The Best Honey for making Honey Butter

When it comes to making honey butter, the type of honey you use can have a big impact on the flavor. The best honey for honey butter depends on your taste preferences and the type of dish you’re preparing. Here are a few popular honey varieties to consider, along with their flavor profiles:

1. Clover Honey (OUR FAVORITE)

  • Flavor: Mild, floral, and slightly sweet
  • Best For: Classic honey butter recipes, as its mild flavor doesn’t overpower the butter.
  • Why Use It: Clover honey is one of the most common types of honey and works well for general-purpose honey butter. It has a neutral, slightly floral sweetness that balances beautifully with butter.

2. Wildflower Honey (More Robust Honey Taste)

  • Flavor: Floral and slightly fruity, with varying flavors depending on the season and location.
  • Best For: Versatile for both sweet and savory honey butter recipes.
  • Why Use It: Wildflower honey brings a more complex and varied flavor, depending on where the wildflowers are sourced. It adds depth to honey butter without being too overpowering.

3. Orange Blossom Honey

  • Flavor: Citrusy, floral, and sweet
  • Best For: Pairing with recipes like Lemon Honey Butter or Fruit-Based Honey Butters.
  • Why Use It: Orange blossom honey has a bright, citrusy flavor, making it ideal for pairing with fruity or citrusy honey butter recipes. It adds a fresh and tangy note that complements butter perfectly.

4. Acacia Honey

  • Flavor: Light, delicate, and mildly sweet
  • Best For: Light, airy honey butter spreads or when you want the butter to be the star.
  • Why Use It: Acacia honey’s mild sweetness lets the butter's flavor shine while still adding a subtle hint of honey. It’s also known for staying liquid longer, making it easier to blend into butter.

5. Buckwheat Honey

  • Flavor: Robust, earthy, and slightly molasses-like
  • Best For: Rich and bold honey butter spreads, especially with savory dishes.
  • Why Use It: Buckwheat honey is dark, rich, and full of flavor, making it a great choice for those who prefer a more intense honey taste. It’s excellent for pairing with grilled meats, cornbread, or savory biscuits.

6. Sage Honey

  • Flavor: Mild and herbaceous with a light sweetness
  • Best For: Savory dishes like Garlic Herb Honey Butter or serving with roasted vegetables.
  • Why Use It: Sage honey’s delicate sweetness and slight herbal notes complement savory flavors, making it a great choice for more savory honey butter recipes.

7. Manuka Honey

  • Flavor: Strong, medicinal, and earthy
  • Best For: Health-conscious or medicinal uses, though it’s very strong for typical honey butter.
  • Why Use It: Manuka honey has a unique flavor that’s often prized for its health benefits. Its strong, earthy taste might be too intense for general honey butter recipes, but it can work in small amounts if you enjoy a robust honey flavor.

8. Lavender Honey

  • Flavor: Light, floral, and subtly herbal
  • Best For: Unique and fragrant honey butters, especially when pairing with Lavender Honey Butter or sweet breakfast foods.
  • Why Use It: Lavender honey has a lovely, fragrant flavor that adds an extra layer of sophistication to honey butter. It’s ideal for sweet and floral-infused butter recipes.

Tips for Choosing the Best Honey for Honey Butter:

  • Flavor Pairing: Consider the other ingredients you’re using. For example, floral honeys like wildflower or lavender pair well with fruit or citrusy spreads, while robust honeys like buckwheat are great for savory applications.
  • Texture: Choose liquid honey or one that easily mixes into butter. Some honeys crystallize quickly, which can make blending into butter more difficult.
  • Raw Honey: Raw honey is a good choice if you want a more natural, unprocessed option with extra nutrients and enzymes. Just make sure it's soft enough to blend easily.

Conclusion:

The best honey for honey butter ultimately depends on the flavor you’re going for. Clover and wildflower honeys are great all-around choices, while more flavorful varieties like buckwheat or orange blossom can add extra character. Experiment with different honeys to find the one that suits your taste best!