Description
This delightful Dandelion Honey recipe transforms fresh dandelion petals into a sweet, floral syrup resembling honey. Using simple ingredients and stovetop simmering, it captures the essence of dandelions in a homemade natural sweetener, perfect for drizzling over toast, yogurt, or desserts.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 2 cups dandelion flower heads (just the yellow petals, no green parts)
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
- 1 ½ to 2 cups granulated sugar (adjust to desired thickness and sweetness)
Instructions
- Prepare the dandelions: Collect fresh, pesticide-free dandelion flowers. Rinse them gently under cold water to remove any dirt or insects, then allow them to dry completely. Carefully pluck the yellow petals from the green base, discarding the green parts to avoid bitterness.
- Make the infusion: In a medium saucepan, combine the prepared dandelion petals with 2 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for 20 minutes to extract the floral flavors.
- Steep: After simmering, remove the saucepan from the heat and cover it with a lid. Allow the mixture to steep for 6 to 24 hours, depending on how intense you want the flavor to be. The longer the steep, the stronger the infusion.
- Strain: Once steeped, strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean container, pressing down on the petals to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the spent petals.
- Make the “honey”: Pour the strained dandelion liquid back into the saucepan. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and gradually stir in 1 ½ to 2 cups of granulated sugar, adjusting to your preferred sweetness and thickness. Bring the mixture to a boil again, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 30 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the syrup thickens to a honey-like consistency. Keep in mind it will thicken further as it cools.
- Cool & store: Remove the syrup from heat and let it cool completely. Transfer the dandelion honey into sterilized jars or bottles. Store it in the refrigerator where it will keep for up to 2 months.
Notes
- Ensure that dandelions are harvested from areas free of pesticides and herbicides.
- The steeping time can be adjusted for flavor preference; longer steeping results in stronger taste.
- Sugar quantity can be varied to achieve a thicker syrup or sweeter honey substitute.
- Use sterilized containers to extend shelf life and prevent contamination.
- This syrup is not a true honey but a floral-flavored sweetener alternative.
