Hot Honey Ricotta Stuffed Garlic Knots (Print version)

Golden knots stuffed with creamy ricotta, brushed with garlic butter, and drizzled with spicy hot honey

# 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 chopped fresh parsley

→ 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

# Directions:

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. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead for 2 to 3 minutes until smooth.
03 - In a small bowl, combine ricotta, Parmesan, garlic powder, Italian herbs, black pepper, and salt. Blend until smooth consistency is achieved.
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 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 allow to 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 mixture.
09 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
10 - In a small bowl, combine honey, hot sauce, and chili flakes if using. Warm in microwave or on stovetop until runny consistency is achieved.
11 - Remove knots from oven. Immediately drizzle with hot honey. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • High protein dough means you can actually feel satisfied eating these without the guilt that usually comes with fried appetizers.
  • The sweet heat from hot honey over creamy ricotta is addictive in a way that surprises even you.
  • They look impressive enough to serve at a gathering but honest enough to make on a random weeknight.
02 -
  • Don't skip the rest period after forming your knots—even ten minutes lets the dough relax, which means they'll rise better and stay more tender.
  • The garlic butter must be applied to raw dough before baking, not after, or it'll just slide off instead of soaking in and crisping the edges.
03 -
  • Your dough should feel slightly sticky but still workable—if it's too wet, dust with a tiny bit more flour one tablespoon at a time rather than adding lots at once.
  • The knots don't need to be perfect; slightly irregular shapes actually look more homemade and appealing than perfectly uniform ones.
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