Honey: Kitchen-made Garlic Hot

This from-scratch Garlic Hot Honey is simple and savory. Garlicky with slight back of the throat heat meets sweet honey. Drizzle it over brie cheese, pizza, cooked shrimp or roasted sweet potatoes. Yields 2 cups.

Hot honey is all the rage.

It’s sweet heat is addictive and pairs with so many things; flakey biscuits, seared shrimp, brie cheese and can even flavor a cocktail or be whisked into a salad dressing. I’ve made this hot honey shrimp years ago, but recently stumbled onto a thumbnail sized jar of Mike’s Hot Honey at my local grocery store. I picked up two because they were tiny, and served it with brie and crackers.

Since I can’t fine any larger jars or bottles near me, I sought out to make my own. My first attempt I tried simmering honey with dried chiles and ended up with a mess. Then I decided to only combine them and let it chill on the counter. This method was so much easier, although waiting is the hardest part. I’ve since added garlic and the combination of sweet garlic and spice is even more savory than you can imagine.

At first it’s what you would expect. The sweetness of the honey hits your tastebuds first and, in this dish, you get a subtle hint of garlic next. Last but not least you get a flash of back of the throat heat. It’s striking.

To cook this Garlic Hot Honey Set out:

• garlic
• red pepper flakes
• honey (quality local honey is go-to!)

Smash and peel 10 cloves garlic and add it into a clean pint jar.

Add 1 to 2 tablespoons red pepper flakes.

This depends on how hot you want your honey. I add 1 tablespoon for only a kiss of heat.

Next pour in 16 ounces of honey.

The hardest part is the waiting.

Secure the lid and let this sit on your counter for 7 to 10 days. The longer you wait the more infused the honey will be.

Open and lift the lid once a day. I also flip and the jar over (upside down one day and right side up the next and repeat) every day.

Once you’re ready to use the garlic hot honey, place a sieve over a clean pint size jar.

Gradually pour the honey through the sieve and let the honey drip into the jar below.

You may have to stop and wait for it to work its way through.

Alternatively, you could always pick out the garlic and leave the red pepper flakes.

Discard the garlic and red pepper flakes.

And that’s it!

• Spoon over a warm brie and serve with crackers.
• Drizzle it over pizza for sweet heat.
• Toss with roasted sweet potatoes.
• Add some to mayonnaise for a sweet and spicy sandwich spread
• Glaze cooked shrimp.
• Serve with warm biscuits

The options are truly endless.

Enjoy! And if you give this dish a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!