Whipped Hot Honey Butter

Our whipped hot honey butter is a cinch to throw together. The three ingredients—good butter, hot honey and a little cayenne—are kitchen staples just waiting to be used in something great.

Like all whipped butters, this hot honey butter spreads easily. Serve it with cornbread for your next chili night, smear it on a tressed whole chicken before it goes into the oven, use it to finish a seared ribeye and dress up humble cooked vegetables—these are some of our favorite ways to use up hot honey, as if we needed an excuse.

Ingredients for Whipped Hot Honey Butter

• Butter: Since there are so few ingredients in this recipe, it’s imperative that each one is of the best quality, so it’s worth splurging on one of the best butter brands. Take the time to soften the butter to room temperature before mixing.
• Hot honey: Use your favorite hot honey here—you’re probably familiar with its spice level. If you don’t have a go-to brand, try one of our Test Kitchen’s favorite hot honey brands, or make your own hot honey recipe at home.
• Cayenne: If your hot honey gets lost in the richness of the butter, add a little cayenne pepper to bring back the heat.

Directions

Step 1: Add the ingredients to a bowl

In a medium bowl, add the softened butter, hot honey and cayenne, if using.

Step 2: Beat on high

Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat everything together on high speed until smooth and the butter is whipped. If you’re not using the whipped honey butter right away, store it in an airtight container in the fridge.

Editor’s Tip: Transfer the butter from the messy bowl to a nice clean bowl before serving.

Ways to Use Whipped Hot Honey Butter

Use whipped hot honey butter in all the savory ways you’d normally use butter. Stir it into mashed potatoes or cooked vegetables, use it to stir-fry shrimp, smear it on a roast chicken just before it goes into the oven, or add a pat to finish a steak or roasted sweet potato. We also love it on cornbread, savory scones, homemade biscuits and slices of sourdough.

If you really want to get creative, try this butter on the new butter-dipped ice cream trend. Melt the hot honey butter, then pour a few spoonfuls on scoops of vanilla ice cream.

How to Store Whipped Hot Honey Butter

Store leftover whipped hot honey butter in an airtight container in the fridge. It can be kept for up to one week. Let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes before serving again so it’s not super firm.

Can you make whipped hot honey butter ahead of time?

Yes, you can make whipped hot honey butter ahead of time. Make it two days before serving and cover it tightly with storage wrap or in an airtight container (otherwise it may absorb lingering fridge smells—yuck!). Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving to re-soften.

Whipped Hot Honey Butter Tips

Why doesn’t my whipped hot honey butter taste very spicy?

If your whipped hot honey butter doesn’t taste very spicy, it’s probably because your hot honey isn’t very spicy. “Some hot honeys are spicier than others,” says Lindsay Mattison, a senior editor who contributed this recipe, “and creamy butter will tame the heat, so you may want to add a little cayenne pepper to kick things up.” If you’ve already tasted the butter and determined it needs more spice, add 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne, whip, taste and adjust again as needed.

Can you make this whipped hot honey butter recipe with vegan butter?

Yes, you can make this whipped hot honey butter recipe with vegan butter. However, keep in mind that this alternative is best for dairy-free folks, not vegan eaters, because honey is not vegan. Just as with the butter, make sure to buy the best vegan butter brand from the store for a quality flavor and soften the vegan butter to room temperature.

Can I make whipped hot honey butter without a mixer?

Yes, you can make whipped hot honey butter without a mixer, but it might not have a whipped texture. To make hot honey butter without a mixer, blend all the ingredients in a food processor or mash everything together in a bowl with a fork. It will have a consistency similar to compound butter.