Why Many Vegans Avoid Honey
Bees make honey for themselves, and it’s an essential food source for the insects to sustain their colonies over winter. However, bees in commercial hives are given a sugar water solution after the honey is taken from them, which still lacks many of the essential health properties that honey has. Moreover, it takes 12 worker bees to make just one teaspoon of honey, making it a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. As a result, many vegans choose to avoid honey.
Delicious and Spicy Vegan Hot Honey
One popular sauce that combines honey with chili peppers and other spicy ingredients is hot honey. The name says it all, but this condiment has gained immense popularity on TikTok in recent months. It’s a tasty sweet and spicy kick that can elevate any recipe.
However, if you’re craving the flavor of hot honey without the actual honey, you might be in luck. Many delicious sauces and dressings are made with alternative ingredients like syrups like agave nectar and maple syrup. For example, a recipe by Earthly Provisions combines light agave nectar with crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt to create a delicious, bee-free alternative to hot honey.
Where to Buy Vegan Hot Honey
Fortunately, you can buy vegan hot honey or spicy vegan syrups that are incredibly similar to the real thing. Here are some popular options:
- Mellody: This vegan hot honey gets its fiery kick from habanero peppers and can be used on pizza, cheese, and crackers, or in drinks, ice cream, and more.
- ChocZero: This vegan hot honey is sweetened with monk fruit and made with soluble corn fiber for a thick, honey-like consistency. It’s infused with chili peppers and perfect for drizzling over vegan fried chicken, roasted veggies, or dairy-free pizza.
- The Raw Store: This hot agave syrup blends the sweetness of 100-percent raw blue agave nectar with the heat of jalapeño peppers and chili. It’s an excellent vegan alternative to hot honey and offers a mild spicy kick.
- Bushwick Kitchen: This maple chili syrup is crafted from organic Grade-A maple syrup and infused with chili peppers. It’s a versatile and tasty vegan alternative to hot honey with a perfect balance of sweet and spicy.
- Old State Farms: This smoky, spicy, and sweet blend from Old State Farms strikes a flavor balance that’s even tastier than hot honey. It’s made from 100-percent dark, robust pure maple syrup and infused with chipotle morita peppers.
- Runamok: This smoked chili-infused syrup combines maple sweetness with a smoky, spicy kick. It’s also eco-conscious and utilizes a 100-percent solar-powered facility.
How to Use Vegan Hot Honey
Now that you’ve got your hands on vegan hot honey, it’s time to get cooking. Here are some delicious recipes to try:
- Rabbit and Wolves: Vegan hot honey chicken salad features soy curls infused with a sweet and spicy blend of Frank’s hot sauce with agave syrup. You can also swap the curls for tofu, tempeh, seitan, chickpeas, or your favorite vegan chicken product.
- Labeless Nutrition: Vegan salted hot honey nuts are a quick and easy recipe perfect for the holiday season. The richness of brown butter with vegan honey, red pepper flakes, and flake salt delivers a delicious combination of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors.
- Labeless Nutrition: Vegan crispy hot honey chicken with rosemary waffles is a comforting classic. Crispy flavorful tofu is marinated in pickle juice, hot sauce, and Dijon mustard, and served with rosemary waffles and plenty of sweet and spicy vegan hot honey.
- Rabbit and Wolves: Vegan spicy honey garlic tofu is a delicious and addictive dish. The tofu is fried to crispy perfection and coated in a sweet and spicy garlic sauce made with gochujang, agave, soy sauce, and garlic.
- Labeless Nutrition: Vegan hot honey chicken sandwich is a quick, easy, and versatile recipe. The sandwich features a sweet and spicy vegan hot honey sauce, shredded cabbage, and bread and butter pickles on top of crispy bread and tofu.
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Mellody | Vegan hot honey with habanero peppers |
| ChocZero | Vegan hot honey with chili peppers and monk fruit |
| The Raw Store | Hot agave syrup with jalapeño peppers and chili |
| Bushwick Kitchen | Maple chili syrup with organic Grade-A maple syrup and chili peppers |
| Old State Farms | Smoky, spicy, and sweet blend with chipotle morita peppers |
| Runamok | Smoked chili-infused syrup with maple sweetness and a smoky, spicy kick |
Conclusion
With vegan hot honey, you can enjoy the delicious and spicy flavors of honey without the actual honey. Whether you make it yourself or buy it from the store, there are countless ways to use this versatile condiment in your cooking.
