Homemade Vegan Apple Honey

Vegans get ready to make vegan apple honey at home. My recipe has the same sweetness as traditional honey but without animal products. You only need simple ingredients and 45 minutes. After that, you can enjoy cruelty-free honey!

A wide mouth mason jar filled with vegan apple honey.  A spoon is in the jar.

Making vegan apple honey at home could not be easier. You only need a few ingredients and 45 minutes. The result is a golden syrup with a flavor and consistency similar to that of bee honey.

I typically make this recipe while I am doing other things in the kitchen, like meal prep, making vegan scones, and vegan clotted cream. The combination of scones, clotted cream, and honey, all vegan, is a weekend breakfast trifecta!

Vegan Apple Honey

At a Glance

EASE: Easy
COURSE: All Day
TIME: 45 Minutes + Cooling
DIET: Vegan

Why is Honey Not Vegan?

The answer is pretty simple: bees make honey for themselves, not for us. When we take the honey away, we damage them, their hives, and the colonies. Generally speaking, being vegan is a lifestyle that extends beyond food. As vegans, we strive to do what is best for all animals, including insects. Bees are also critical to the ecology. We need bees to pollinate plants so that we can eat.

I first heard that honey was not vegan during an interview with the then-president of PETA. I felt it was an extreme position. Over the last 15 years, I have accepted that honey is not vegan. and I understand why. The good news is that you can easily make homemade vegan honey with just a few simple ingredients.

Ingredient Notes

Apple Juice

Apple juice is the base of this recipe. It has the same sweet flavor and color as honey. Because the apple juice cooks over a long period, the water evaporates, resulting in a thick syrup.

When I post this recipe on Facebook, I receive comments saying, “It is sugar.” To that, I reply, “Yes, it is sugar. Honey is also sugar. (I never said it was sugar-free.)”

Vegan or Organic Sugar

Sugar is also added to make this recipe sweeter. Always use vegan or organic sugar; that way, you know it’s vegan!

Fresh Lemon Juice

Just a squeeze of fresh lemon juice is needed to balance out the flavor.

Chamomile Tea Bag

Honey has a subtle floral flavor from the flowers. I use the chamomile bag to mimic that flavor. If you want a substitute, try using jasmine tea, edible flowers, or rose water syrup. It is always best to add in small increments. I think of it as you can add, but you can’t take it away.

See the recipe card for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

Watch How to Make This Recipe

YouTube video

How to Select Fresh Apples

Homemade apple juice is about as good as it gets! Here are my best tips if you want to make homemade apple juice.

  • Go organic! The non-organic apples you buy at the grocery store have a wax coating. That is why they look so shiny compared to organic apples. To avoid the wax and pesticides, go organic.
  • Variety – You want to choose a sweet apple. I go with sweet apples, like a honey crist, fuji, or pink lady. It is also good to add a little variety, so don’t be shy about adding a granny smith for complexity.
  • Ripeness – Look for apples that are at their peak ripeness. They should be firm, bright, and free of bruises. You will know it when you see it. It is the kind of apple you want to eat.

Hot Honey Variation

A spoon with thick honey filled with dripping off.

Hot honey is definitely on trend right now. But with good reason, it is good! Hot honey is like cinnamon candy. You have the sweet from the candy and the hot from the red pepper chile flakes. It takes only a few extra steps, but you will be glad you took them!

All the hot honey credit goes to Garlic, Salt, and Lime. When I saw her post on how to make hot honey, I had to try it!

Vegan Hot Honey Ingredients

  • One cup of vegan honey
  • Two tablespoons dried red chili flakes

Vegan Hot Honey Instructions

  • Combine the honey and red pepper chile flakes in a small saucepan.
  • Cook on low heat, and remove the pan from the burner when bubbles begin forming on the saucepan’s edges.
  • Transfer to a jar and store in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Make-Ahead and Storing

  • Make-Ahead Instructions: Honey will take a few hours to thicken and cool. Always make it at least three hours before you plan on using it.
  • 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.

Use Vegan Honey In These Recipes

A mason jar filled with vegan apple honey.

Homemade Vegan Apple Honey

Homemade vegan apple honey has the same sweetness and texture as traditional bee honey but without animal products. This easy recipe is made using four simple ingredients in only 45 minutes.
5 from 9 votes
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Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Diet:
Servings: 24 Ounces
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes

Equipment

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.

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

Calories: 94kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 41mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg
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5 from 9 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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