Hot Honey Ricotta Garlic Bread (Printer-friendly)

Golden crusty bread with creamy ricotta spread and spicy honey drizzle

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread

01 - 1 large French baguette, halved lengthwise

→ Ricotta Spread

02 - 1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
04 - 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
05 - 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
07 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
09 - Zest of 1 lemon, optional

→ Hot Honey

10 - 1/4 cup honey
11 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce
12 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, softened butter, minced garlic, Parmesan, parsley, salt, pepper, and lemon zest if using. Mix until smooth and creamy.
03 - Place halved baguette cut side up on prepared baking sheet. Evenly spread ricotta mixture over both halves.
04 - Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until cheese is lightly golden and bread edges are crisp.
05 - While bread bakes, warm honey in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in hot sauce and red pepper flakes. Heat for 1 to 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
06 - Remove bread from oven and immediately drizzle generously with hot honey. Slice into pieces and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 30 minutes flat, which means impressing people doesn't require you to spend your whole evening in the kitchen.
  • The contrast between creamy ricotta, crispy bread edges, and spicy-sweet honey creates layers of flavor that feel way more elegant than the effort involved.
  • It works equally well as a casual snack, a dinner party opener, or that thing you make when unexpected guests show up.
02 -
  • Don't skip softening the butter before mixing it in—cold butter will create little lumps in the ricotta spread instead of blending smoothly and creating that creamy texture.
  • The lemon zest is not optional if you want this to taste balanced; without it, the richness can feel one-note and slightly heavy, even though it's technically delicious.
03 -
  • Mix your ricotta spread ahead of time and keep it at room temperature for 20 minutes before spreading—it goes on smoother and more evenly than cold ricotta straight from the fridge.
  • The moment the bread comes out of the oven is the exact moment to drizzle the hot honey; waiting even a few minutes means the honey won't flow into the crevices the same way and you lose that glossy finish.
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