The Best Honey For the Perfect Charcuterie Board

I have said many times before, food is my love language. So, the idea of having a board created to pair delicious food combinations is always exciting to me. My friends and I will sometimes have charcuterie night where each person brings a different little board complete with their cravings. It can get pretty interesting when one of us is pregnant… From creamy cheese paired with fresh fruit to fresh naan paired with homemade hummus, we love eating and discussing our creations. My go-to secret ingredient in my board is simple but always effective, a drizzle of honey.

What are the Benefits of Raw Honey?

Raw Honey is honey that has not been pasteurized with heat or finely filtered. This leaves all the nutrients from the honey intact. It also holds all the unique flavor profile that the bees receive from the flowers they pollinate. All that unique flavor is lost during the filtering and pasteurizing processes. Once processed, honey simply becomes a sweetener. Now this is no revolutionary concept; you don’t have to maintain a hive yourself to get your hands on raw honey. It is sold in most grocery stores as well as online.

Organic honey implies that the plants that the bees pollinated were all organic, which can be very hard to know for certain. That is why organic is not usually on my priority list. 

Best ​Basic Honey Option: Clover Honey

Clover Honey is one of my favorite honeys because it is so versatile. It enhances the sweetness of soft cheeses while also pairing perfectly with savory elements. It can act as a great addition to any charcuterie or cheese board. If you are creating a dessert board with various fruits and chocolate you can use it to drizzle over your crisp apples, or on top of delicious caramel or peanut butter spread for dipping. It is the best way to achieve that perfect bite no matter the theme of the board. Here are some ideas for using clover honey…

​Baked Brie with Blackberry Compote and Clover Honey

The buttery flavor of baked brie paired with the tartness of the blackberry compote is taken to the next level when drizzled with clover honey. The honey adds to the creamy texture of the baked brie which you can dip into with a warm slice of a baguette.  Baked brie is always the main attraction of my charcuterie boards. Even those who normally do not like brie, love it once it becomes deliciously melty. The pairing is sure to help you create the perfect board. Here is my recipe for this dish. 

Whipped Cinnamon and Clover Honey Butter with Savory Warm Biscuits

A new trend on social media has butter boards beginning to replace charcuterie boards. Butter Boards are a great choice for those who want to add different flavors to their charcuterie spread. Although I think many people love a good variety of cheeses, meats, and fruits, the addition of a butter section on your board can elevate the whole experience. Also, adding Garlic Cheddar biscuits to your board can never be a bad thing. Here is my guide to butter boards.

Savory Honey Option: Hot Honey

Hot honey is a type of infused honey. This means that at its base it may be a raw clover honey, but it has been infused with spice giving it its intense flavor. And let me just say, hot honey doesn’t mess around. It can pack a punch. Hot honey is a great way to enhance savory flavors on your board. Examples include hard cheeses, dry salami, and savory crackers. While sweet honey like clover honey is often delicious with savory options due to the sweet and savory combination, Hot honey does not have the same effect when paired with something sweet. Spicy is not the same as savory and it can be overwhelming when paired with fruit or chocolates. Some people enjoy it with a high percentage of dark chocolate, but this is not a versatile option for your board. Here are some great combinations for your hot honey. 

​Baked Brie with Caramelized Onion, Bacon, and Hot Honey

I told you I loved baked brie. I teach a class on charcuterie and during the class, we get to taste test many different charcuterie staples. These two baked brie recipes are always what students go on about. After trying this Caramelized Onion, Bacon, and Hot honey, one woman told me that her kids better like brie because that is what they are having for dinner every night from here on out. Here is my recipe.

Hummus with Everything Bagel Seasoning and Hot Honey

​This is a great way to mix in some fresh vegetables and some delicious naan. Plain Hummus is also a great charcuterie staple that can be dressed up in so many ways. I usually buy hummus plain and then top it with everything bagel seasoning and then drizzle on the hot honey. This gives an extra kick to each bite of the hummus. 

Making Your Own Hot Honey

Making your own hot honey from some regular honey you already have in the house is so simple. We have included a full recipe below:) I have made my own, but I have also used Mike’s Hot Honey.

Fancy Honey: Floral Flavor Honey

A fun fact that is amazing about honey is that it can taste so different based on what plant the bees are pollinating. If the bees are pollinating a field of wildflowers, the honey holds a slightly floral note.  This amount of variety is the reason you see some darker honey and some lighter honey. Each is very affected by what flower was pollinated by the bee. Some varieties are very unique, such as Poison Oak honey which some say if you consume regularly can help you overcome an allergy to the plant. And some are delicious for pairing with charcuterie items…

• Lavender Honey: While being a delicious addition to teas, this is also a great honey to drizzle on some goat cheese, blue cheese, and even candied nuts. It is also known to pair well with sweet hams and dried fruit.
• Wildflower Honey: Many people find that wildflower honey pairs well with fruits. This would be a great option to use for Whipped feta and Roasted Strawberries. It is also known to complement nutty and caramelized flavors of roasted root vegetables (like carrots).
• Orange Blossom Honey: This is one of my favorite flavors to pair with chocolate. It has a slight citrus flavor that goes perfectly with a piece of good dark chocolate. 
• Linked here is a great variety pack so you can try each of the kinds of honey.

Honey For Charcuterie 

The most important thing to look for if you want to have honey with the most flavor and natural benefits is that your honey is raw. For daily use in teas and on food, local honey may help with seasonal allergies. With charcuterie boards, you often are not going to consume enough of this honey to see the benefits. If you want to try some unique honey, just be sure that it is raw, or you may find that the flavor is coming from additives. 

I do recommend always checking local vendors first; however, if you are unable to find local options, I have provided links throughout the article!

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