This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Stemilt Apples. The opinions and text are all mine. If we go by the definition of vegan, anything that causes suffering to an animal is not vegan. Similar to dairy, bees produce golden nectar for bees and not for humans. In the end, the choice is yours. If you do decide to give it up, then here is a vegan substitute for you that caters to your dietary needs. Store-bought artificial honey is just a thick glucose-fructose syrup with some artificial flavors and colors. It only adds to calories with no nutritional value. You would be better off making it at home. Making this vegan-approved honey substitute is simple and easy. There are many recipes online that show you how to make bee-free vegan honey at home, but this recipe is what has worked for me the best. It meets the goal of mimicking the taste, texture, and sweetness of traditional honey. I love that this homemade bee-free honey is naturally sweetened with apples and sugar. It’s rich, sweet with a hint of apples, creamy, sticky, and drippy. So if you’ve gone vegan and miss being able to use honey, then you’re in for a TREAT! You can make this vegan-approved honey yourself from scratch!
Choosing the right apples
I love adding apples to our daily diet in some way or the other. I add them to smoothies and salads. We also eat an apple for a snack. I make Apple Pistachio Mousse for parties and special occasions. This vegan plant honey recipe is also made from apples. When picking apples for any recipe, go organic. The apples you pick should be firm and not have any mushy or soft spots. They should have a pleasant aroma and brands like Stemilt ensure that what reaches the table from the farms is of great quality! That is why, in this recipe, I have used Fuji apples from Stemilt. They are the sweetest variety! Don’t forget to check them out and order them next time. Sugar - You may be surprised to know that original honey is 80% sugar. Sugar is a key ingredient in making it at home. I have used vegan sugar in the recipe. But you can use cane sugar, coconut sugar, or any variety of vegan-friendly sugar. Apple cider vinegar and lemon juice help balance the sweetness and tartness in the recipe. Lemon juice also enhances the flavor, brightens the color, and acts as a preservative. You can also skip adding apple cider vinegar and double the quantity of lemon juice instead. Apart from these ingredients, you will also need a food processor and a cheesecloth or nut milk bag strainer.
Now, vegans too can eat honey! If you are not vegan, then please share it with your vegan friends. They will thank you! You can also pack them in jars and gift your friends for the holidays. It’s also a great idea to make this honey substitute for your honey on Valentine’s Day! For a little extra flavor, try adding a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, or ginger to the mixture before simmering. Instead of making the apple juice from scratch, you can also use store-bought organic 100% pure apple juice (additive-free) to save time.
