Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and delicious food. We all have to admit, though, that sometimes the food part gets a little been there, done that. The same old turkey and cranberry sauce recipes over and over again. But it doesn't have to be that way this year. Not if you have a bottle of hot honey and a willingness to experiment.

Hot honey is a versatile ingredient that, when used thoughtfully, can add an incredibly tasty, unique twist to traditional dishes. It can be folded into both savory and sweet recipes and is the perfect way to mix up your holiday routine.

In this post, we'll explore seven creative ways to use hot honey in your Thanksgiving feast. Ready? Let's go!

 

Photo from Anna Tukhfatullina Food Photographer/Stylist via Pixels

Table of Contents

Time to take a look at our absolute favorite hot honey-infused Thanksgiving recipes. Feel free to pick and choose one or two of them, or if you're as crazy about hot honey as we are, make it the central theme of your feast and use all seven! Here they come:

• Hot Honey and Bacon Whipped Goat Cheese
• Hot Honey Ginger Turkey
• Hot Honey Sweet Potatoes
• Crispy Hot Honey Brussels Sprouts
• Cornbread with Hot Honey Butter
• Hot Honey Cranberry Sauce
• Hot Honey Pumpkin Pie

Hot Honey and Bacon Whipped Goat Cheese Appetizer

Image by Julio Mantilla via Pixels

For the first round of culinary excitement at your Thanksgiving festivities, consider pulling out a bottle of hot honey and whipping up (literally) this quick and easy Hot Honey and Bacon Whipped Goat Cheese recipe from How Sweet Eats.

Crunchy bacon sprinkled over a creamy bed of whipped goat cheese and finished with a drizzle of your favorite hot honey? Get out of town! We love how the sweetness of the honey and the savory smokiness of the bacon marry together. The goat cheese provides the perfect canvas; tangy, smooth, rich, and creamy, it does a great job of balancing the heat from the hot honey for those of you who are more sensitive to spice.

Serve this unique appetizer spread with an assortment of crackers, toasted baguette slices, or fresh, warm bread. It's the perfect way to utilize hot honey, and it's super visually appealing, too. Your guests will be begging for the recipe at first bite.

Hot Honey Ginger Turkey

Image from RDNE Stock project via Pixels

 

Ahhh Turkey. A time-honored Thanksgiving tradition. When was the last time you had a turkey that really stood out to you, though? This one is sure to do it. This Hot Honey Ginger Turkey from Hailee Catalano is just the hot new take on Turkey you've been looking for.

Mouthwatering turkey brined in a mixture of hot honey, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a smattering of other flavorful ingredients is roasted to crispy-skinned perfection and enhanced with a tangy hot honey and vinegar glaze. The sweet heat from the hot honey melds beautifully with the aromatic ginger, resulting in an incredibly flavorful turkey that's sure to impress. We love the pan-dripping gravy, too. It's got just the slightest hint of sweet spice from the hot honey brine. 

Your guests will be raving about this spin on traditional turkey. Now, all that's left to do is pair it with some seasonal sides. Read on for our faves!

Hot Honey Sweet Potatoes

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You can't (or, rather, shouldn't) have Thanksgiving without sweet potatoes. Some people do sweet potato casserole with marshmallows on top, but we like to keep things interesting with these Hot Honey Sweet Potatoes from The Endless Meal.

Sweet potatoes are sliced into rounds, tossed with melted butter, salt, pepper, and cinnamon, and roasted to caramelized perfection. In traditional Thanksgiving fashion, they're topped with toasted pecans and a hint of thyme. The pièce de résistance here, though, is in the drizzle of hot honey that finishes it off. And my oh my, is it a treat.

We love how the earthy sweetness of the roasted sweet potatoes combines with the crunch of the butter pecans and the sweet heat of the hot honey to transform a classic Thanksgiving side into a unique, gourmet experience you might just have to start making year-round.

Crispy Hot Honey Brussels Sprouts

Image from Damir Mijailovic via Pixels

Oooo, these might just be our favorite here. Brussels sprouts are a contradictory thing at many a holiday table. Not everyone appreciates them. Not until they've tried these.

The Crispy Hot Honey Brussels Sprouts from Legally Healthy Blonde are a stroke of genius. Brushed with an emulsion of hot honey, olive oil, and garlic powder, halved Brussels sprouts are roasted in the oven at 425°F. The resulting? The best Brussels sprouts ever! They turn out so tender, with crispy caramelized outer leaves dripping with flavor. Sweet, savory, and spicy all at once and garnished with bright pops of color from pomegranate seeds, you won't be able to get enough.

We love that this recipe breaks away from tradition and introduces a fresh, modern element to your holiday meal. Thanks again, hot honey. 

Cornbread with Hot Honey Butter

Image from David Clarke via Unsplash

If you're a cornbread person, you know that, while it's pretty amazing on its own, this soul-warming quick bread is made about 20 times better with a slather of hot honey butter. Imagine taking it one step further and infusing your honey butter with hot honey instead of traditional honey. It's a game-changer!

This Hot Honey Butter from Mike's Hot Honey is the perfect addition to your holiday table. Whip up your favorite cornbread recipe (we love this Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread from Food Network) and lather a warm slice with this rich, sweet, spicy spread. It's comfort food to the max and the perfect complement to your Thanksgiving turkey and accompanying sides. Plus, it's super easy to make. Just whip some butter into a frenzy (we prefer salted butter) and then beat in a little hot honey and vanilla.

Hot Honey Cranberry Sauce

Image by Jessica Lewis 🦋 thepaintedsquare via Pixels

This Hot Honey Cranberry Sauce from Savannah Bee Company is the perfect way to spice up (metaphorically and literally) Thanksgiving this year. Infused with orange juice, orange zest, and a "sting" of hot honey, it's sweet, tart, and just the right amount of spicy.

Dollop it all over your portion of Hot Honey Ginger Turkey, scoop some up with a bite of stuffing, or spread it over a slice of cornbread. This lively, vibrant side dish will add the perfect pop of ruby red color and a serious flavor explosion to your Thanksgiving spread.

Hot Honey Pumpkin Pie

Image from KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA via Pixels

"Hot honey in dessert!?" you might ask. We know. Turning a sweet treat spicy might sound funny, but trust us. Sweet and heat are a match made in heaven when done right. That's the point of hot honey, after all.

Now that we've got you on board let's talk about this amazing Hot Honey Pumpkin Pie from Mike's Hot Honey. It's got hot honey infused into the filling and drizzled on top. The subtle warmth of the hot honey is the perfect complement to the warming spices you'd expect to find in a traditional pumpkin pie (cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg), and the result is an over-the-top dessert that will have your guests begging for the recipe. It's the perfect way to wrap up your Thanksgiving meal.

Conclusion

Whether you incorporate hot honey into just one of your Thanksgiving masterpieces or highlight it as a central theme throughout your feast, this sweet and spicy addition is sure to make for a memorable holiday meal.

From appetizers to desserts, hot honey adds a unique flavor profile that will enhance your feast and spark conversation around the table. So give these recipes a try and let us know what you think.

Care to share your hot honey inventions? Leave a note in the comments section below.