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! We’ve included some tips for baking with Manuka honey below.

Fasten your apron and get ready to enjoy a Thanksgiving infused with the goodness of Manuka honey with these delectable recipes!

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 adds a delectable twist to your traditional turkey preparation.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole turkey (12-14 pounds)
• 1/2 cup Biosota Organics Manuka honey from our Everyday Strength Manuka Honey range
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tablespoon 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 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
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup melted butter

For the Filling:

3 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese (room temperature)

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 can (1 ¾ cups) pure pumpkin puree
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 cup Biosota Organics Manuka honey from our Everyday Strength Manuka Honey range
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Topping:

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

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 165°C (325°F).

In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter for the crust. Press this 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, crack the oven door, and let the cheesecake 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 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 Manuka honey to ensure your recipes are a success!