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Homemade Vegan Apple Honey

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Bee-free vegan apple honey has the same sweetness as traditional bee honey but without animal products. This easy recipe is made using four simple ingredients in only 45 minutes. After that, you can enjoy cruelty-free honey anytime.

Spoon inside a jar of honey

What you’ll love about this recipe:


  • It’s cruelty-free, vegan, and ethical.
  • It is simple and easy to make.
  • It is sweet, just like honey!
  • This recipe is easily converted into hot honey

Why is Honey Not Vegan?

Honey can be a confusing subject for vegans and non-vegans alike. Are bees an animal or an insect? The general consensus is that it is not vegan because it involves practices that exploit bees. It is important to note the term ‘general consensus’, because not all vegans feel that honey is non-vegan.

The exploitation happens when beekeepers disrupt bee colonies by taking their honey and replacing it with sugar water, clipping the queen bee’s wings, artificially inseminating queens, and culling drones when they are no longer needed. These actions can be stressful for the bees, leading to colonies collapsing. All of these actions contradict the fundamental principles of veganism.

I first learned about honey not being vegan almost 20 years ago. At the time, I thought it was extreme. However, as I have learned more about bees, their importance, and the impact humans are making on colonies, I changed my mind.

What are Honey Alternatives?

Instead, vegans typically use blue agave or honee, which is a common vegan spelling of apple honey. I do like blue agave. However, I find it to be very runny, which does not work well on a PBJ. Instead, I started making vegan apple honey. The longer the apple juice is simmered, the thicker the honey is!

Ingredients Needed

  • Apple Juice
  • Vegan or Organic Sugar
  • Fresh Lemon Juice
  • Chamomile Tea Bag
Ingredients used to make the recipe: apple juice, sugar, chamomile tea and lemon juice

Instructions

Apple honey rapid boiling in the pot.

Step One: Cook

In a medium saucepan over high heat, combine apple juice, sugar, and lemon and bring it to a rapid boil. Lower to medium heat and occasionally stir for 35 – 45 minutes. At some time in the cooking process, place the chamomile tea bags in the pot for ten minutes. When the mixture has reduced by 1/2, remove the pot from the heat and allow the honey to cool. If you prefer a thicker texture, continue to cook over medium heat longer.

Spoon inside a jar of honey

Step Two: Cool

Once cooled, transfer to a jar or an airtight container. Refrigerate for 2 – 3 hours. This will cause the honey to thicken. When the honey coats the back of a wooden spoon, you can remove the saucepan from the heat.

Note: it is not as thick as desired, return it to a saucepan at any time and cook until the desired thickness is reached.

Spoon resting on top of jar of finished recipe

Tips for Selecting the Best Apple for Homemade Juice

If you are making apple juice from scratch, consider buying organic vs. non-organic and what apple variety is right for you.

  • Fresh Organic Apples vs. Fresh Non-Organic Apples – Non-organic apples are usually coated with wax to give them a shiny look. For this reason, I recommend using organic apples. If using non-organic apples, use a peeler to peel the skin off before juicing them.
  • Red Apples vs. Granny Smith Apples – I recommend using crisp red apples for this recipe. Granny Smith apples have a tart flavor that doesn’t work well with this recipe.

Vegan Hot Honey Variation

I have been obsessed with hot honey ever since I saw Garlic, Salt, and Lime post their recipe on Instagram. From then on, I could not stop thinking about making a vegan version. The result blew my mind; it tastes like hot cinnamon candy!!! The variation is simple to make and only takes a few extra steps. Those steps are sooooo worth it!

HOT HONEY INGREDIENTS: 

  • 1 cup of vegan honey
  • 2 tablespoons dried red chili flakes

HOT HONEY INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Combine ingredients in a small saucepan.
  • Gently cook on low to medium heat. Once bubbles begin forming on the saucepan’s edges, remove it from the heat. This happens quickly, so stay close and keep an eye on it.
  • Transfer to a jar and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
  • For additional details, visit Garlic, Salt, and Lime.
A spoon with thick honey filled with dripping off.

Make-Ahead and Storing

Make-Ahead Instructions – Honey will take a few hours to thicken. Always make it at least 3 hours before you plan on using it.

Countertop Instructions – Once the honey has been refrigerated, it can be stored on the countertop in an airtight container for up to one week.

Refrigerator Instructions – Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one month. Hot honey can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Spoon resting on top of honey jar.

Apple Vegan Honey Recipe

Bee-free vegan apple honey has the same sweetness and texture as traditional bee honey, but without any animal products. This easy recipe is made using four simple ingredients in only 45 minutes. After that, you can enjoy cruelty-free honee anytime. 
5 from 9 votes
Print Rate
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Diet:
Keyword: Vegan
Servings: 24 Ounces
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes

Equipment

  • 1 Medium saucepan
  • 1 Wood spoon

Ingredients

  • 4 cups (946ml) apple juice
  • 2 cups (400g) sugar
  • 1 tablespoon (15) lemon juice
  • 2 tea bags Chamomile

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan, combine apple juice, sugar, and lemon juice.
  • Bring to a rapid boil over high heat.
  • Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 35-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • At the 10-minute mark of the cooking process, add 2 chamomile tea bags to the pot and let steep for 10 minutes.
  • Remove the pot from heat and allow the honey to cool.
  • Strain the honey through a fine-mesh sieve (optional).
  • Transfer the honey to a jar or airtight container and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

Video

Notes

Consistancy –
  • For a thicker texture, continue to cook the honey over medium heat after removing the tea bags until it reaches the desired thickness.
  • If the honey is not as thick as desired after refrigerating, you can return it to a saucepan and cook over medium heat until it reaches the desired thickness.
  • If the consistency is too thin, return it to a saucepan at any time and cook until the desired thickness is reached. 
Make-Ahead Instructions –
  • Honey will take a few hours to thicken. Always make it at least 3 hours before you plan on using it.
Countertop Instructions –
  • Once the honey has been set in the refrigerator, it can be stored on the countertop in an airtight container for up to one week. 
Refrigerator Instructions –
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one month. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Apple Vegan Honey Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 94 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Sodium 2mg0%
Potassium 41mg1%
Carbohydrates 24g8%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 23g26%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 1IU0%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 3mg0%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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