Vegan Honey
This delicious vegan alternative to honey makes the perfect vegan honey substitute for your favorite recipes. Naturally vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free and refined sugar-free. It tastes just like honey!
This recipe comes courtesy of a request I received from a reader. It was brought to my attention that I have quite a few honey-centered recipes on my site, as well as a large vegan reader base, so I set off to create a vegan honey alternative that is vegan, tastes like honey and is cruelty free. I think I’ve succeeded! I’ve since used this vegan honey just as you would a conventional honey and it works beautifully as a 1:1 substitute. I hope you enjoy!
🍯 Veganism and Honey
Is honey vegan? As veganism is defined, no it is not. However, some people who are otherwise vegan, do allow for the use of honey. Just like many things in life, it comes down to personal choice and ethics.
📋 Recipe Features
- Creamy, sticky and drippy (just like honey!).
- Rich and sweet, with honey-like undertones.
- Works 1:1 as a substitute for conventional honey.
- Easy to make.
- Stores well.
- Vegan, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free.
🔪 How to Make
This recipe simply involves simmering some ingredients together for some time in a pot on the stovetop and allowing it to cool before using and serving. Easy peasy!
🥣 How to Use
- Drizzle on pancakes, waffles, and french toast.
- Stir into tea (great in chamomile tea!) or coffee.
- Used in baked goods just as you would other liquid sweeteners like agave nectar, maple syrup, brown rice syrup, or, of course, traditional honey from bees.
💭 Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This recipe works with any granulated sugar, including raw.
The combination of orange and apple juices in this recipe really is what creates a honey-like flavor in this recipe, however, you can replace the juices and experiment as you would like for some still-delicious natural sweeteners! You can even use orange peel powder instead of orange juice.
I tested this recipe a variety of ways and—hands down—the consistency (and slight sweetness) that tapioca provides really creates the closest flavor and texture to that of honey. You can still come up with some delicious flavored sweetener sans tapioca or with other thickeners of choice, but I was really aiming for the honey flavor with this recipe!
Maple syrup contains a compound called vanillin which is also found in vanilla bean itself. This subtle addition of maple syrup really adds some nice rich, vanilla undertones that round out the flavors and contribute to a honey-like taste.
With good care and the use of a jar with a tightly screwed-on lid, this bee-free honey will keep in the fridge for up to 6 months.
🥣 More Vegan Condiments You Might Enjoy
Vegan Cultured Pepper Jack Walnut Cheese
Delicious Vegan Honey
Ingredients
- 2 cups apple juice no added sugar
- 2 cups coconut sugar or any granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons orange juice pulp free, no added sugar
- 5 tablespoons tapioca starch
Instructions
- In a saucepan over high heat combine apple juice, sugar, water, maple syrup, lemon juice and orange juice. Bring to a boil, turn heat to medium-low and let simmer (uncovered) for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Using a ladle, scoop about 1 cup of the mixture into a mixing bowl and add the tapioca starch. Whisk until smooth, then pour the mixture back into the saucepan. Simmer for 5 minutes longer, stirring frequently.
- Turn off the heat and let the vegan honey cool before storing and/or serving. It will continue to thicken as it cools and thicken even more after refrigeration. Keep stored in the refrigerator in a tightly closed jar for up to 6 months.
- Enjoy!
This vegan honey really does taste just like real honey!! I was so happy to have a plant based alternative to regular honey too!
I really love this vegan substitute!! Thanks so much for sharing!
Never tried vegan honey before. SOunds interesting. Thanks for sharing.
What a great idea! I am so glad to find his recipe as honey is something you miss out on as a vegan. Perfect!
Absolutely love this recipe and will be sharing it with my vegan friends. Thank you so much!
This is such a perfect alternative! Thank you s much for the recipe!
Love how easy this recipe is. It’s perfect for our family!
What a brilliant recipe! Thank you for developing this tasty vegan honey that’s such a perfect accompaniment to toast, biscuits, tea, and many recipes. Another winner from Moon and Spoon and Yum!
This recipe is actually amazing!! The perfect vegan substitute and great on so many things!
Oh my, I cannot wait to make this, having some ladies over for a tea party and one of my friends while not vegan is allergic to honey! So this will be perfect, looks simple and delicious!
Great idea! I didn’t even think to make my own honey until i saw this recipe.
This is such a great idea and it really does taste like honey!
This looks an amazing recipe and I can’t wait to try it!
I love the ease of this recipe and it is certainly a great alternative!
Wow! this recipe took me by surprise. Who would have thought you could make your own delicious healthy honey. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
What a great idea! I’ll be making this for my friend!
Thank you!
I love that this is refined sugar free and that it is easy to make! Hope to make some; thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much!
What an amazing idea to make vegan honey. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Thank you so much!
As a healthy foodie this recipe ticks all the right boxes, coconut sugar and agave are usually my go to but I will definitely be trying this once I get some orange/apple juice this week, thank you so much!
Thank you!
interesting – definitely sharing with my vegan friend!