What Is Honey Powder And How Do You Use It?

There's nothing like adding a touch of sweetness to your dish. Whether it's a drink, sauce, or dessert, adding a sweetener can create balance and elevate existing flavors. Although you can use refined sugar to add sweetness to whatever you're making there's something to be said for opting for honey instead. It's one of the world's oldest forms of sweetener and has loads of nutritional benefits. It also can be used for medicinal purposes. 

It should come as no surprise then that honey is found in so many dishes both as a substitute for other sweeteners and as the original star of the show. This delicious golden liquid is great when used while baking and cooking and can give you a sweet finished product. 

Despite all these positives, honey can be messy in its liquid form; but there is an alternative. Honey powder is growing in popularity and for good reason. If you've never used powdered honey, you may be hesitant to give it a try, but this is an ingredient worth experimenting with.

Powdered honey is simply honey that has been dehydrated extensively, taking it from a liquid to a solid. Once the moisture content in liquid honey has evaporated, it gets ground into a powder that resembles sugar granules. According to HealthLine, raw liquid honey is loaded with antioxidants as well as antifungal and antibacterial properties. Unfortunately, the dehydration process means honey powder loses many of those nutrients and additional medicinal properties. However, powdered honey does retain a lower glycemic index than processed sugar, making it a more natural sugar substitute.

But if you're looking for a sugar alternative, be sure to read the label before using it. Some powdered kinds of honey are blended with an additional ingredient to help stabilize it and help it keep its granulated consistency. These stabilizers can range from other sweeteners like sugar, sucrose, fructose, or even corn syrup, to a filler ingredient like cornstarch.

Traditionally used in Korean cooking recipes, honey powder is earning its place in kitchens across the globe, and in all types of recipes from sweet desserts to savory meat dishes. Honey powder is ideal to use while baking since it is a one-for-one substitute for sugar. Baking with it can also help your baked goods last longer since honey powder won't dry out baked sweets like other sugar replacements can. It's also good for adding to hot or iced teas, sprinkling on top of yogurt, mixing into ice cream, or adding to your favorite breakfast cereal. Blending powdered honey with another sugar or sugar substitute can even create a light, fluffy cake frosting. It's perfect for desserts, but powdered honey can also be used in your spice rubs. Try replacing sugar with powdered honey in your rub recipe for a more subtle sweetness. 

Liquid honey has a long shelf life, as long as it's stored at the proper temperature, and the powdered version has a substantial shelf life of 20 to 30 when the correct storage conditions are met. To get the most longevity out of powdered honey, be sure to store it in a place where it will remain cool and dry, like a resealable plastic bag, canister, or jar with a tight-fitting lid. If you've never tried powdered honey but would like to, you can usually find it at health food stores or you can purchase it online. With all these benefits, it's certainly worth the experiment!