Hot Honey Ricotta Pizza (Printable)

Golden crust with creamy ricotta, melty mozzarella, and a warm spicy honey drizzle finished with fresh basil.

# 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, adjust to heat preference)

→ Garnish

12 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Preheat oven to 475°F. Place a pizza stone in the oven if available.
02 - 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.
03 - In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until well blended.
04 - Spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border.
05 - Top with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if using.
06 - Drizzle olive oil evenly over the cheese layer.
07 - 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.
08 - 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.
09 - Remove pizza from oven and let cool for 2 to 3 minutes. Generously drizzle hot honey over the pizza and scatter fresh basil leaves on top.
10 - Slice and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sweet-spicy honey transforms every bite into something you can't stop thinking about.
  • Store-bought dough makes this feel like cheating in the best possible way.
  • It looks impressive enough for guests but comes together faster than takeout.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully and somehow taste even better the next morning.
02 -
  • Let your dough come to room temperature before stretching it, or it will snap back like a rubber band and drive you crazy.
  • Don't skip the rest after baking, cutting too soon turns your beautiful pizza into a cheese landslide.
  • Warm the honey just until it loosens, overheating it can make it taste bitter and lose that floral sweetness.
03 -
  • Use a pizza stone if you have one, it makes a world of difference in getting that crispy, charred bottom.
  • Keep a little dish of hot honey on the side for anyone who wants an extra drizzle, it's always the first thing to run out.
  • If your dough keeps shrinking back, cover it with a towel and let it rest for ten minutes, then try again.
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