Make a buzz about honey with these four naturally sweet weekend treats

Whether it’s something you drizzle over your morning porridge or add to your afternoon cup of tea, honey is an easy way of bringing some natural sweetness to everyday dishes.

But far from being a mere addition to the mix, the versatile ingredient can become the centrepiece of a range of meals and is the perfect summertime ingredient thanks to those busy bees collecting pollen and nectar from parks, heathland and gardens.

From cakes to chicken to crumbly desserts, honey is ideal for both sweet and savoury dishes alike.

So, here’s four delicious recipes that are simply bursting with flavour…

Honey and lemon polenta cake

Ingredients

For the cake

  • 200g soft unsalted butter (plus some for greasing the tin)
  • 200g caster sugar
  • 200g ground almonds
  • 100g fine polenta
  • 1 1⁄2 tsp baking powder
  • 3 large free range eggs
  • Zest of 2 lemons (save the juice for the syrup)

For the syrup

  • Juice of 2 lemons
  • 1 tbsp of icing sugar
  • 4 tbsp honey

Method

Honey and soy roast chicken

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp soy sauce
  • 4 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tbsp ginger paste
  • 2 tsp chilli flakes
  • 8 skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges to serve
  • A handful of watercress (optional)

Method

Honey and roast peaches with amaretti crumb

Ingredients

  • 4 large ripe peaches
  • 25g butter
  • Zest of 1 lemon, plus 2 tbsp juice
  • 4 tbsp clear honey
  • 150ml double cream
  • 2 tsp caster sugar
  • 2 tbsp mascarpone
  • 1 tbsp amaretto liqueur
  • 4 small amaretti biscuits

Method

Goat’s cheese and honey roasted fig filo tarts

Ingredients

  • 2 large ripe figs
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • A drizzle of olive oil, plus 1 tbsp
  • Sea salt and freshly milled black pepper
  • 1 large red onion, finely sliced
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1⁄2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 50g butter, melted for brushing
  • 4 large filo pastry sheets
  • 125g goat’s cheese, crumbled

Method

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