comfort food made easy and shareable.
Julie Paquette
how long does this last if you store it?
Sharon Rigsby
Hi Julie, as long as you’ve used only the crushed red pepper flakes and not any fresh peppers, this homemade hot honey will keep for 3–6 months at room temperature or up to a year in the fridge. Be sure to store it in a tightly sealed jar in a cool, dry spot, and use clean utensils when dipping in! I hope you enjoy it.
Sharon
Julie Paquette
Thank you so much for replying. I will definitely be trying your recipe
Sharon Rigsby
This is the ultimate sweet and spicy condiment! I made a dozen jars and gave them to my foodie friends as gifts, and they all loved it!