Using honey in the kitchen
For best results, use recipes developed for using honey, like those below. When substituting honey for granulated sugar in recipes, begin by substituting honey for up to half of the sugar called for in the recipe.
With a little experimentation, honey can replace all the sugar in some recipes.
When baking with honey, the following are recommended:
- Reduce any liquid called for by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey used
- Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda for each cup of honey used
- Reduce oven temperature by 25 degrees F (15 C) to prevent over-browning
- Because of its high fructose content, honey has a higher sweetening power than sugar, so you can use less honey than sugar to achieve the desired sweetness
- When measuring honey, coat the measuring cup with non-stick cooking spray or vegetable oil before adding the honey and the honey will slide right out
Honey Caramel Coffee
Makes 4 servings
4 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 dash salt
4 cups milk
1 cup espresso
1 tsp. vanilla extract
whipped cream (optional)
For the honey caramel, add honey and butter into a small saucepan and heat over medium heat. Once the mixture dissolves, add the heavy cream and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring until mixture becomes a creamy caramel. Keep warm.
In a separate saucepan, heat milk over low-medium heat and bring to a boil. Add espresso and allow to heat through.
Pour drink into four separate mugs. Add 1 T of the honey caramel into each drink and stir. Top with whipped cream if desired and drizzle more honey caramel on top of the whipped cream before serving.
Honey Oatmeal Cookies
Makes 6 to 7 dozen
1/2 cup hot water, or hot black tea
1 cup raisins
2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups quick cooking rolled oats
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 cup butter
3/4 cup honey
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 to 1 cup chopped walnuts
1 package (6 oz.) chocolate chips, optional
Pour hot water/tea over raisins; let stand at least 15 minutes.
Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg. Mix thoroughly; set aside.
Cream butter; gradually add honey until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla.
Drain raisins; reserve 1/4 cup liquid. Alternately add flour mixture and reserved raisin liquid. Stir in nuts, raisins and chocolate chips. Chill dough for at least one hour.
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350°F about 12 minutes or until browned. Let stand one minute on cookie sheet; remove and cool on rack.
Store in airtight container.
Pineapple Honey Glazed Ham
12 to 16 servings
1 (4 to 5 lb.) fully cooked boneless ham
1 can (8 oz.) pineapple slices
1/3 cup honey
1 Tablespoon ground mustard
ground cloves
Bake ham on rack in shallow baking pan at 325°F for 1 hour or to 120°F on meat thermometer. Drain pineapple; reserve liquid. Combine reserved liquid, honey, mustard and cloves; mix well. Score top of ham, if desired, and arrange pineapple slices on top. Generously brush honey mixture over entire surface. Bake about 30 to 45 minutes longer or to 140°F; baste every 10 minutes. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes
Peanut Butter 'n Honey Cookies
Makes 2 dozen
3/4 cup honey
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
In medium bowl, cream honey and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, peanut butter and vanilla. Add flour, salt and baking soda; mix until combined.
Drop dough, one tablespoon at a time, onto well-greased baking sheet. Dip fork into flour and press flat on each cookie to form an "x."
Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Remove cookies from sheet and cool on wire rack.
Nutritional information per cookie: Calories: 128; Calories from Fat: 42%; Carbohydrates: 16.4 g; Cholesterol: 14 mg; Dietary Fiber: 0.81 g; Fat Total: 6.2 g; Protein: 3.05 g; Sodium: 88 mg.
Easy honey chicken wings
Makes 8 servings
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup chili sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
8 drops red pepper sauce
3 pounds chicken wings or drummettes
Combine honey, soy sauce, chili sauce, garlic salt, pepper and red pepper sauce. Arrange chicken in a single layer in greased 9x13-inch baking pan and pour on sauce. Turn chicken over to coat with sauce.
Bake at 350 degrees F for one hour, turning over once. Cool slightly and serve
Honey Toddy
Makes 1 beverage
1 orange-flavored tea bag
boiling water
1 tablespoon honey
1 oz. premium orange liqueur
1 oz. brandy
orange slices
Place an orange-flavored tea bag in a mug and add boiling water, 3/4 full. Let the tea steep for 5 minutes.
Remove the tea bag and add the honey, brandy and orange liqueur. Garnish with orange slices
