Honey Powder: How to Make and Use This Natural Sweetener

There is no lack of options for sweeteners out there. Unfortunately, most of them are made in laboratories. This is why honey powder should be something you consider as a new sweetener for your family.

Honey in its purest form is a great sweetener. Honey also has many benefits including antibacterial properties, nutrients, and antioxidants. It is completely natural, so it does not contain controversial or potentially harmful lab-created ingredients that artificial sweeteners do.

Also, it is not highly processed like cane sugar is. It is easier to digest than other options and has more nutrients, so it is better for your body.

However, unlike other sweeteners, it comes in liquid form, which can make it challenging to use in some situations.

There is a solution to that problem.

You can now create honey powder to make this sweet treat easier to use and more versatile. Some might call it honey sugar, but it is not a true sugar, but honey in a powder form. In this article we will break down how to turn your favorite honey into a honey powder and share some creative ways to use it.

Can you dehydrate honey?

Yes, honey can be dehydrated with a dehydrator or an oven. Dehydrating honey turns it into honey powder.

In the next section I will share how I turn honey into powder form.

How to make honey powder

A dehydrator or oven will be needed to make homemade honey powder. Honey powder is dehydrated honey, so we need to make sure all moisture is removed.

For this process I highly recommend investing in a high quality honey that is 100% pure with no additives. I use honey from a local beekeeper and it creates a perfect powder every time.

Below are the steps to make homemade honey powder.

1. Spread a thin layer of honey on parchment paper. Be sure to spread it evenly so the layer dehydrates evenly. Keeping a thin layer reduces the drying process and minimizes issues.
2. Set dehydrator to 120 degrees. Sweeteners burn at temperatures that are too high, so going with a lower temp for a longer duration is the best method.
3. Leave honey in dehydrator for approximately 24 hours. Exact time will depend on your dehydrator and other elements. I start checking mine after about 20 hours and look every 30 minutes or so. It is done when it is hard and dry and not sticky to the touch. It should break into chunks or slivers.
4. Immediately remove and place in food processor or blender. This needs to happen quickly, you do not want the dried pieces to capture any moisture.
5. Grind honey pieces until it turns into a consistency like granulated sugar. Make sure whatever you use to grind the honey is also completely dry and moisture free in anyway.
6. Pour immediately into an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place. Avoid opening the container until you are ready to use it, and do not let it sit open at any time.

Make sure you have a completely airtight storage container cleaned and dried before you start the process.

How to use honey powder

Powdered honey can be used like sugar, but it is important to note it won’t act like sugar.

While it does sweeten whatever you add it to, it won’t caramelize or add chewiness to baked goods. It is usually better to use part honey powder and include some other sweetener in baked goods to get the right texture.

It cannot be used as a topping on baked items like regular sugar can. It will start to absorb moisture and will turn sticky instead of delivering that bit of crunch we all know and love.

It is a perfect addition to any baked recipe that calls for sugar. Reduce the traditional sweetener, introduce some honey powder and you will be creating a healthier option. Adding it to any sweet treat offers a bit of a nutritional boost, without an overwhelming honey flavor.

Remember that honey is temperature sensitive and burns easily. Because of this, you may have to adjust oven temperatures and cook times.

It may also alter the color of some dishes because it is not white like other sweetening options.

Here are some ideas to incorporate honey in powder form in your kitchen.

• Use it in homemade BBQ sauce
• Sweeten oatmeal or cereal
• Add a spoonful to yogurt
• Use it as an ice-cream topping
• Add it to drinks like iced-tea or lemonade
• Mix with butter and drizzle over yams

If you run out of regular honey, you can rehydrate the powdered version with a little bit of water. Keep adding small amounts until you get the consistency you are looking for.

Reasons to powder honey

Powdering honey makes it more versatile and easier to work with than liquid honey. Honey in powdered form also stays fresh longer, can add moisture to baked goods, and is cost-effective.

The liquid form does not work well as a direct substitute for sugar in many recipes. The added moisture can change the chemistry of a recipe, particularly cake or cookie recipes. It can completely ruin the end-result of your baking.

With powdered honey, you get the dryness of sugar, so there isn’t the concern of introducing more moisture.

However, another perk of using this powder is that it adds moisture that is beneficial, once it has been mixed in. Your baked goods will stay fresh and moist for longer. It can even be a solution to a cake that usually turns out dry. Baked goods usually last longer due to the added moisture because they won’t get hard from drying out.

Honey in powder form is also much easier to work with than liquid honey. It’s a struggle to get honey from a bottle to the measuring cup and then back out of the measuring cup.

Another perk is it you can store dry honey for a very long time as long as you keep it in an airtight container. You won’t have to worry about it going bad for about 30 years.

Experiment with honey powder

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different elements of honey powder. Adding cinnamon or cloves to the honey before you dehydrate it can create an interesting flavored powder.

Try different honey flavors as well. One of my favorite is a Lavender Honey I bought at a farmers market. I was using it in my tea, but wanted to do more with it so I decided to turn it into a powder. I added a bit more fresh lavender and a touch of vanilla and it has become a base for some of my favorite breads.

Have you ever dehydrated honey? Do you have a creative way to use it? Leave a comment, we would love to hear about it.