21 WAYS TO USE HONEY
Honey is well known as the queen bee of sweeteners but it’s so much more than a delicious companion for your afternoon tea or a drizzle on your morning muffin.
There are over 300 types of honey in the world today each delivering distinct tastes created by the flower it’s extracted from. There are endless ways to use honey ranging from health and beauty aids to cocktails – and of course – countless sweet and savory recipes. Read on to find some surprising uses for this “liquid gold.”
HOW TO USE HONEY IN RECIPES
See how the magic of honey can enhance everything from sauces and seeds to suckers and more.
1. SUBSTITUTE HONEY FOR SUGAR
Honey can bring a natural sweetness to baked goods like donuts, cookies and cakes and depending on the type of honey you use it can also add various flavors to your dishes. For instance, Orange Blossom honey can add a citrus note and Buckwheat honey will bring a molasses taste to foods.
HONEY SUBSTITUTE TIP
Because honey is sweeter than sugar you’ll want to adjust accordingly for your recipe. As a rule of thumb, swap 1 cup of sugar with ½ to ⅔ cup of honey, depending on the sweetness of the honey you’re using. And because honey has more water than sugar, you’ll want to reduce any other liquids you’re using in your recipe. Start by subtracting ¼ of liquids for every cup of honey you use.
2. MAKE MARINADES WITH HONEY
Honey is a great addition to marinades because it not only adds flavor, it also adds moisture. Moisture is a necessary counterpoint to the acidic ingredients which marinades use to tenderize food. Try this Honey Mustard Balsamic Roasted Salmon for a delicious, honey-forward way to prepare salmon.
3. ADD SEEDS TO HONEY
Adding seeds to your honey is not only delicious, it’s incredibly versatile. It can bring a sweet crunch to a classic peanut butter sandwich or a company-ready goat cheese crostini. Making seeded honey couldn’t be easier, just toast your favorite seeds – sunflower, poppy, sesame, flax – combine with some delectable honey and start drizzling.
4. SWEETEN LOLLIPOPS AND LOZENGES WITH HONEY
Not only are honey lollipops and lozenges a sweet treat, they can help soothe throats, naturally.
5. CREAM YOUR HONEY
Creamed honey – also known as whipped, spun or churned honey – is simple to whip up and makes a thick, rich, creamy spread for toast, pancakes, muffins and more. All it requires is a 1:1 mixture of liquid honey and crystallized honey creamed in a blender or stand mixer until the crystals disappear.
6. ADD HONEY TO YOUR CHARCUTERIE BOARD
Honey and baked goods are natural companions, but honey is a delightful counterpoint to cheeses as well. Add a small bowl of honey to your charcuterie board to sweetly balance out the sharpness of cheese.
FLAVOR TIP
There are two categories of honey, raw and processed. Raw is the purer form of honey because it isn’t heated in processing which helps maintain the vitamins, minerals and nutrients. As a general rule, lighter honey tends to be milder in taste than darker ones.
7. WHIP UP HONEY BUTTER
This special butter typically combines honey, salted butter and powdered sugar in a fluffy, sweet confection that’s delicious on warm rolls or biscuits.
8. DON’T FORGET THE HONEYCOMB
Think beyond the jar, honeycomb is delicious as well. Put a piece on your peanut butter sandwich or in your hot chocolate for a sweet surprise. And like its liquid counterpart, honeycomb makes a delicious addition to your cheese board.
9. ADD IT TO YOUR NUT BUTTER
Enhance the goodness and flavor of your nut butters by including the natural sweetness of honey. Experiment by combining different nuts and honeys in your blender to find your favorite combination; for a great starting point try this Nut Butter recipe.
10. AMP UP YOUR SMOOTHIE
Add a tablespoon of honey to your smoothie for a delicious way to bring complexity and flavor to your drink.
11. MAKE MARSHMALLOWS WITH HONEY
Marshmallows are a delicious treat but they often come with a host of unnatural ingredients. It’s not difficult to recreate an alternative version of these winning confections with honey, gelatin and a little vanilla.
12. INFUSE HONEY WITH AROMATICS
Add interest to a variety of foods with infused honeys. Sweeten tea or other beverages, spread it on baked goods or incorporate in marinades. This is a great way to use up odds and ends of herbs – that extra sprig of thyme, that handful of mint.
13. MAKE ICE CREAM WITH HONEY
Take your next batch of homemade ice cream up a notch with this decadent Lavender and Honey Ice Cream – it combines the natural goodness of honey with a delicate floral note for the ultimate indulgence.
SIMPLE HONEY RECIPES FOR SPIRITS
Now that you’ve dipped into the natural goodness of honey, it’s time to drink in the sweetness with cocktails/mocktails and more.
14. MIX HONEY INTO COCKTAILS/MOCKTAILS
Honey can add beautiful color and subtle variations in taste to your mixed drinks based on the type of honey you use. Consider replacing sugar with honey in your simple syrup for a flavorful, amber base for your drinks. To cool off on a warm evening try this island inspired recipe for a Sage Honey Pineapple Blended Cocktail.
15. MAKE MEAD WITH HONEY
Do something old school, try your hand at making mead. Honey ferments when it comes in contact with heat and moisture and produces an alcoholic honey wine beverage. Like wine, mead can be sweet or dry depending on the amount of honey used.
16. SWEETEN KOMBUCHA WITH HONEY
This popular fermented beverage can be sweetened with the natural goodness of honey to add to the taste of your drink.
USES OF HONEY IN DAILY LIFE
Don’t miss out on the beauty side of honey. Because it’s a natural humectant, honey can be great for skin and hair.
17. SHAMPOO WITH HONEY
Pure and simple, diy honey shampoo can help make hair shiny and clean and some say it even helps reduce frizz. Make a “single serving” of shampoo with 1 tablespoon of raw honey and 3 tablespoons of filtered water to try it out. Or simply add a little honey to your regular shampoo to amplify the moisturizing.
18. SOAK IN A MILK AND HONEY BATH
Bask in the softening, soothing sweetness of honey. Replace bubbles or bath salts with a luxurious and moisturizing milk and honey soak. Just add 1-2 cups of milk and a ½ cup of honey to your bath water and enjoy.
19. INDULGE IN A HONEY FACE MASK
Spread a teaspoon of raw honey on your face, after 20 minutes, rinse with warm water to treat yourself to a simple, natural, moisturizing facial.
20. USE HONEY AS A FACE WASH
Give your face a little honey love first thing in the morning for a clean, fresh start. Just mix a spoonful of honey with water, massage it into skin, rinse off and get glowing.
21. SOOTHE CRACKED LIPS
No need to splurge on expensive lip balms, just apply a little honey to chapped lips and let it work its sweet magic.
SHOP KITCHENAID® COUNTERTOP APPLIANCES
KitchenAid® countertop appliances can help you create savory appetizers, delicate desserts and everything in between. Use a blender or stand mixer to create a creamy honey spread, or whip up a batch of lavender honey macarons with a compact and versatile KitchenAid® food processor. Take advantage of cordless appliances like hand mixers, hand blenders and food choppers that give you the freedom to make from anywhere in the kitchen.
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Honey we love
Local Hive Honey—Colorado
For 5 generations our methods have allowed us to create different varietals of raw, unfiltered honey by combining florals from around the country.
Rare Hawaiian Honey Company
Whether you’re looking for a monofloral honey, a blend of tropical nectars or our culinary infusions, we have what you need to make a lasting impression.
Heidrun Meadery—California
We believe that the character of a honey wine should reflect the inherent flavors contained in the variety of honey from which it was made, and nothing more.
