Mike's Hot Honey
A homemade version of the cult American condiment — pure liquid honey infused with red chili flakes and a touch of apple cider vinegar. Sweet, spicy, and perfectly balanced. Drizzle it on pizza, fried chicken, cheese boards, or roasted vegetables.
Ingredients
- 240 mlliquid honey
- 2 tspred pepper flakes
- 1 tspapple cider vinegar
- 0.25 tspsalt
- 0.25 tspcayenne pepper
Method
- Combine honey and red pepper flakes in a small heavy-bottomed saucepan. For extra heat, add the cayenne as well.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the honey just begins to bubble gently at the edges — do not let it boil. Temperature should not exceed 80-90 C. This takes 2-5 minutes.
- Remove from heat immediately when first bubbles appear. Let steep for 15-30 minutes — the longer it steeps, the spicier it gets. Taste every 5-10 minutes and return to heat for 1 minute if you want more heat.
- Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a clean jar, removing the pepper flakes (leave some in for extra heat and visual effect if you prefer).
- While still warm, stir in apple cider vinegar and salt if using. Mix well. Let cool completely to room temperature before sealing.
- Store in a sealed glass jar in a cool dark place for up to 6-12 months. If it thickens in the fridge, microwave for 10 seconds to loosen.
FAQ
Use a mild liquid honey — clover or wildflower work best. Avoid buckwheat honey as it's too intense and overpowers the chili flavor. Good quality raw honey gives the best result.
Do not let the honey boil — heat only to 80-90 C maximum. Remove from heat the moment the first bubbles appear at the edges. Overheated honey loses its aroma and becomes too thin.
The vinegar is essential — it adds a tangy balance that cuts the sweetness and makes the flavor closer to the original Mike's. Without it the honey tastes cloying. Just 1-2 teaspoons make a real difference.
Store in a sealed glass jar in a cool dark place for up to 6-12 months. In the refrigerator it keeps up to a year. If it thickens in the cold, microwave for 10 seconds to loosen.
Start with 2 teaspoons of flakes for mild (like Mike's Original). Taste every 5-10 minutes while steeping — return to heat for 1 minute and add more flakes for more heat. For a fire version replace flakes with half a habanero plus cayenne.
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Comments (2)
Мед это моя тема принимаю все рецепты
Pull the pan off the heat the moment you see the first bubbles at the edges. Honey that actually boils goes past 90°C, darkens and loses most of its aroma. If you want it hotter, give it a longer steep, not a longer cook.