How do you bake with honey?

Honey can be easily used as a substitute for sugar or sweeteners in baking, but always remember honey is sweeter and has a flavour of its own, which can have varying effects on your baking creations.

This sweet golden amber is often seen as superior to sugar as it’s packed with vitamins and minerals, is unrefined and all-natural, and goods baked with honey generally tend to stay moister for longer.

Honey can be mild or spicy, buttery, floral, fruity, botanical or woodsy, depending on the source of the nectar. It’s important to remember that each type of honey has a unique flavour. So, a good rule of thumb when swapping sugar out for honey is that the lighter the colour, the sweeter the honey and the milder the flavour.

4 tips for substituting sugar with honey when baking:

One cup of sugar equals one cup of honey

You can substitute equal parts honey for sugar or sweetener in a baking recipe, but remember honey is naturally sweeter than sugar, so if you prefer baked goods that aren’t overly sweet, best practice would be to substitute every 1 cup of sugar for 1/2 to 3/4 cup honey.

Honey is acidic and needs to be neutralised

For every 1 cup of honey used, you will need to add ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda to neutralise the acidity of the honey and help the baked goods rise to perfection.

Subtract liquids to minimise moisture

Honey adds additional moisture to a recipe, which is great for creating moist baked goods like breads, cakes, muffins and pies, but always subtract 1/4 cup of liquid elsewhere in the recipe for every full cup of honey used to avoid any baking flops.

Reduce oven temperature 

Honey bakes and browns faster than sugar does, so remember to go low and slow – lower your oven temperature by 10–15 degrees to prevent over-browning. You can also pop some foil on top, if you notice your baked goods are browning too quickly.

This sticky ingredient is a great natural sweetener. Browse our stellar selection of sweet and savoury recipes.

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Showing items 1 to 24 of 36

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  Honey-orange poached plums

  A star rating of 5 out of 5.1 rating

  This simple pudding is light and seasonal- flavour your fruit with orange blossom water and sweet honey then serve with crunchy biscuits

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  Honey, parsnip & coconut cake

  A star rating of 3.7 out of 5.10 ratings

  This light bake, with grated parsnips and desiccated coconut, makes a great alternative to carrot cake - top with rich cream cheese icing

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  Sticky soy & honey pork with noodles

  A star rating of 4.4 out of 5.10 ratings

  Serve lean pork tenderoin in a sweet Chinese five-spice stir-fry mix of egg noodles, sweetcorn, sugar snap peas and peppers

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  Honeyed nut & pomegranate pots

  A star rating of 5 out of 5.2 ratings

  Create a cheat's baklava by soaking shredded wheat in honey. Top with creamy yogurt, pistachios and citrus

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  Honey-roast confit of duck

  A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.3 ratings

  This hearty French classic combines meltingly tender meat with crispy skin, and can be made well in advance - perfect for dinner parties

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  Honey & orange roast sea bass with lentils

  A star rating of 4.6 out of 5.43 ratings

  Liven up your midweek meals with this low-calorie, gluten-free fish supper - ready in under half an hour

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  Homemade crumpets with burnt honey butter

  A star rating of 4.3 out of 5.4 ratings

  Light, fluffy, fresh crumpets are perfect for a weekend brunch - top with sweet and salty burnt honey butter

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  Honey & mustard ham hock pie with flaky cheese pastry

  A star rating of 4 out of 5.5 ratings

  Slow-cooked tender ham, potatoes and shallots are enclosed in cheesy cheddar pastry - invest in a pie plate or tin for a crisp base

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  Flaked salmon salad with honey dressing

  A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.6 ratings

  A simple salad of lean, omega-rich fish with sugar snap peas, avocado and a sweet soy vinaigrette

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  Clementine & honey couscous

  A star rating of 4.9 out of 5.6 ratings

  Pistachios, clementines, honey and cinnamon make couscous a perfect breakfast dish. Serve with fruit and yogurt

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  Honey mustard grilled salmon with puy lentils

  A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.34 ratings

  A light and vibrant fish dish with earthy beetroot and lentils, served with basil, rocket and sweet grilled salmon

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  Salted honey fudge & chocolate tart

  A star rating of 4 out of 5.2 ratings

  Layer salted caramel and thick chocolate cream on a chocolate pastry base and top with crunchy honeycomb for a dessert with a difference

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  Honeyed peach & pistachio pavlova

  A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.6 ratings

  Master the art of meringue and gain a kitchen skill for life. This pudding is topped with vanilla, cooked peaches and Greek yogurt

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  Halloumi with broccoli tabbouleh & honey-harissa dressing

  A star rating of 4.8 out of 5.22 ratings

  Couscous makes a great base for a quick salad. Flavour with smoky harissa, sweet honey and herbs, then top with fried cheese slices

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  Hot cross bun ring with spiced honey butter

  A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.11 ratings

  Make these cinnamon-spiced fruit buns into a pretty centrepiece for your Easter table, and serve with a sweet butter

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  Honey-roasted swede with chilli & cumin

  A star rating of 5 out of 5.8 ratings

  This versatile root vegetable can be roasted like a potato - with a drizzle of honey and sprinkling of spice you get a very special side dish

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  Crispy honey buffalo wings with blue cheese & celery slaw

  A star rating of 4 out of 5.1 rating

  Crispy Southern fried chicken is often served with blue cheese dressing and celery - the coleslaw turns this party favourite into a proper supper

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  Honey yogurt cheesecake

  A star rating of 3.8 out of 5.4 ratings

  Bring a touch of Mediterranean magic to your table with this no-fuss bake that can be made ahead

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  Banana date cake with walnut & honey glaze

  A star rating of 4.4 out of 5.43 ratings

  Sticky and sweet, this bundt-shaped banana bread with buttery glaze and cinnamon is a show-stopping bake

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  Honey & thyme carrots

  A star rating of 0 out of 5.0 ratings

  Braise carrots until tender with lemon thyme and honey for a versatile side when feeding a crowd

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  Crispy pretzel chicken with honey-mustard sauce

  A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.9 ratings

  Pretzel crumbs create a super-crisp coating for chicken, and oven cooking reduces the fat content. This recipe makes extra for lunch the next day

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  Stir-fried pork with ginger & honey

  A star rating of 4.7 out of 5.132 ratings

  This healthy noodle dish is deliciously low-fat with a great mix of Asian flavours- the perfect midweek supper

  How is honey used in baking?

  What Does Honey do in Baking? Honey is a 'humectant'. This means that it retains moisture- great news for baking as it helps keep biscuits and cake moist. Honey compared with traditional refined sugar, also means you gain a richer colour and fuller flavour.

  What happens if you bake honey?

  When honey is heated or cooked, the sugar and fructose in the honey change their chemical composition as a result of a browning effect called the Maillard Reaction. Heating or storing honey for long periods of time will increase the production of a toxic substance called 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF).

  What happens if you use honey instead of sugar in baking?

  Honey is sweeter than sugar, so you need to use less. Decrease other liquids in the recipe by 1/4 cup, because there's water in the honey too. Lower the baking temperature by 25°F. Honey makes baked goods brown faster.

  Can you put honey in baking?

  Honey adds additional moisture to a recipe and is great for baked goods like breads, cakes, muffins and pies. A good rule of thumb is to subtract 1/4 cup of liquid elsewhere for every full cup of honey used.