Make hot honey at home in just 10 minutes with fresh or dried chili peppers. Adjust the heat from mild jalapeño to scorching Carolina Reaper, exactly to your level. Better than store-bought and incredibly easy. Perfect on pizza, fried chicken, biscuits, and more.
Homemade Hot Honey
If you like a bit of "sweet" with your heat, Hot Honey is going to be a new wonderful surprise. Many people like their sweets, but when you're a chilihead like me, even those need a little blast of warmth to fully satisfy.
When you douse hot sauce on pretty much anything, there's nothing like a bit of heat infusion to kick things up a notch.
That's exactly what this hot honey recipe is - an infusion. Like many other liquids, honey can be infused with all sorts of different ingredients and flavors.
It lends itself to many different things, though, being me, I am partial to chili peppers. Of course.
You've probably heard of brands like Mike's Hot Honey. It's great to buy some at the grocery store, but it's also fun to make it on your own, and so much fresher.
Let's talk about how to make hot honey at home, shall we?
Hot Honey Ingredients
- Chili Peppers. You can use either fresh hot peppers or dried hot peppers or hot chili flakes to make hot honey. You can use any spicy chili peppers to your preferred heat level.
- Honey. Use your favorite brand. Works with any types of honey.
- Vinegar. I prefer apple cider vinegar for its tangy flavor. Vinegar is optional, but it does help for longer keeping.
How to Make Hot Honey - the Recipe Method
Add the peppers and honey to a small saucepan or pot. Heat to medium low heat and simmer for 1-2 minutes to infuse them with the pepper flavor and heat. You can simmer longer if you'd like. Do not allow the honey to boil.
This recipe works with fresh chili peppers or with hot chili flakes or other dried hot peppers.
Remove from heat and stir in the vinegar (if using). If using fresh peppers, strain the honey into a jar through a fine mesh strainer. If using dried peppers, strain only if desired.
Cool and store in an airtight glass container. Makes 1 cup.
Use as needed. It's wonderfully sweet and spicy.
BOOM! Your hot honey is ready to serve! It's very easy to make. I love easy. Go and make yourself some spicy honey! I know you want to.
Recipe Notes & Tips
You can also make hot honey with either dried OR fresh peppers. It works either way. Crushed red pepper flakes are easy to find. I used a combination of crushed chili flakes and fresh pods.
Adjust the Heat Level. You can easily use fewer peppers for a milder infusion, or use hotter peppers to really bring the heat.
Also, consider adding a few splashes of your favorite hot sauce.
Save the Fresh Peppers. It is best to strain out fresh peppers for safe keeping. You can use these hot peppers for deserts or cocktails, as they are essentially "candied" or "honeyed", and quite delicious.
Hot honey made with dried peppers and chili flakes can remain unstrained. The choice is yours if you'd prefer to strain it for a smoother honey.
Best Chili Peppers for Making Hot Honey
I used both fresh habanero peppers and spicy dried red peppers for my infusion, Hawaiian Hots in particular. I like them for their heat and flavor.
However, you can use any type of chili pepper you'd like to make hot honey. Try making it with milder peppers, like jalapenos or mid levels like cayennes or serranos for less heat. If you'd like some REALLY SPICY hot honey, make this with either fresh or dried ghost peppers, 7 Pot peppers, scorpion peppers, or even the Carolina Reaper.
Talk about some heat. Habaneros will give you a good level of heat, though. Be warned.
What To Serve with Hot Honey?
Hot honey is outstanding on many different dishes. Here is list of ideas you might try:
- Fried chicken. This is a favorite for many people. Drizzle a bit of your spicy honey over freshly fried chicken and you'll fall in love with it.
- Chicken and Waffles. Spoon it over chicken and waffles for some added kick, or oven fried or baked chicken wings for a pop of sweet heat. Hot honey wings are delicious!
- Seafood. This is my personal favorite. Think of recipes like Hot Honey Salmon or Hot Honey Glazed Shrimp. Drizzle it onto seared scallops or use it as a dipping sauce.
- Vegetables. Grilled, pan seared, roasted, steamed, it doesn't matter. Try Hot Honey Roasted Carrots or Hot Honey Roasted Pumpkin.
- Biscuits & Cornbread. Match made in heaven right here. Drizzle on these jalapeno-cheddar biscuits or jalapeno cornbread.
- Ice Cream. Drizzle a little over the top of a scoop of vanilla. Wonderful.
- Cocktails. Use it anywhere you'd use regular honey. Consider pairing it with whiskey or making a hot toddy. So many ways you can go with this.
- Honey Mustard. Swirl a bit of your hot honey with a spicy mustard and you have a homemade spicy honey-mustard.
- Protein Shakes. Squirt in a teaspoon so it doesn't taste like cardboard. They often lack flavor.
- Hot Water with Lemon and Honey. There are health benefits to this concoction. Why not add the benefit of extra zing?
Think of it as an easy finishing sauce, but also a simple glaze, like my hot honey glazed ham recipe. Or as your very own honey hot sauce. Try it with my candied bacon recipe. YUM.
Storing Hot Honey
Store hot honey in a sealed glass jar or container at room temperature in a cool, dark place. A pantry is ideal. It will last 3 months or longer this way.
You can store it in the refrigerator, but it may become crystalized. If this happens, gently warm the hot honey in a water bath or in the microwave to loose it up.
Hot honey made with fresh peppers is more perishable, and should be stored in the refrigerator. Hot honey made with dried peppers can be stored in a cool, dry place in an airtight container for 3 months or longer.
That's it, my friends! I hope you enjoy your spicy hot honey. Go ahead and whip up a batch and fill some bottles. They make great gifts, too.
I love this stuff. Enjoy!
This Recipe Is In our Cookbook - FLAVOR MADNESS
Did you know that you can find this recipe in our new cookbook FLAVOR MADNESS? It's waiting for you on PAGE 87.
Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes
If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you'll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don't forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I'll be sure to share! Thanks! -- Mike H.
Hot Honey Recipe
Ingredients
- 2-3 tablespoons hot chili flakes (or use crushed dried chilies, or 1-2 fresh hot chilies, sliced)
- 1 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (optional)
Instructions
- Add the peppers and honey to a small pot. Heat and simmer for 1-2 minutes to infuse them with the pepper flavor and heat. Do not allow the honey to boil.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vinegar (if using). If using fresh peppers, strain the honey into a jar. If using dried peppers, strain only if desired.
- Cool and store in an airtight glass container. Makes 1 cup.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hot honey?
Hot honey is honey that's been infused with fresh or dried chili peppers to create a sweet and spicy condiment. It's wildly versatile as a drizzle, a glaze, a dipping sauce, or anywhere you'd normally reach for plain honey but want a kick of heat.
What's the difference between hot honey and chili honey?
They are the same thing. Hot honey, chili honey, chilli honey, and spicy honey all refer to the same pepper-infused condiment. The name just varies by region. "Chilli honey" is more common in the UK and Australia, while "hot honey" is common in the US.
Can I make hot honey without vinegar?
Absolutely. Vinegar adds a slight tang and helps extend shelf life, but the recipe works perfectly without it. If you skip it, your honey may be slightly sweeter and will still taste fantastic.
How long does hot honey last?
Hot honey made with dried peppers or chili flakes will keep for 3 months or longer stored in an airtight glass jar at room temperature in a cool, dark spot. Hot honey made with fresh peppers is more perishable. Store that version in the refrigerator. If it crystallizes, just gently warm it up and it'll loosen right back up.
Can I make hot honey in the microwave?
Yes. For a quick version, combine your honey and chili flakes in a microwave-safe glass and heat in 20-second intervals, stirring between each, until warmed through. No stovetop required. This method works best with dried peppers or flakes, not fresh.
NOTE: This recipe was updated on 3/28/26 to include new information and FAQs. The recipe itself was not changed.
Alex says
Just wondering your thoughts - I have some dried Trinidad peppers from a friend that I think would be great for this - how much of that would you recommend in this recipe so it’s not overwhelmingly spicy?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Alex, those can be pretty hot, so you might only use 1 or 2 if you're not sure of the heat. You can always use more in another batch if it isn't hot enough. Let me know how it goes.
Marlee says
I made a batch to give as a gift, and immediately had to make another batch to keep for myself. Absolutely scrumptious!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Nice! The perfect gift for yourself, Marlee! =)
EricH says
I have made a few batches of hot honey and enjoy the results. Adding some ginger to the infusion also adds to the flavor.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Eric! Ginger would be a great addition!
Nina says
Could you can this to make shelf stable to give as a gift?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Nina, honey is not a good environment for bacteria, and really doesn't go bad. However, when infusing it with fresh ingredients, like fresh peppers, you introduce new elements into the mix. Once you strain out the peppers, it really should be fine, but the best way would be to infuse your honey with dried pods. Then it should really be fine.
Monika says
Why put the honey in the refrigerator? Honey shouldn’t ever be put in the fridge, and I wouldn’t think infusing it with peppers would change that. Just curious. We are beekeepers and I was interested in making hot honey with some of our harvest.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Monika, anytime you infuse anything with fresh ingredients, it becomes more perishable. You can keep your honey in a cool, dark place, but refrigeration is better in the long run. The choice is yours.
Bonnie says
Just want to add that this honey on coconut shrimp will blow your socks off with its deliciousness
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Yes! There you go, Bonnie. Love it. Perfect.
Diana Peltier says
I love Mike's Hot Honey and ran out so tried this as a substitute. I only had fresh habaneros on hand so used those and they worked great. I like this even better than Mike's Hot Honey - and it's a lot less expensive. Thanks for the great recipe!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Diana! Glad you love it! Even better than Mike's!
Tom says
Thanks for this recipe! I bought a bottle of Mike’s Hot Honey, but all I could taste was sour vinegar. I went looking for a chili honey recipe without vinegar and was happy to find this one.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Great, Tom! Glad you enjoyed it! I love this recipe. Great for so many things. Thanks for commenting.
Kirsten says
I made it last night and today the honey is SUPER hard. Any recommendations as to how to cook the honey so it is semi liquid afterwards?
Thanks in advance
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Kirsten, honey hardens up the refrigerator from the cold temperature. Just take it out and bring it to room temperature. If you want to speed up the process, set the jar/container into hot water and gently simmer to soften it up. It is still good. It is normal to harden in the refrigerator. Let me know how it goes for you.
Scott says
Could I use red pepper flakes for this as a substitute? Or should I double up on fresh peppers?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Scott, absolutely. You can make hot honey with chili flakes or whole dried chili peppers. Give it a go! Let me know how it turns out for you.
Scott says
Made this last night with the dried chili flakes, and fresh habaneros. I tried it this morning on a spoon and it certainly woke me up! Can’t wait to try it on EVERYTHING. I will say that my mesh screen wasn’t fine enough to remove some of the smaller pepper flakes, but I think it gave it some character and let you know it was not your usual honey. 10/10 would make again.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Nice! Great job, and thanks for letting me/us know. Enjoy it on everything! =)
Ciaran says
Thanks for the great recipe! One thing I would say is don't store it in the fridge unless you want it to crystallise.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Ciaran!
Duro says
Aloha! I was wondering if the end product Is okay to leave on the shelf or would it needed to be stored in the fridge? Also how long do u believe the product good for? I know honey can stay good for centuries as long as it stays uncontaminated, but I’m curious about what happens with the introduction of the chili peppers. I am thinking of giving these out as Xmas gifts so I want to make sure no one ends up with mold in their stockings. Thank you.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hello, Duro. Processed honey will last a long, long time, and is said that is never spoils. We're adding infused material, though, so it is best to consume within a month for peak flavor. However, it still should last you a long time.
Nyasha says
I never imagined honey mixing with spice could be a thing that could be delicious especially while adding habaneros. Of course now that I think about it, I did have honey fried chicken in Korea but I think a kick of spice from your recipe would have done wonders to improve the taste.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Nyasha. It's definitely a great combo!