Honey has been harvested for thousands of years, and with its floral sweetness, natural acidity and complex depth, appears in cuisines from Egypt to China – as both a quiet accent and a bold lead. Its magic often lies in contrast: meeting salt, fat, fire or spice to unlock unexpected dimensions. Whether baked over cheese, stirred through marinades or paired with smoke and citrus, honey has many moods.
It is such a powerful ingredient that renowned chef Analiese Gregory even embarks on a beekeeping journey to be able to harvest her own honey in her Tasmanian farming journey, as documented in .
If you're looking for a sweet treat with honey, be sure to check out the sweetest ways to cook with honey, or if you're interested in finding out how to substitute sugar for honey, here are some great tips.
But in the meantime, here are some of the greatest recipes, from savoury dishes to cocktails, in which honey is so much more than a sweet touch.
A botanical twist on a classic prohibition cocktail – lemon verbena and honey give this gin drink lift, perfume and a honeyed linger. This elegant version concocted by Analiese Gregory feels both vintage and modern.
Credit: A Girl's Guide To Hunting Fishing and Wild Cooking
A breakfast that leans into texture and native flavour – sweet-tart quandong, creamy mango, and the crunch of honeyed nuts over warm oats.
Credit: Steen Vestergaard
Perfect for a family huddle-around-the-table meal, this honey chicken delivers warm sweetness and tender texture, no fancy ingredients required — just a marinade, batter and honey sauce to finish.
Credit: Sippakorn Wongthanapa
A throw-together dinner that delivers big: salmon fillets bathed in a honey-garlic glaze, broiled to caramelised perfection. Impressive on the plate, easy on the effort.
Honey garlic salmon Credit: Kitti Gould
Imagine melting feta with honey drizzle and chilli flair, then scooping it onto fresh bread. It’s a simple but show-stopping starter that keeps everyone coming back for more. This dish is party-ready.
Credit: Penguin Books / Nadiya's Everyday Baking
Fast, fresh and zingy – this stir-fry is all about speed and brightness. Honey tempers the lime, while prawns soak up the sweet-sour glaze.
Credit: Jiwon Kim
Christmas or not, this bourbon-honey glaze is worth turning on the oven for. The cloves perfume every slice, while the sticky crust begs to be sneakily picked at when no one's watching.
This dish is sunshine on a plate – ideal for when fruit is at its peak and you want something beautiful without turning on the oven. A bright, effortless dessert or brunch plate with creamy ricotta, tart-sweet fruit and honey to tie it all together.
Credit: Ben Fogarty
Salty, spicy sobrassada and sweet honey form an unexpectedly addictive combo on crusty toast. It’s the kind of breakfast that feels like a treat but takes minutes. A nod to Mallorcan flavours, this dish leans on contrast: hot and cold, sweet and spicy, soft and crisp.
Olive oil, sobrassada and honey on toast Credit: Rochelle Eagle
These North African-style meatballs wrap lamb, saffron and honey into one fragrant, satisfying dish. Perfect for feasting, or freezing ahead.
Credit: China Squirrel
These ribs pack heat and sweet in equal measure. The honey glaze tempers the smoke and spice of chipotle, leaving you with sticky, fall-apart meat.
Credit: Pati's Mexican Table
The contrast of fried cheese and honey never gets old. Here, salty pecorino meets hot oil and comes out golden and gooey. A drizzle of honey and herbs makes it more than just a cheese snack – it’s a surprisingly satisfying starter.
Credit: Adam Liaw
This recipe adds complexity without effort. Honey softens the peppery bite, bringing balance to a robust, quick-fire steak. Smoky, sweet, and slightly floral, with just the right amount of saltiness from the soy sauce.
Credit: Outback Gourmet
A Jewish classic where carrots are braised low and slow in honey until glossy, tender and festive-feeling.
A proper dinner-party dish – rich pork loin gets a sticky glaze and salty blue cheese hit, brought together by the subtle sweetness of honey.
Pork loin with stilton and port and honey glaze Credit: Donna Hay: Fast, Fresh, Simple
This recipe makes haloumi the star, pairing its salty squeak with floral honey, lemon and nutty buckwheat for a clever side or light main.
Credit: Benito Martin
Sticky-finger food done right – these ribs lean into sweet, herbal and liquor warmth for a standout dish that blurs the line between rustic and refined.
Slow-roasted lamb spare ribs with thyme honey and ouzo glaze. Credit: Alpha
Family-friendly but not dull, this one-pan dish leans on mustard and honey for punch, peas for sweetness – and delivers perfectly glazed chicken with barely any cleanup.
Credit: Jiwon Kim
Brie needs no introduction, but add warm honey and toasted nuts and you’ve got a starter that is rich, gooey and always a hit. This recipe makes maximum impact with just a few ingredients.
Credit: Jiwon Kim
Honey gives this bread a mellow edge and helps keep it tender. Great for baking on a quiet Sunday, with leftovers for the week.
Credit: Martha Bakes / Yossy Arefi
Crispy eggplant rounds glazed with a honey infused with aromatics like black peppercorns, fennel and bay – this is rustic Italian snacking at its best. A scattering of fried rosemary leaf adds a herbal savoury lift.
Credit: Benito Martin
Scottish heather honey brings floral depth to this golden-skinned chicken, which roasts until the sweetness turns to savoury caramel. Gently perfumed, it’s a Sunday roast with a subtle twist.
Credit: Chris Chen
This Sardinian treat tucks tangy cheese into pastry, then fries it and drizzles it with honey. It’s a sensory rollercoaster: crunchy, creamy, salty and sweet.
Credit: Bonacini's Italy
