5 Delicious Ways To Use Whipped Honey
Perhaps you've come across the light, fluffy goodness of whipped honey on social media, often presented as a thrifty way to repurpose crystallized honey. Or maybe you've received a jar or two as a present. Even better yet, you might be coming upon this treat with fresh eyes. Regardless of your familiarity with the reconstituted take on that syrupy sweet stuff, you're probably curious as to the best way to use such an entrancing and beguiling ingredient. For starters, let's cover what exactly whipped honey is.
As its name suggests, whipped honey is honey that has been whipped into a thick, almost buttery consistency, going from amber gold to an opaque cream color. Whipped honey is quite simple to, well, whip up at home, and it's even easier to find foods to pair with. All you need to do to make your own batch is to whip honey in a mixer until thickened and opaque; this usually takes 10 to 20 minutes, depending on how much you're making. It's a great way to use honey that has crystallized, as the whipping process will smooth out any clumps. Plus, you can add flavorings to whipped honey simply by mixing in extracts or powdered flavorings. Below, we've gathered a few of the absolute best applications for that creamy jar of sweet goodness. Ranging from sweet to savory (and even spicy and tangy), you might be surprised at just how versatile this honey offshoot can be.
Polish off your perfect cheese board
Honey is no stranger to cheese boards and charcuterie creations. A small artisanal jar of honey, perhaps with a bit of honeycomb, is the perfect jewel with which to polish off an array of salty, cheesy treats. However, with all of its tasty potential, honey can also be a bit messy, and getting the sweet stuff cleanly on a toast point or cracker can be problematic to say the least. You're sure to dribble, spill, and sticky up your fingers. Whipped honey, on the other hand, is buttery in texture, making it thick and perfect for spreading with a knife, all while maintaining the sweet honey taste.
This makes it a great addition to any (and every) cheese board. Simply serve your whipped honey in a jar with a small spoon or knife, then spread it on toast or crackers, or even dollop it directly atop cheese. Whipped honey works beautifully with apples, figs, cheddar, goat cheese, or even a pungent Roquefort cheese (or any blue you have in hand). Whipped honey can even brighten up your smoked and preserved meats. Just think about it: some crusty ciabatta with a dollop of whipped honey, prosciutto, and blue cheese. The combination is sure to win over even the most cautious charcuterie enjoyer.
Top off your cakes
As with charcuterie boards, cakes are no stranger to the sweet accent of honey, and here again, using whipped honey over regular honey can make all the difference. Whipped honey makes the perfect, no-fuss glaze for simple one layer cakes. Topping an Earl Grey Bundt or loaf cake, for example, with a thinly spread layer of whipped honey can bring your baked good to a whole new level of deliciousness. The sweet, floral notes of honey work well with many flavors, too. You can pair it with a simple vanilla cake, a spiced loaf cake, or an olive oil cake.
Since whipped honey is so thick, you can spread a thin layer atop your cake, then even pipe over it with a simple whipped cream (perhaps infused with lavender or other flavorings for a flourish), making a lush, fresh, and perfect flavor combination for a wonderfully spring-time themed cake. This combo would pair well with a citrus, vanilla, or even matcha cake base. If you're in the mood for whipped honey but want a bit more complexity in flavor, you can buy or make a flavor-infused whipped honey for a no-fuss frosting.
Sweeten up your sandwiches and salads
Because whipped honey is so easy to spread, it makes a great addition to a hearty, delicious sandwich. As to what kind of sandwich? Well, pretty much any kind you'd like. Whipped honey works beautifully paired with peanut butter for a nostalgic sweet and salty snack. You can also add a swipe of whipped honey to a savory sandwich, such as turkey and white cheddar with apple. This will help bring a bit of complexity and sweetness to this classic. If you're feeling creative, you can make a whipped honey aioli. This delivers a tangy, sweet taste that has enough substance to back up a heartier sandwich, such as a grilled cheese.
You can also use whipped honey (or a whipped honey aioli) as the base for a truly sublime salad dressing. Whipped honey will add a thicker, more viscous texture to your salad dressing, which can make it more easily adhere to everything in your salad. It also provides a wonderfully sweet, light flavor that is great for bright vinaigrettes. Pairing your whipped honey with apple cider vinegar, mustard, olive oil, and a bit of salt makes for a wonderful finishing touch to an autumnal garden salad. You can also use whipped honey to make other condiments, such as a rich honey mustard. This can be used to adorn sandwiches, as a dipping sauce, and, yes, as a salad dressing.
Fill your crepes and spread on pancakes
Crepes are a staple on any brunch menu. The super thin pancakes are perfect vehicles for all sorts of fillings, from Nutella to lemon curd. As such, it just makes sense to add whipped honey to the mix. It's the perfect texture for spreading onto a crepe, and it has a sweet, floral taste that makes a great base for oh-so-many flavorings, whips, and syrups. Now, you probably won't want to just eat crepes with whipped honey on its own. This combination needs just a bit of extra oomph, which can easily be added with the supplement of a vanilla whipped cream or stewed fruits. Adding in other floral flavors, such as lavender, or even some lemon for a citrusy burst of brightness can also make this pairing pop.
You needn't limit your whipped honey to crepes, though; it also makes a great topping for the humble but delicious pancake, or even a nice, crispy Belgian waffle. Though for these dishes you may want to go a step further and whip your whipped honey into some butter for an even more decadent effect.
Drizzle into cocktails
To finish off, a nice cocktail. Honey is no stranger to the art of cocktail crafting. However, whipped honey might just beat out its non-whipped counterpart when it comes to adding flavor and texture to your next sip. Whipped honey would make a great addition to a cocktail like the Prohibition-era staple, the Bees Knees cocktail, which features both lemon and honey.
You can also use whipped honey as a garnish or finishing touch for your next sipping sensation. Rimming your glass with whipped honey makes for a creamy, sweet flourish that adds both visual appeal and a wonderful taste. You can also use whipped honey as the base for an espresso martini. The honey makes a great contrast to the rich and bitter espresso. Or, work off of the whipped texture of your honey by giving your espresso martini a frothy, whipped texture. You can do so by making your espresso martini into a frappe, then drizzling a little more whipped honey on top.