Vegan Honey Recipe

Made using just 4 plant-based ingredients, this honey is a delicious vegan substitute! The texture and taste is very similar to honey! Use it as a 1:1 substitute/replacement for honey in your favorite recipes. This apple honey recipe is a keeper!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Stemilt Apples. The opinions and text are all mine.

Is honey vegan

Honey, a thick, sweet, gold, or amber-colored liquid condiment also known as golden nectar is a basic staple in all our kitchens. However, it is not vegan and falls under non-vegan food products. It's an animal by-product. Although there are multiple debates on this, many feel that since it's made by bees for bees, it is unethical to consume it. So many vegans do not consume honey.

If we go by the definition of vegan, anything that causes suffering to an animal is not vegan. Similar to dairy, bees produce golden nectar for bees and not for humans. In the end, the choice is yours. If you do decide to give it up, then here is a vegan substitute for you that caters to your dietary needs.

Vegan alternative to honey

Disclaimer to all - This recipe is meant to be a substitute or replacement for honey. This helps those who are following a vegan or dairy-free diet and do not wish to consume regular honey or are allergic to it. Some obvious substitutes are maple syrup, agave nectar, molasses, sugar syrup, xylitol, and stevia. But you can also easily make honey at home. This "bee-free honey alternative," is made using a variety of plant-based ingredients. Similarly, I also have a vegan ghee recipe on the blog.

Store-bought artificial honey is just a thick glucose-fructose syrup with some artificial flavors and colors. It only adds to calories with no nutritional value. You would be better off making it at home. Making this vegan-approved honey substitute is simple and easy. There are many recipes online that show you how to make bee-free vegan honey at home, but this recipe is what has worked for me the best.

It meets the goal of mimicking the taste, texture, and sweetness of traditional honey. I love that this homemade bee-free honey is naturally sweetened with apples and sugar. It's rich, sweet with a hint of apples, creamy, sticky, and drippy. So if you’ve gone vegan and miss being able to use honey, then you’re in for a TREAT! You can make this vegan-approved honey yourself from scratch!

Choosing the right apples

Apples are one of nature’s best superfoods and are full of good-for-you nutrients! Apples are a great natural energy source! They contain soluble fiber to support digestion and keep you feeling fuller longer. Research has found those who eat a whole apple before a meal consume fewer calories overall.

I love adding apples to our daily diet in some way or the other. I add them to smoothies and salads. We also eat an apple for a snack. I make Apple Pistachio Mousse for parties and special occasions. This vegan plant honey recipe is also made from apples.

When picking apples for any recipe, go organic. The apples you pick should be firm and not have any mushy or soft spots. They should have a pleasant aroma and brands like Stemilt ensure that what reaches the table from the farms is of great quality! That is why, in this recipe, I have used Fuji apples from Stemilt. They are the sweetest variety! Don't forget to check them out and order them next time.

Why make this

• Vegan alternative or substitute for honey
• Made with 4 basic ingredients
• Is clean, bee-free, and preservative-free
• Great way to use apples
• Gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free
• Stores well
• Can be used in sweet and savory dishes

Apples - I have used Stemilt Fuji apples in this recipe because this variety is the sweetest of them all. Making vegan-friendly honey using sweet apples provides a fruity acidity and a sweet tartness that's present in regular honey.

Sugar - You may be surprised to know that original honey is 80% sugar. Sugar is a key ingredient in making it at home. I have used vegan sugar in the recipe. But you can use cane sugar, coconut sugar, or any variety of vegan-friendly sugar.

Apple cider vinegar and lemon juice help balance the sweetness and tartness in the recipe. Lemon juice also enhances the flavor, brightens the color, and acts as a preservative. You can also skip adding apple cider vinegar and double the quantity of lemon juice instead.

Apart from these ingredients, you will also need a food processor and a cheesecloth or nut milk bag strainer.

1. Wash the apples, remove the core, and chop them into cubes. Keep the peel on. The natural pectin in the peel helps thicken the syrup.
2. Transfer half the chopped apples to a food processor. Add ¼ cup water, and blend until puréed, about 2-3 minutes. Don't make it too smooth. It will then be hard to squeeze the juice out. Scrape the sides a few times to be sure you get all the apples.

3. Pass this through a cheesecloth or a nut milk bag. Repeat these two steps with the remaining half of the chopped apples. It should yield a total of 3 cups of clear apple juice. This is a key step. The fiber in apples will not let the honey clarify, which is why we need to strain the apple juice well.
4. Pour this apple juice into a pan. Keep the apple pulp aside and use it in smoothies or for baking. Add apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and sugar to the pan.

5. Bring the mixture to a boil. It could take 10-12 minutes. Then lower the flame and let the juice thicken, darken, and reduce. The process is similar to balsamic reduction or a simple syrup. This entire process should take around 40-50 minutes. Keep stirring and scraping the sides of the pan, regularly. It should coat the ladle and also form a string-like shape when done. The texture should be thick and sticky.
6. Then take the pan off the flame. Let it cool down in the pan itself. It will thicken as it cools. Once cooled, transfer it to a clean, airtight container. Pass it through a sieve if needed.

One tablespoon is all you need, per serving. Use your homemade vegan-friendly apple honey as a sweetener in teas, desserts like Baklava, smoothies, hot or cold beverages, as a drizzle on pancakes/waffles/porridge/toast/ice creams, in cereals, as a salad dressing, in marinades (Honey Sriracha Paneer), or in any recipe that calls for honey or liquid sweeteners. You can also drizzle this golden nectar on Stemilt Apples and enjoy it as a snack!

Now, vegans too can eat honey! If you are not vegan, then please share it with your vegan friends. They will thank you! You can also pack them in jars and gift your friends for the holidays. It's also a great idea to make this honey substitute for your honey on Valentine's Day!

When making the apple puree, don't grind it too smooth. It will be hard to squeeze the juice out. Scrape the sides a few times to be sure you get all the apples. Only use a cheesecloth to sieve the juice. It has to be a clear juice with no particles. When cooking it, if it doesn't thicken, continue to cook it for a few more minutes. But be careful not to caramelize it, or it will get super hard when it cools, like candy. You can still consume it if it crystallizes.

For a little extra flavor, try adding a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, or ginger to the mixture before simmering. Instead of making the apple juice from scratch, you can also use store-bought organic 100% pure apple juice (additive-free) to save time.

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