Mike's Hot Honey, America's #1 Brand of Hot Honey, Spicy Honey Infused with Chili Peppers, Certified Kosher, Gluten-Free, Paleo-Friendly, Sweet Heat, Perfect for Hot Sauce Lovers (10oz Bottle, 1 Pack)

Why it's worth it

Wildflower honey infused with chili peppers, in a squeeze bottle that lives on the counter. It goes on pizza, fried chicken, cheese boards and ice cream, so your host doesn't have to plan a meal around it.

When you don't know your host, bring this. It's sweet with a mild kick, it works on savory and sweet food, and it doesn't demand a recipe. Owners put it on pizza, roasted vegetables, biscuits and vanilla ice cream. In a 2024 Food52 community tasting panel of 150 people, it earned a 97% would-recommend rating, the top score among the specialty condiments evaluated.

It's also genuinely useful for a host, which is a different thing from being a nice object. Someone who entertains will reach for this the next time they put out cheese and crackers. That's the highest compliment a food gift can get — it becomes part of how they feed people.

From our review of 7 hostess gifts

What we like

• +When you don't know your host, bring this
• +It's also genuinely useful for a host, which is a different thing from being a nice object
• +The heat level is friendly
• +The last-minute case is strong

What to know

• –It arrives in a plastic squeeze bottle
• –Serious chili people will find it tame