Condiments

Spiced Honey

August 19, 2013

I’ve had this Ball Blue Book of Preserving on my shelf for several years now. Have I ever canned anything? No. Does this post include something I’ve canned? No. I think you have to be in a “mood” to can, and I certainly wasn’t. I’ll tackle it eventually, but what I really like about this book are all the spreads and dips that are also included. Easy condiments you can whip up without having to deal with the canning process (unless you’re making huge batches). Spiced Honey caught my eye because it was easy, sounded really delicious, and could potentially be something to give as a gift for the holidays or just because.

Spiced Honey by So, How's It Taste? www.leah-claire.com

So, how’s it taste?

Oh it turned out so tasty! I really, really, really wanted to bring this recipe to you and follow it up with a recipe for amazing homemade biscuits, but this Southerner cannot make them. (Sidenote: I’m taking a biscuit-making class this Sunday! Eeee!) So those gorgeous mounds of buttermilk deliciousness in the background are (gasp!) frozen, store-bought biscuits. I had to have some to spread that amazing honey on. Honey and biscuits are like dessert to me. My roommate in college turned me on to using honey instead of jam and I’ve never looked back.

Spiced Honey on biscuits by So, How's It Taste? www.leah-claire.com

It’s a really simple recipe of honey, lemon, cloves, and cinnamon. The lemon helps to balance out the already super sweet honey. I couldn’t really taste it in the final product. I think oranges would work very well, too. The spice is a subtle hint, so don’t feel overwhelmed by the cloves. I know some folks think cloves are really strong, but they don’t overpower the honey at all. I could distinguish more of the cloves than the cinnamon, but it was perfect. I still wanted the honey to shine through and it does. It’s just gussied up.

Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving on So, How's It Taste? www.leah-claire.com

I’ve only eaten this honey on biscuits, but I think it’s very versatile. I’d love to try it as my sweetener in tea, over fresh fruit, or in any salad calling for honey. This recipe is a keeper!

Yield: about 3 half-pints

Spiced Honey

Ingredients:

1 lemon
12 whole cloves
3 sticks cinnamon
2 2/3 cups honey

Directions:

1. Cut lemon into 6 thin slices. Place two cloves in each slice. Put lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, and honey in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat; stirring occasionally.

2. Remove from heat and place two lemon slices and one cinnamon stick in each jar. Ladle hot honey into jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Adjust two-piece caps. Process 10 minutes in a boiling-water canner.

*Note: If you're going to consume the honey fairly quickly, there's no need to do the canning process.

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  • alexandra @ sweet betweens [blog] August 19, 2013 at 10:46 am

    I can’t believe that I didn’t like honey up until a year or so ago. Once I realized that it was so stinkin’ delicious, I haven’t looked back. This idea to spice up some already tasty regular honey looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

    • Leah Short August 19, 2013 at 1:01 pm

      You didn’t like honey? That’s so interesting to me. It seems like such a generic sweetener, I thought everyone liked it. I hope you’ve had it on a biscuit!

  • Lesley Eats August 19, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    I like the idea of orange instead in this a lot. I love orange blossom honey more than just about any other sort. Never thought to add it in after the fact!

    Also, yes, you gotta gear yourself up for some canning. Devote some time to it.

    • Leah Short August 19, 2013 at 2:17 pm

      I really need to! So many jams and such I want to make.

  • Erin @ One Particular Kitchen August 19, 2013 at 2:13 pm

    Girl, I will teach you to make biscuits! 🙂 You bring the honey. This looks FABULOUS.

    • Leah Short August 19, 2013 at 2:18 pm

      If this class on Sunday doesn’t do the trick, I’m totally coming to your house for some lessons!

  • Sues August 19, 2013 at 3:03 pm

    Love love the idea of this! Honey is already fabulous, but with a little extra spice? Perfection!

  • Julie @ Table for Two August 19, 2013 at 7:24 pm

    I bet this spiced honey would make the best sweet tea!!

  • ashley - baker by nature August 19, 2013 at 7:43 pm

    We LOVE honey over here! Must try this!

  • angela@spinachtiger August 20, 2013 at 7:30 am

    I love the spiced honey and I would have been happy to teach you how to make biscuits for free. Anytime, the offer is there. I’m sort of known for my biscuits around the family, even the Southern side, which is what I think won them over.I have a post with 17 tips for biscuit making and I’m curious how your class is going to square with it. Leah,come on over anytime to learn biscuits or pie dough, because by some miracle, I conquered these.

    • Leah Short August 20, 2013 at 7:50 am

      Thanks Angela! I just might take you up on that!

  • amy @ fearless homemaker August 20, 2013 at 3:36 pm

    This looks fantastic and I love the idea of giving it as a gift around the holidays. And I know you’ll master biscuit-making one day soon, no problemo! =P

  • Jackie l Food.Wine.Fashion August 20, 2013 at 3:43 pm

    Biscuits with butter and honey is one of my all time favorite things to eat. I guess you would call it a snack? Or breakfast maybe? Either way I am always on board and this spiced honey looks so yummy!

    xo jackie

  • Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain August 21, 2013 at 11:06 am

    My husband would go bonkers for this!! I need to get on the canning band wagon!