Cozy Up with Honey: The Ingredient That’s…

As brands look ahead to holiday-ready meals and winter launches, honey offers a versatile way to enhance entrée flavor, functionality and appeal. Whether it’s for center-of-plate or as a side dish, today’s “comfort food” looks different: it’s cleaner, more globally inspired and more versatile than ever.

This month, we’re spotlighting how product developers can bring honey’s natural flavor and functionality to CPG comfort foods through warmth, sweetness and clean label appeal in every bite.

How Honey Adds Warmth through Flavor

Comfort foods thrive on depth and balance, and honey delivers both. There’s something about honey that feels like a hug in flavor form. Its natural warmth brings depth and harmony, balancing savory, spicy and smoky notes with a touch of soothing sweetness. A drizzle of honey softens sharp acidity in tomato-based dishes, adds a cozy caramelization to roasted entrées and melds beautifully with the heat of curry, chili, garlic or ginger.