Hot Honey Ricotta Pizza (Printer-Friendly)

Golden crust with ricotta, mozzarella, and spicy honey drizzle

# What You Need:

→ Dough & Base

01 - 1 pizza dough (store-bought or homemade, approximately 12 oz)
02 - Cornmeal for dusting (optional)
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Cheese Layer

04 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
05 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Hot Honey

09 - 1/4 cup honey
10 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
11 - 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Garnish

12 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 475°F. Place a pizza stone in the oven if available. On a lightly floured surface, stretch or roll out pizza dough to a 12-inch circle. Dust a baking sheet or pizza peel with cornmeal for easier transfer if using.
02 - In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until well blended.
03 - Spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if using.
04 - Drizzle olive oil evenly over the cheese. Transfer the pizza to the preheated pizza stone or baking sheet. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbling.
05 - While pizza bakes, combine honey and red wine vinegar in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally until warmed and blended, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
06 - Remove pizza from oven and let cool for 2 to 3 minutes. Generously drizzle hot honey over the pizza. Scatter fresh basil leaves on top. Slice and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sweet heat contrast wakes up your taste buds in a way regular pizza never will.
  • Ricotta creates a luxurious creamy base that feels fancy but comes together in minutes.
  • It's impressive enough for guests but easy enough for a Tuesday night.
  • You can control the spice level so everyone at the table stays happy.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cooling step after baking or the hot honey will slide right off into a puddle instead of clinging to the cheese.
  • If your dough tears while stretching, pinch it back together—small imperfections disappear once it bakes and nobody will ever know.
  • Make extra hot honey because people will want to drizzle more on their slices and you'll wish you had a backup jar.
03 -
  • Brush the crust edges with olive oil and sprinkle with flaky salt before baking for an extra-special finish.
  • If your honey crystallizes, warm the jar in a bowl of hot water until it flows smoothly again.
  • Use a pizza peel dusted with cornmeal to slide the pizza onto the stone without burning your hands or your patience.
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