Manuka Honey Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving: A sweet celebration with Manuka honey

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and it’s time to add a sweet twist to your holiday feast! Why settle for the ordinary when you can make this Thanksgiving extraordinary with Manuka honey’s golden touch?

When it comes to heating Manuka honey, we typically advise against it, as heating can affect its valuable bioactivity and antibacterial properties. Instead, we suggest using our Everyday Strength Manuka Honey range, which is ideal for these recipes. That way, you can enjoy the full benefits of our exceptional honey in your cooking creations without compromising its goodness! You'll find our tips on how to bake with Manuka honey toward the end of this post.

In the meantime, don your apron and get ready to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast, infused with the goodness of Manuka honey.

Manuka Honey-Glazed Turkey

The star of the Thanksgiving show deserves special treatment, and a Manuka honey glaze is the perfect way to do it. This recipe is a delectable addition to your traditional turkey preparation.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole turkey (12-14 pounds)
• 1/2 cup Biosota Organics Manuka honey
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh rosemary and thyme for garnish

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 165°C (325°F).

In a bowl, whisk together Manuka honey, melted butter, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Place the turkey in a roasting pan. Brush the honey glaze mixture generously over the turkey, ensuring it's well-coated.

Cover the turkey with aluminium foil and roast it for the first 2 - 2.5 hours.

Remove the foil, baste the turkey with more honey glaze, and continue roasting for another 1.5 - 2 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 74°C (165°F).

Once done, let the turkey rest for 20-30 minutes before carving.

Garnish with fresh rosemary and thyme before serving.

 

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Bread

A holiday favourite, this pumpkin bread recipe captures the essence of Thanksgiving with its blend of rich pumpkin, fragrant spices and sweet Manuka honey.

Recipe

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend:

• 3 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1tsp ground all spice

Bread:

• 3/4 cup  Biosota Organics Manuka honey
• 1/3 cup light coconut milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 3/4 cup oat flour
• 1/2 cup brown rice flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 180°C (356°F).

Line a loaf tin with baking paper.

In a mixing bowl, combine Manuka honey, coconut milk, vanilla extract and pumpkin puree.

In a separate mixing bowl, combine oat flour, brown rice flour, baking powder and pumpkin pie spice.

Gently pour the pumpkin mixture over the dry ingredients and stir to combine.

Pour batter into loaf tin, top with pumpkin seeds (optional) and bake for  50 - 60 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly in tin before transferring to a cooling rack.

 

Manuka Honey Pumpkin Cheesecake

Every Thanksgiving meal deserves a sweet finale, and this Manuka honey-infused pumpkin cheesecake is a showstopper.

Ingredients:

For the Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (can substitute for Digestive biscuit crumbs)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup melted butter

For the Filling:

• 3 (8 oz.) blocks cream cheese (room temperature)
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 can (1 ¾ cups) pure pumpkin puree
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• 1/4 cup Biosota Organics Manuka honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Topping:

• Whipped cream
• Chopped pecans
• Additional Manuka honey for drizzling

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 165°C (325°F).

In a bowl, combine cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press this crust mixture into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, flour, spices, Manuka honey, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.

Pour the filling over the crust in the springform pan. Tap the pan gently to remove any air bubbles.

Bake for about 60-70 minutes, or until the edges are set, and the centre is slightly jiggly.

Turn off the oven, open the door slightly, and let the cheesecake gradually cool inside for about an hour.

Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Before serving, garnish with whipped cream, chopped pecans, and a drizzle of Manuka honey.

Tips for baking with Manuka honey

1. Turn the oven temperature down
   Honey caramelises (and burns!) faster than sugar, so turn down your oven temperature by about 10 degrees when baking with honey. Keep a watchful eye on your goodies toward the end of the bake time, too.
   
   
2. Lighten up the liquids
   Unlike sugar, honey adds to the overall liquid content of your recipe, so you’ll want to reduce other liquids in the recipe. For every one cup of honey you’re using, reduce the liquids elsewhere (milk, water, etc) by ¼ cup.
   
   
3. Make sure there's some lift
   Check that your recipe calls for baking soda - this will help the baking to rise properly, as honey’s acidity can sometimes cause it to go flat. If your recipe doesn’t call for baking soda already, add ¼ teaspoon for each cup of honey used.

Because Manuka honey has a different chemical makeup to sugar, it’s important to remember these three ‘golden rules’ when baking with it to ensure your recipes are a success!