Hot Honey Ricotta Stuffed Garlic Knots (Print version)

Golden protein knots stuffed with ricotta, garlic butter, and spicy honey drizzle.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein Dough

01 - 1 cup nonfat or low-fat plain Greek yogurt
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1/2 cup unflavored whey protein powder
04 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

→ Ricotta Filling

06 - 3/4 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
07 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Garlic Butter

11 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 - 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
13 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
14 - Pinch of salt

→ Hot Honey

15 - 1/4 cup honey
16 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce or Sriracha, or to taste
17 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt, flour, protein powder, baking powder, and salt. Stir until a shaggy dough forms. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 2 to 3 minutes until smooth.
03 - In a separate bowl, mix ricotta, Parmesan, lemon zest, black pepper, and salt until well combined.
04 - Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces. Flatten each into a 3-inch round. Place 1 heaping teaspoon of ricotta filling in the center of each. Fold edges over filling, pinching to seal, then roll gently into a rope and tie into a knot.
05 - Place knots seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
06 - In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in parsley and a pinch of salt. Brush knots generously with garlic butter.
07 - Bake 16 to 18 minutes, until golden brown.
08 - While baking, warm honey in a small saucepan or microwave until just runny. Stir in hot sauce and red pepper flakes if using.
09 - Remove knots from oven. Immediately brush with any remaining garlic butter, then drizzle hot honey over each knot. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're deceptively easy—no yeast, no rise time, just mix-knead-shape-bake simplicity that feels like cheating.
  • The protein-packed dough keeps you satisfied while the creamy ricotta filling tastes indulgent without the guilt.
  • Hot honey over garlic butter is that flavor combination people keep asking you to make again.
02 -
  • If your ricotta filling is too wet, it will leak out during baking and make your knots soggy—drain it in a fine-mesh sieve for five minutes if it looks particularly liquidy.
  • Don't skip brushing the knots with garlic butter before baking; this creates that golden, slightly crispy exterior that makes them feel restaurant-quality.
  • Timing matters for the hot honey—if you drizzle it on cold knots, it'll just sit there looking separated; warm knots absorb it beautifully.
03 -
  • Make sure your garlic is minced fine—chunky pieces won't toast properly and will taste harsh or bitter when you bite into them.
  • If the filling is oozing out while you're shaping, it usually means you overstuffed; use less filling and seal edges more firmly by pinching them longer.
  • Warm the honey just before serving, not minutes ahead, so it stays the perfect consistency for drizzling.
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