Hot Honey Ricotta Garlic Bread

# Components:

→ 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 such as Sriracha

12 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

# Directions:

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 the halved baguette cut side up on the prepared baking sheet. Evenly spread the ricotta mixture over both halves.

04 - Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is lightly golden and the bread edges are crisp.

05 - While the bread bakes, warm the 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 - Once baked, remove the bread from the oven and immediately drizzle generously with hot honey. Slice into pieces and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -

It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen when you really just assembled magic in under half an hour.
The contrast between creamy, garlicky richness and that spicy-sweet honey drizzle keeps you coming back for another bite.
It works for casual hangouts or when you need something that looks fancier than it actually is.

02 -

Don't skip the softening step for the butter because cold butter won't blend into the ricotta properly, leaving you with uneven texture and pockets of butter throughout.
Drizzle the hot honey immediately after the bread comes out of the oven because the warmth helps it cling to the bread instead of pooling at the bottom of the serving plate.

03 -