Everyone should know how to make honey spoons for tea. Honey tea spoons are incredibly easy, only require two ingredients and are so versatile. They can be used as honey stirrers for tea, as a party favor for the trendy "honey" party theme, and they're perfect as a cough drop or sore throat remedy, and they make a perfect all natural lollipop!
During the cold seasons, I always have a few honey spoons, ready to go for the unexpected cold or sore throat. These honey spoons dissolve in hot water, making them a perfect honey tea stirrer.
They are also a natural hard candy, so they make a perfect lollipop. No high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors here!
Why you should make all natural candy:
While it may seem intimidating at first, making your own candy at home is simple and fun. We find it so enjoyable, I've created a whole section on the blog for homemade candy recipes. Plus, you skip so many of the ingredients you likely hope to avoid. In our healthy vegan palm oil free chocolate spoons | lollipops recipe you can read all about how we're avoiding palm oil by making candy at home! We also love our homemade lavender vanilla honey lollipops, made very similarly to these. Making these at home will also save you a lot of money!
I don’t know about you, but when I’m under the weather, I always boil some water and sip on tea all throughout the day. And although honey is sweet and delicious, I don’t enjoy eating it by the spoonful. So I pop one of these spoons in my tea, let it dissolve while my tea steeps. And my kids like to eat them like lollies. Perfect cough drops, but cute and natural!
Safety tip:
due to the risk of infant botulism, a severe but rare form of food poisoning, you should never give honey to a child younger than a year old.
Ingredients needed:
- Honey - if possible use Manuka honey. Manuka honey is the only type that can withstand heat and still maintain some health benefits. It's our favorite and the best for candy making.
- Cream of tartar - to help prevent the candy from cracking. Works like a charm!
- Any thing else you want to add to flavor the spoons. I often use cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, orange or lemon zest, or even lavender vanilla, like in my: Homemade lavender vanilla honey lollipops
Tools needed:
- Medium - large sauce pan - you need a larger sauce pan because this recipe bubbles up and you do not want it to pour over the sides (it will be a sticky mess!)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Candy thermometer - absolutely imperative! Your honey must reach 300 degrees F or 148 ° C to reach the hard crack stage necessary for making hard candy.
- Lollypop mold
- Candy sticks
- Optional but helpful candy wrappers if you plan to gift them because these honey candies will stick together.
How to make honey tea spoons:
- Start by pouring your honey into your sauce pan, add in cream of tartar if using.
- Prepare your candy molds by adding sticks into your mold before you start. I love these wooden candy sticks because they look so fancy and hold up well.
- Heat your honey over low-medium heat with a candy thermometer immersed. Heat until honey reaches 300 ° F or 148 ° C. Do this very slowly, it will take some time. If you heat your honey too quickly it will taste scorched. If it seems your honey isn't increasing in temperature, increase your heat very slowly and surely. It's a labor of love. Candy making quickly goes from "done" to "burnt" so watch closely and increase very slowly, mixing continuously. It usually takes me about 10 minutes, and I usually have to slightly increase my temperature around five minutes and then am able to reduce it before my honey reaches 300 ° F. This is why a candy thermometer is necessary, if your honey doesn't reach this temperature the spoons will not harden and melt when removed from their molds.
Once your honey has reached 300 ° F turn off your heat and give your honey a good stir until the bubbles have settled. After your honey reaches the "hard crack" stage, it hardens quickly. Pour the honey into your prepared lollipop molds and let them sit at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Either way, they should harden nicely if your honey reached the threshold temperature necessary for hard candy. Let sit for 2 hours or until candy is completely hardened. Remove carefully from mold and enjoy!
Why you can use honey for a sore throat
Use these as a cough drop when you need them!
Sore throats are caused by bacterial or viral infections that cause inflammation of the membranes in our throat tonsils. They’re very common and often uncomfortable with symptoms of dryness, itchiness, difficulty swallowing, and pain. And is there anything worse than when these symptoms accompany an uncontrollable cough? Methinks not.
One of the best treatments for a deep cough + sore throat is right in your kitchen cabinet. But you probably already knew that! Many families use honey to ward off colds and sore throats because it’s use is proven to help these symptoms. In clinical studies, honey was as effective as a commonly used cough suppressant ingredient, dextromethorphan, which is found in typical over-the-counter cough medicine. trusted study source. Honey is usually readily available and delicious, so why not give it a shot?
You can also make these using the herbal thieves blend for extra supprort. Find my recipe for thieves honey spoons here.
Frequently asked questions:
How do I store them when they're done?
The honey lollipops will be slightly sticky, like any hard candy would be. I personally store all of ours in a storage container in the fridge for up to three months. Their stickiness does not cause them to stick together in a way I can not easily remove them in my experience. But
How do I individually wrap them for gifting?
If you're planning to gift them, use some cellophane wrap, like these small lollipop wrappers with twist ties.
How long do they keep for?
Store up to one month at room temperature. Or up to three months in the refrigerator. Or up to six months in the freezer.
Can I freeze these honey candies?
Yes. I would individually wrap each pop to prevent freezer burn.
Can I add or omit anything from the recipe?
Absolutely. Cream of tartar is helpful, but not necessary. And you can add any flavors you want in these all natural lollipops! Add in the flavor after you've turned off the heat, right before stirring the bubbles away.
Variation inspiration:
- Add lemon and ginger for a sore throat lollipop / cough drop
- Add some infused honey, like lilac infused honey or floral infused honey for additional flavor
- Add some edible flowers in your lollipop mold for beautiful edible flower lollipops
How to make honey spoons
Ingredients
- ¾ cup of honey
- 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
- OPTIONAL : Any add ins you desire! Examples: lemon peel ginger, dried herbs, cinnamon, lavender, etc.
Instructions
- Start by pouring your honey into your sauce pan, add in cream of tartar if using.
- Prepare your candy molds by adding sticks into your mold before you start.
- Heat your honey over low-medium heat with a candy thermometer immersed. Heat until honey reaches 300 ° F or 148 ° C. Do this very slowly, it will take some time. If you heat your honey too quickly it will taste scorched. If it seems your honey isn't increasing in temperature, increase your heat very slowly and surely. It's a labor of love. Candy making quickly goes from "done" to "burnt" so watch closely and increase very slowly, mixing continuously. It usually takes me about 10 minutes, and I usually have to slightly increase my temperature around five minutes and then am able to reduce it before my honey reaches 300 ° F. This is why a candy thermometer is necessary, if your honey doesn't reach this temperature the spoons will not harden and melt when removed from their molds.
- Once your honey has reached 300 ° F turn off your heat and give your honey a good stir until the bubbles have settled. After your honey reaches the "hard crack" stage, it hardens quickly. Pour the honey into your prepared lollipop molds and let them sit at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Either way, they should harden nicely if your honey reached the threshold temperature necessary for hard candy. Let sit for 2 hours or until candy is completely hardened. Remove carefully from mold and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Want to give this recipe a try? Click on the image below to Pin for later!
love healthy homemade lollipops? give these a try!
- Lavender honey vanilla tea spoons
- Rose Honey Spoons
- Immunity supporting thieves herbal honey tea spoons
Luna says
Amazing recipe! I just made them, but they are a bit sticky... is normal? Thanks!
sarah says
Hi Luna! I do find the lollipops are a bit sticky and will stick together if placed on top of each other, but they should be firm and solid. I hope this helps! XO
Sherry says
How do you clean the pot and utensils afterwards...mine garden quickly. Also I did on med. Low but honey turned dark at 300. I have a flattop stove which is hard to regulate.
sarah says
This is a great question! Boil some water in your pot, and stick your utensils in to allow the honey to get hot and it will then be easy to pour into drain, and clean off residual when pot is cool enough to handle. Depending on the type I've used, My honey spoons do get a bit darker, but not scorched at 300. I hope they were okay for you!