Hot Honey Ricotta Stuffed Garlic Knots (Print Version)

Soft dough knots filled with ricotta, brushed with garlic butter, and topped with spicy hot honey for the ultimate crowd-pleasing appetizer.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein Dough

01 - 1 cup Greek yogurt (2% or whole milk)
02 - 1 cup self-rising flour, plus extra for dusting
03 - 1 scoop unflavored or plain whey protein powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Ricotta Filling

05 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
06 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 - Salt to taste

→ Garlic Butter

11 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 - 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
13 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

→ Hot Honey

14 - 1/3 cup honey
15 - 1 to 2 teaspoons hot sauce such as Frank's RedHot or Sriracha
16 - Pinch of chili flakes, optional for extra heat

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt, self-rising flour, protein powder, and salt. Mix until dough forms. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 2 to 3 minutes until smooth.
03 - In a small bowl, mix ricotta, Parmesan, garlic powder, Italian herbs, black pepper, and salt until smooth and well combined.
04 - Divide dough into 12 equal pieces. Flatten each piece into a disc approximately 3 inches wide.
05 - Place a heaping teaspoon of ricotta filling in the center of each disc. Pinch edges together to seal, then gently roll into a rope and tie into a knot, tucking ends underneath.
06 - Arrange knots on prepared baking sheet. Cover with a clean towel and let rest while preparing garlic butter.
07 - Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, approximately 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in parsley.
08 - Brush each knot generously with garlic butter using a pastry brush.
09 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
10 - In a small bowl, combine honey, hot sauce, and chili flakes if using. Warm in the microwave or on the stovetop just until runny.
11 - Remove knots from oven. Immediately drizzle with hot honey. Serve warm.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • These knots pack more protein than traditional dough, so you can snack without the guilt.
  • The combination of creamy ricotta, garlicky butter, and spicy-sweet honey hits every craving at once.
  • Theyre impressive enough for guests but simple enough to throw together on a weeknight.
  • You can adjust the heat level in the honey to match your mood or your audience.
02 -
  • Seal the dough edges tightly around the filling or the ricotta will leak out during baking and create a mess.
  • Dont skip the resting step after shaping, it gives the dough a chance to relax and prevents tough knots.
  • Use a light hand when kneading, overworking protein dough can make it dense instead of soft.
  • Warm the hot honey just before drizzling so it flows smoothly and soaks into the knots instead of sitting on top.
03 -
  • Weigh your dough portions if you want perfectly uniform knots, it makes a difference in how evenly they bake.
  • Brush the knots with garlic butter twice, once before baking and again right when they come out, for maximum flavor.
  • If your dough feels too sticky to work with, let it rest for 5 minutes and it will firm up as the flour hydrates.
  • Make the hot honey ahead and store it in a jar, it keeps for weeks and is amazing on pizza, fried chicken, or even biscuits.
Return