A simple cinnamon and ginger spiced honey made with warming spices for serving over fresh fruit, yogurt, ice cream, and more.
Spiced Honey with Cinnamon and Ginger
Spiced honey is an easy way to give ordinary honey a little more character. This version combines honey with cinnamon and ginger, giving it a subtle sweetness and depth of spice that's especially good with fresh fruit and yogurt.
The honey takes just a few minutes to make and can be used warm or cooled and kept on hand for serving. One of my favorite ways to use it is with ripe late-summer fruit and yogurt, making an easy dessert for late summer and early fall. It's also good drizzled over ice cream, oatmeal, pancakes, or waffles.
Why You'll Love This Spiced Honey
- Quick to make. The honey only needs a few minutes of gentle warming to infuse it with the spices.
- Simple ingredients. Honey, cinnamon, and ginger are all you need.
- Easy to use. Drizzle it over fresh fruit, yogurt, ice cream, oatmeal, pancakes, or waffles.
- Good for entertaining. Make it ahead and use it to dress up a simple dessert when you have guests.
- Easy to adapt. Once you have the basic recipe, you can change the spices to suit how you want to use the honey.
Ingredients for Spiced Honey
- Honey. A neutral-flavored honey will allow the cinnamon and ginger to shine, but you can use whatever honey you like best.
- Ground cinnamon. Cinnamon adds sweetness and warmth to the honey.
- Ground ginger. Ginger adds a little heat and spice that complements the cinnamon and sweetness of the honey.
How to Make Spiced Honey
Step 1: Warm the Honey
Add the honey, cinnamon, and ginger to a small saucepan. Warm gently over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the honey is warm and the spices are well incorporated.
There's no need to bring the honey to a boil. Gentle heat is all that's needed.
Step 2: Let the Flavors Infuse
Remove the honey from the heat and let it stand for a few minutes so the cinnamon and ginger have time to infuse the honey.
Step 3: Strain, If Desired
If you prefer a smooth honey without any visible spices, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve while it's still warm. Otherwise, leave the spices in the honey.
Step 4: Serve or Store
Use the honey while warm, or let it cool before transferring it to a clean, airtight container.
Variations
The cinnamon and ginger combination is a simple starting point, but you can change the spices depending on how you plan to use the honey.
- Cardamom Spiced Honey. Add ground cardamom along with the cinnamon and ginger. This is particularly good with peaches, figs, yogurt, and ice cream.
- Cinnamon-Orange Honey. Add a little finely grated orange zest for a citrusy variation that works well with fruit and desserts.
- Chai-Spiced Honey. Add cardamom, cloves, and a small amount of nutmeg to the cinnamon and ginger for a more complex spice blend.
- Cinnamon-Clove Honey. Add a small pinch of ground cloves for fall flavored version.
How to Use Spiced Honey
Fresh Fruit with Yogurt
Halve ripe peaches, nectarines, plums, or other seasonal fruit and drizzle them with warm spiced honey. Serve with plain or Greek yogurt on the side for an easy late-summer or early-fall dessert.
Over Ice Cream
Warm spiced honey is especially good drizzled over vanilla ice cream. Add fresh fruit if you like.
With Yogurt
Drizzle spiced honey over plain or Greek yogurt for breakfast or a snack. Add fresh fruit, granola, or other toppings as desired.
Over Pancakes or Waffles
Use spiced honey in place of maple syrup for pancakes, waffles, or French toast.
With Roasted Fruit
Drizzle spiced honey over roasted figs, pears, apples, or other fruit just before serving.
In Tea
This warm spiced honey with hints of ginger and cinnamon is also lovely in tea, where it adds sweetness along with the flavor of the spices.
Tips for Making Spiced Honey
- Use gentle heat. The honey only needs to be warmed enough to incorporate and infuse the spices. Avoid boiling it.
- Adjust the spices to taste. Cinnamon and ginger vary in strength, so you can add more or less depending on how pronounced you want the flavor.
- Strain for smooth honey. If you prefer honey without visible spices, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve while it's still warm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is spiced honey the same as hot honey?
No. Hot honey is typically made with chile peppers, while spiced honey gets its flavor from spices such as cinnamon and ginger. The two can be used in different ways depending on the flavor you're looking for.
Can I use other spices?
Yes. Cinnamon and ginger are the base combination in this recipe, but you can add cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, or citrus zest to create different variations. See the variations above for a few combinations.
Can I make spiced honey ahead?
Yes. Spiced honey can be made ahead and kept on hand for serving. It's convenient when you're entertaining because you can prepare it before serving and drizzle it over fruit, yogurt, or ice cream when you're ready.
How should I store spiced honey?
Let the honey cool, then transfer it to a clean, airtight container and keep it at room temperature.
Final Thoughts
Spiced honey is especially good to have on hand when late-summer fruit is at its best. Drizzle it over peaches, nectarines, plums, or figs and serve with yogurt for a simple dessert, or use it throughout the year with ice cream, breakfast dishes, and other desserts.
The cinnamon and ginger combination is a simple starting point, and you can change the spices depending on how you want to use the honey.
Spiced Honey
A simple cinnamon and ginger spiced honey made with warming spices for fresh fruit, yogurt, ice cream, and more.
Ingredients
For the Spiced Honey:
- ½ cup/ 170g mild flavored honey
- ½ teaspoon ground Saigon Cinnamon,
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Ginger
For Serving
- Fresh Fruit
- Yogurt or fromage blanc
Instructions
- Make the spiced honey: Add the honey, cinnamon, and ginger to a small saucepan. Warm gently over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the honey is warm and the spices are incorporated. Do not boil.
- Infuse: Remove from the heat and let stand for 5-7 minutes.
- Strain, if desired: For smooth honey, strain through a fine-mesh sieve while warm. Otherwise, leave the spices in the honey.
- Serve or store: Use warm or let cool and transfer to a clean, airtight container.
Notes
Serving suggestion: Drizzle warm spiced honey over halved fresh peaches, nectarines, plums, or other seasonal fruit and serve with plain or Greek yogurt alongside.
Variations: See the post above for cardamom, orange, chai, and cinnamon-clove variations.
Storage: Let cool and store in a clean, airtight container at room temperature.
Dietary Info:
Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Refined Sugar-Free
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1 TablespoonAmount Per Serving: Calories: 60Total Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 0gSugar: 17gProtein: 0g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
Kay says
Looks really delicious! And stunning photographs.
Jeanne @ CookSister! says
Oh, look at those PEACHES!! :o)) Love this - I do something similar where I pop the fruit under the grill for a few minutes before serving - heaven.
susan says
I love how you took an ordinary piece of stone fruit and turned it inot something extra-ordinary. Sometimes I simply want to climb inside your head - I love all of your culinary vision!