Hot Honey Sauce Recipe

Just 2 ingredients are all you need to make this spicy Hot Honey Sauce Recipe! Heat your favorite honey with dried red chile to a simmer, remove from the heat, and steep the honey and red chile until desired heat level is achieved. Dulce y picante!

A wood cutting board with 2 ingredient hot honey sauce in a mason jar with wood spoon and english muffin.

👩🏻‍🍳 Tamara Talks – About Hot Honey Sauce

Sometimes I’m on top of food trends as I was with my pasta a la huancaína and air fryer recipes. Conversely, sometimes I’m oblivious, and discover something really cool like hot honey years after it hits the food world.

Hot honey became popular in the early 2010s, thanks to the rise of spicy food trends and the creativity of artisanal food producers. Hot honey sauce is often associated with Mike’s Hot Honey, created by Mike Kurtz in 2010 (and widely available). Kurtz was inspired by a trip to Brazil, where he encountered a local tradition of infusing honey with chilies. Upon his return to Brooklyn, he started experimenting with his own version and initially began using it on pizza at a local pizzeria. The spicy-sweet combination caught on quickly, and people started using it on everything from fried chicken to cheese plates.

This red and green chile loving girl was immediately interested in hot honey. Our local HEB had Mike’s Hot Honey for $9.85, I was a little taken aback. In this spirit, I decided to make my own hot honey recipe. It’s ridiculously easy. I plan to use it in a hot honey old fashioned and a chicken and bleu cheese pizza very soon!

📋 Ingredients Notes

Here is a quick look at the ingredients in the recipe – it’s handy to use at the grocery store or as a summary of what you need. Skip to the recipe for quantities.

Ingredients for hot honey sauce recipe - Gulf Coast honey and chile de arbol.
The “recipe” for homemade hot honey could not be more simple. 1. Simmer dried red chiles with
quality honey. 2. Steep the honey mixture. 3. Strain into an airtight jar.
  • honey – I typically buy pretty generic honey like Sue Bee. For this hot honey sauce, though, I opted to go with a Gulf Coast of Texas honey from the mesquite and wildflowers that are prevalent along our coast. You can use whatever honey you prefer!
  • red chile peppers – I keep several varieties of dried red chiles including chile de arbol, guajillo, New Mexico red chiles, etc. I think the smaller chile de arbol are easier to work with than larger chiles. The first time I made the hot honey, I used chile piquin (very small), and it had no heat. It was a new package, but perhaps it had been on the store shelf too long? The chile de arbol worked well, and I was very pleased with the heat level in the end result. If you want to use larger chiles, you’ll want to cut them in pieces after removing the stems. Need more information on dried red chiles? See 12 Dried Chile Peppers to Spruce up Any Dish.

🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1 - Simmer honey and red chile for 5 minutes, then steep until cool.
  • Step 1 – Simmer and steep the honey and chile peppers. Over medium heat, gently bring the honey to a simmer. Simmer very gently 3-4 minutes, then remove from the heat. Allow the honey to cool to infuse the honey with the chiles. NOTE: If you boil the honey will begin to caramelize, and may be too thick.
Step 2 - Straining the homemade hot honey through a sieve over a glass bowl.
  • Step 2 – Strain the honey through a fine mesh sieve. Press the red chile peppers up against the mesh to extract all the honey.
  • Step 3 – Taste the honey to test the heat level. If you would like a spicier honey, you can add a bit of your favorite hot sauce, or some crushed red pepper (let it steep a little longer). Store in a glass jar at room temperature for up to 3 months. Enjoy!
Hot honey sauce on a live edge wood cutting board with wood spoon and chile de arbol.

❓FAQ

How long can I keep my hot honey sauce?

Store your hot honey in a glass jar at room temperature for up to 3 months.

Do I need to refrigerate my hot honey sauce?

No. If the honey is cold, it is difficult to spread or spoon.

💭 Tips

If the hot honey isn’t as hot as you would like, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce to taste.

If you are adventurous, and try using fresh green chiles (jalapeños, serranos, habaneros), you will want to store it in the refrigerator. It will keep for about a week in the refrigerator.

🤔Ideas for Using Hot Honey Sauce

  • pizza – Drizzle a little hot honey over your favorite pizza. I’m thinking about a buffalo wings inspired chicken and bleu cheese, or a goat cheese, fig, and prosciutto pizza.
  • bread – Try it on english muffins, toast, or biscuits.
  • vegetables – Brush a little on roasted or grilled vegetables.
  • charcuterie boards – This homemade hot honey definitely fits well with my Mexican charcuterie board or one these charcuterie boards!
  • cocktails – A hot honey old fashioned should be published next week. Try it in a spicy margarita or paloma.

I’m looking forward to publishing a recipe for a hot honey cocktail as well as a hot honey pizza. If you’ve had hot honey sauce on other dishes, I’d love to hear from you!

Signature in red and green with chiles and limes. Healthyish Latin cuisine.
A close up of a wood cutting board, hot honey in a mason jar, wood spoon, and english muffin.

Hot honey sauce with a drippy wood spoon and an english muffin.

Homemade Hot Honey Recipe

Learn how to make your own Hot Honey Sauce with this quick and delicious recipe. Perfect for adding a sweet and spicy kick to any dish!
5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Steeping Time 15 minutes
Course Condiment
Cuisine American, Mexican
Servings 32 servings
Calories 60 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 16 ounces honey
  • .5 ounces chile de arbol - see Ingredients Notes in post

Instructions

  • Over medium heat, gently bring the honey and dried chiles to a simmer. Simmer gently 3-4 minutes, then remove from the heat. Allow the honey to cool.
  • Strain the honey through a fine mesh sieve. Press the chiles up against the mesh to extract all the honey.
  • Taste the honey to test the heat level. If you would like a spicier honey, you can add a bit of your favorite hot sauce, or some crushed red pepper.

Nutrition

Calories: 60kcal

NOTE: Macronutrients are an approximation only using unbranded ingredients and MyFitnessPal.com. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and/or star rating! Email us with any questions: tamara@beyondmeresustenance.com

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One Comment

  1. This is really good, and very easy to make. I’m looking forward to trying a few different recipes that use hot honey.