This is the time of year I make creamed honey for holiday gifts.
Making creamed honey is easy to do. The science of creamed honey is simply the granulation of honey. Honey that granulates on its own usually results in a coarse, grainy texture. To create a smooth creamed honey we need purchase creamed honey from the grocery store and follow a process.
Creamed honey is granulated honey, that through this process, fine granulation crystals of the store bought creamed are stirred into the warm honey. As the honey sets up, the crystals of the creamed honey will be replicated and the result will be smooth and creamy honey that is a spread. .
The process is to take honey that is clear of granulation and warm it up to 95 degrees. Then, stir in a commercially made creamed honey from the grocery store. One pound of creamed honey to ten pounds of honey. I usually make the creamed honey in 30 lb batches. I use 4 pounds of creamed honey in a 30 lb batch. This assures that there is ample creamed honey crystal to make sure the batch will turn out properly. Cool down the honey quickly by putting it outside for a couple hours. Stir it again the next day, then bottle. Always bottle one plastic tub. This way you can tell when your creamed honey is properly set by squeezing the sides of the plastic container. When the container feels firm, the creamed honey is ready.
I like making cinnamon creamed honey. I mix 1/8 cup of powdered cinnamon per 10 lbs of honey. I mix the powdered cinnamon in a bowl with the liquid honey. This gets the cinnamon wet with honey then I stir it in with the large batch of honey. The next day it is common to have the cinnamon float to the surface of the batch of creamed honey. I usually stir the batch again then bottle it. I move the bottled creamed honey outside to cool it off. Then I will do a rotation of bring it inside, then a few hours outside for a few days. This will help keep the cinnamon suspended in the honey and not as likely to rise to the top of the bottle.
To be ready for holiday gifts the creamed honey should be made by December 1st. It can take 14 days to set up. There is timing involved this year. Christmas is on a Tuesday so there will be a four day weekend for most folks. That makes Friday, December 21st the last day for sharing your creamed honey with coworkers if that is your goal. So, don't dawdle on making the creamed honey.
Making Creamed Honey