This deliciousand easy Infused Orange Honey is so versatile! The mild citrus flavor works in sweet or savory dishes. Pair with tea, desserts, cheese boards, and more. Recipe includes two options to make (hot or cold methods). (Gluten Free).
Dry orange zest: Preheat oven to 225℉ (107℃). Use a vegetable peeler to remove strips of zest from 1 orange(see note 1).Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet until the edges start to curl, 15 to 25 minutes.
Combine: Add dried zest and 1 cup mild honey to a jar. Stir to mix.
Steep: Seal jar and let steep at room temperature. Flip the jar every couple days, to submerge the zest (over time it'll float to the top).Let steep for at least 5 to 7 days—or ideally longer for more flavor (see note 3). Once desired flavor is achieved, remove zest by straining through a fine mesh sieve or scooping it out with a fork.
Hot Method [Option 2]
Dry orange zest: Preheat oven to 225℉ (107℃). Use a vegetable peeler to remove strips of zest from 1 orange (see note 1). Bake on parchment-lined baking sheet until the edges start to curl, 15 to 25 minutes.
Combine: Add dried zest and 1 cup mild honey to a jar. Stir to mix.
Warm and steep: Warm honey over lowest heat, stirring frequently and making sure the honey doesn't boil. Warm for 10 to 15 minutes, until desired flavor is achieved. Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove zest (or for stronger flavor, leave the zest in).
Notes
Orange: This recipe uses only the zest (i.e. the thin orange part of the peel). Avoid the white pith underneath, which can be bitter. Choose an unwaxed or organic orange if possible. Once the dried orange zest has been used in the honey, you can re-use the zest to make a caffeine-free herbal tea. Just add it to a tea pot with hot water and let steep.
Mild honey: Use a mild tasting honey so the orange flavor can shine through. Light-colored honeys (like Clover or Orange Blossom) are usually mild. Give it a taste if you're unsure.
Cold method steeping: How quickly your honey steeps depends on the temperature in your home and how strong of an orange flavor you want. In our tests, it took at least 5 to 7 days to get the flavor we wanted (upwards of 2 weeks). If you're short on time, refer to the hot method.
Jar: A 325 ml or 11 fl oz recycled jam jar works well. Or another type of resealable container with a lid. If using the heated method, it'll need to be heatsafe.
What to do when honey solidifies: It's normal for honey to harden (crystallize) over time. Raw honey tends to solidify faster. To make the honey runny again, put the jar in warm water or set it on a sunny windowsill.
Yield: Makes 1 cup of honey. Nutritional estimate based on 1 teaspoon per serving.