This spicy-sweet condiment has been gaining traction over the past few years, and in 2025, it’s set to be one of the biggest flavor trends across the culinary world. Hot honey’s surge in recent popularity seems to be born from the consumer’s ever evolving need and desire for new and interesting flavors and eating experiences. In the last few months, the rise of the ‘swalty’- sweet & salty- trend has also made it’s way to recipes, social media and other recipe platforms. And what better complement to ‘swalty’ flavors is there than hot honey? It’s sweet. It’s hot. It’s complex. It’s perfect, basically.
Detroit-Style Pizza with Hot Honey
EntertainingIngredients
| 1 | tablespoon olive oil |
| 1 | pound pizza dough |
| 1 | (5-ounce) package HORMEL® Pepperoni Cup N’ Crisp, divided |
| 8 | ounces brick cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes |
| 8 | ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes |
| 1½ | cups pizza sauce |
| Fresh jalapeño slices | |
| Baby arugula | |
| Goat Cheese | |
| Mike’s Hot Honey®, for serving |
Directions
Drizzle olive oil into Detroit-style pizza pan or 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Use fingertips to gently push dough toward the pan edges until it starts to shrink back and won’t stretch any farther. Cover pan with plastic wrap and let rest 15 minutes to allow dough to relax.
Press dough into the sides and corners of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to lowest position. If using a pizza stone, place on bottom rack and heat oven to 500°F.
Lay half the pepperoni evenly over top of dough. Top with cheese, spreading evenly all the way to edges of pan. Spoon sauce over surface in three even rows. Top with fresh jalapeño slices.
Transfer pizza to bottom rack of oven. Bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven and quickly arrange remaining pepperoni over top of pizza. Bake 5 to 8 minutes longer or until cheese is bubbly and edges have turned dark brown.
Remove pizza from oven, run spatula around edges to loosen from pan and let rest 10 minutes. Transfer pizza to cutting board, top with additional toppings. Serve with Mike’s Hot Honey®.
Hot Honey Beyond Pizza
But, hot honey isn’t just for pizza. This fiery condiment is showing up in everything from glazes for roasted and grilled meats to marinades, drinks, dips, and even desserts and sweet treats. Its ability to balance heat with a touch of sweetness makes it an exciting ingredient to incorporate for home cooks and professional chefs alike.
We’ve assembled some of our favorite, new, creative recipes that highlight the magic and versatility of hot honey. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just dipping a toe in the water on this trend, these recipes will inspire you to bring the sweet heat of hot honey into your kitchen.
Hot Honey Chicken Wings
Easy MealsIngredients
| 2½ | pounds chicken wings, tips discarded and drumettes and flats separated |
| 1 | tablespoon oil |
| 1 | teaspoon garlic salt |
| ½ | teaspoon ground black pepper |
| ½ | cup HOUSE OF TSANG® General Tso Stir-fry Sauce |
| ⅓ | cup hot honey |
| Crushed red pepper flakes, if desired |
Directions
Heat oven to 400º F. Line 10x15x1-inch baking pan with foil. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. In large bowl, toss chicken with oil; sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper. Place on baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes. Turn wings over and bake 20 minutes more or until lightly golden and cooked through.
Meanwhile, in small saucepan, combine stir-fry sauce and honey. Simmer 8 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring often.
Brush sauce on both sides of wings. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until the wings are golden brown and sticky.
Prosciutto and Hot Honey Pizza
Easy MealsIngredients
| 1 | pound pizza dough, divided into 2 balls, at room temperature |
| ½ | cup pizza sauce, divided |
| 2 | cups shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese, divided |
| 2 | (3-ounce) packages COLUMBUS® Prosciutto, roughly shredded, divided |
| 1 | cup fresh ricotta cheese, divided |
| ½ | cup red onion slices, divided |
| Hot honey, as desired | |
| Crushed red peppers, if desired |
Directions
Heat pizza stone in oven to 500°F.
Stretch one dough ball on lightly floured pizza peel. Spread with ¼ cup pizza sauce. Top with 1 cup mozzarella cheese and half of the prosciutto. Dollop with ½ cup ricotta and sprinkle with ¼ cup onion slices. Transfer to pizza stone.
Bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until crust is golden brown, cheese is melted and prosciutto is beginning to crisp. Generously drizzle with hot honey. Sprinkle with crushed red peppers, if desired. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 2 pizzas.
Hot Honey, Goat Cheese and Pepperoni Dip
Easy MealsIngredients
| 8 | ounces goat cheese, softened |
| 4 | ounces cream cheese, softened |
| ½ | cup shredded mozzarella cheese |
| ¼ | cup grated Parmesan cheese |
| ½ | cup marinara sauce |
| ½ | cup HORMEL® Pepperoni Cup and Crisp pepperoni |
| 1 | teaspoon red pepper flakes |
| 2 | tablespoons hot honey |
| Fresh basil for garnish, if desired | |
| Crusty bread, for dipping |
Directions
Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 8-inch cast iron skillet with cooking spray.
In medium bowl, combine goat cheese, cream cheese, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese; mix well.
Spread cheese mixture evenly in prepared skillet. Spread marinara over cheese mixture. Top with pepperoni.
Bake 20 minutes. Top with red pepper flakes, hot honey and basil.
Peanut Butter and Hot Honey Cookies
EntertainingIngredients
| 1½ | cups flour |
| 1 | teaspoon baking soda |
| ½ | teaspoon salt |
| ½ | cup butter |
| ¾ | cup hot honey |
| 1 | egg |
| ¾ | cup SKIPPY® SUPER CHUNK® Peanut Butter |
| 1 | teaspoon vanilla |
| ½ | cup sugar |
| ½ | cup chopped PLANTERS® Honey Roasted Dry Roasted Peanuts |
| 1 | teaspoon chili flakes |
Directions
In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. In bowl of stand mixer, cream butter. Mix in honey, egg, peanut butter and vanilla until well combined. Mix in dry ingredients. Cover and chill 1 hour.
Heat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
In shallow bowl combine sugar, peanuts and chili flakes.
Using a scoop, form dough into 36 balls. Roll each ball into sugar mixture to coat. Place each 2-inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Flatten each with tines of fork.
Bake 12 to 14 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cookies cool on baking sheet 5 minutes. Remove to a rack to cool completely.
Peanut Butter and Hot Honey Fudge
EntertainingIngredients
| 1 | cup JUSTIN’S® Classic Peanut Butter |
| 2 | tablespoons coconut oil |
| 2 | tablespoons hot honey |
| 6 | JUSTIN’S® Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, halved |
| Flaked sea salt and additional hot honey, if desired |
Directions
Place muffin liner in each of 12 mini muffin cups.
In microwave-safe bowl, place peanut butter, coconut oil, and honey. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Stir until well combined.
Pour peanut butter mixture into lined muffin cups.
Refrigerate for 1 hour. Top each with peanut butter cup piece.
Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. To serve, sprinkle each with sea salt and additional hot honey, if desired.
Store in refrigerator.
Peanut Butter with a Kick: Elevate your classic peanut butter sandwich by drizzling a touch of hot honey over the peanut butter before adding the top slice of bread. Or, top a rice cake with SKIPPY® Peanut Butter and add a drizzle of hot honey to the top.
Pizza Perfection: Drizzle hot honey over your favorite pizza, especially those with HORMEL® Pepperoni for a sweet and spicy counterpoint.
Grilled Cheese Upgrade: Add a drizzle of hot honey to your grilled cheese sandwich for a gourmet twist. It pairs deliciously with sharp cheddar!
Yogurt or Oatmeal Boost: Swirl hot honey into your morning yogurt or oatmeal for a flavorful start to your day.
Roasted Vegetables: Toss roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts or carrots with hot honey for a caramelized kick of flavor.
Avocado Toast: Drizzle hot honey over WHOLLY® Diced or Smashed Avocado on toast for a surprisingly delightful sweet and spicy breakfast or snack- it’s a great complement to the creamy avocado.
Fruit Salad Enhancement: A light drizzle of hot honey over a fresh fruit salad, especially one with berries or melon, adds a unique and refreshing twist.
Ice Cream Topping: For a decadent dessert, drizzle hot honey over your favorite vanilla ice cream. The contrast of cold sweetness with the warm spice is irresistible. Feeling like adding even more savory to the sweetness? Add crumbled cooked BLACK LABEL® Bacon as a topping!
Cocktail Sweetener: Use hot honey as a sweetener in cocktails like margaritas or old fashioneds for a spicy and complex flavor profile.
Marinade Magic: Mix hot honey into your marinades for chicken, pork, or even tofu. It adds a sticky, sweet-heat glaze that’s perfect for grilling or roasting.