I don’t have anything against sugar, but I love the earthy sweetness honey imparts — not only in hot drinks, smoothies, and baked goods but on a whole variety of dishes you may not have considered before. So, when confronting a recipe that calls for a sweetener, I often ask myself, “Why not honey instead?”

Substituting honey for sugar is fairly simple, but there are a few general rules you should know.

• Up to one cup, honey can be substituted for sugar in equal amounts. For example, you can substitute 1/2 cup of honey for 1/2 cup of sugar called for in a recipe. Over one cup, use about 2/3-3/4 cup of honey for every cup of sugar. This is because honey is actually sweeter than sugar.
• Honey is a liquid, so you’ll need to reduce the liquid in the recipe a little. Do this at a rate of 1/4 cup less liquid for every cup of honey used in the recipe.
• Honey is also a little acidic. To counteract this, add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda for every cup of honey used.
• Honey causes baked goods to brown more quickly, so reduce the oven temperature by 25 degrees F and watch carefully as the time gets close.

Here are a few places where you may find Buzz Savories artisanal honey to be an ideal addition or replacement in your recipes.

Pair it with goat cheese. If you haven’t tried this flavor combination you’re missing out. Use honey in a salad with goat cheese crumbles, or drizzle it straight onto a slice of cheese on a charcuterie board.

Glaze some pretzels. Coat some plain pretzels with honey and leave them in the refrigerator overnight to set. Adding a bit of salt at the end gives them a delightful sweet/salty flavor.

Coat your roast. Glazed meat is an ages-old tradition. Try experimenting with honey to create a glaze that will take this cooking technique to the next level. Honey and lime make a super fresh glaze, whereas pairing it with soy sauce gives almost any meat an Asian twist.

Bake it into a loaf. Honey can be substituted 1:1 in a wide variety of baked goods from muffins to cakes to breads. A little bit of experimentation might lead you to some delightful new discoveries.

Drizzle some on fruits and berries. A little honey instead of sugar on a bowl of raspberries or strawberries — especially with a little cream — creates a whole new complexity of flavor.