There are countless ways to enjoy the sweet taste and benefits of honey on a daily basis. In fact, some might surprise you and make you want to add honey to your everyday diet. You most likely have tasted honey in some form before. Whether it comes from the classic bear-shaped bottle or manuka honey from New Zealand, honey always seems to make an impression on our taste buds. It’s always good to have some honey on hand in your home pantry, in case you want to try a new recipe or just add it to your cup of tea. Here are some of the most delicious ways to enjoy honey every day.
On Your Daily Beverage
Whether you prefer a hot cup of tea or a latte from your favorite coffee shop, honey is the key to bringing a natural sweet flavor that doesn’t overwhelm. Add something new to your daily grind with a drizzle of honey, so your mornings don’t become stale. This way you can wake up to something different, especially if you try honey flavors that deviate from the norm. From orange blossom honey to buckwheat and blackberry—there’s a honey for practically everyone.
Honey-based Salad Dressings
Do you enjoy healthy greens for lunch or dinner? Well, honey is a tasty addition to your normal salad dressing. One of the most popular dressing recipes is honey vinaigrette. Here’s what you need to make it, and better yet, adjust it to your own flavor preferences.
- ½ cup canola oil
- ⅓ cup white balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons minced red onion or shallot
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
And it’s just as simple to make as it seems. In a jar or bottle, add all of the ingredients and shake thoroughly, so everything is mixed together. And there you have it—a honey-based salad dressing that will have you turning down the store-bought stuff every time. Another ingredient to try that will go great with your salad and pairs well with honey is tangy goat cheese.
Natural Sweetness to Baking
Usually, baked goods are packed with processed sugar which make these treats sweeter than they actually need to be. One way to avoid this is to use honey instead of granulated or powdered sugar. Honey adds a natural and more gentle sweetness to baked goods. Whether you want to make honey ginger cupcakes, a honey lemon tart, or just a regular vanilla cake, honey is the way to go. Besides flavor and the organic benefits to honey, what does honey do in baking? The answer: honey retains more moisture than if you were to use refined sugar which is great news for baking. Chances are your baked goods will be more moist and gain a richer color and fuller flavor. Here are some tips when replacing processed sugar with honey when baking:
- Honey contains about 20% moisture. When using honey instead of sugar, make sure you reduce the amount of liquid in your recipe.
- Honey is actually an acidic ingredient, so it’s best to add a pinch of baking soda to your baked good recipe to help lessen acidity. This will create the correct ratio for your treats to rise properly in the oven. A general rule is to add ½ tsp of baking soda for every 250g of honey used.
- Honey is generally sweeter than regular refined sugar, gram for gram. Because of the higher fructose content, honey carries a greater sweeter for the same baked goods compared to normal sugar. Make sure to not overdo it with the honey and try adding it a little at a time when baking.
- Recipes that use honey will brown faster in the oven than refined sugar because of honey’s high fructose content. A good tip is to reduce the baking temperature by approximately 10°F to steer clear of overbrowning your sweet treats.
With just a few modifications, you’re well on your way to baking with honey!
A Touch of Honey on Snacks
Looking for a way to liven up your daily snack? Honey is such a versatile ingredient that it can be added to almost anything—even savory treats. Drizzle honey onto salty pretzels or nuts for a multi-flavored energy booster, or elevate a dollop of creamy ricotta, goat cheese, or a delectable wedge of Parmigiano-Reggiano with a little bit of honey.
And if you gravitate towards refreshing fruit for a midday snack, honey kicks up those sweet and tart flavors even more. Honey on grapefruit can transport you to a tropical vacation right in your own home. Adding it to tart strawberries is also a popular choice. But what about plain vegetables? It may not seem like a go-to option at first, but roasting root vegetables with a touch of honey will have you going back for more.