Hot Honey Pepperoni Ricotta Pizza

This saucy hot honey pepperoni ricotta pizza will be your new Friday night favorite thanks to its bold mix of crispy pepperoni, creamy ricotta, gooey cheese, and a sweet spicy drizzle. It is the kind of pie that does not last long in my house, and I often find myself sneaking a slice before it even leaves the cooling rack.

My first experiment with hot honey pizza was a game-changer for pizza night at home. Now, we never make a pie without a jar of hot honey waiting for that finishing touch.

Ingredients

• Pizza dough: look for fresh dough at your bakery or grocery store it should feel soft and elastic for easy stretching
• Marinara sauce: use a quality sauce for maximum flavor either homemade or a favorite store-bought brand
• Mozzarella cheese and optional provolone: for the best melt and stretch I love grating my own cheese for freshness
• Pepperoni slices: try to use thicker deli-style or artisanal pepperoni for a punchier flavor and crispier edges
• Ricotta cheese: this brings a creamy element and balances the spice select whole milk ricotta that is smooth and thick
• Fresh basil: fragrant and sweet it really brings out the flavors use bright green leaves and chop just before adding
• Hot honey: seek out homemade or store-bought varieties taste for heat level and use more or less depending on your spice preference

Step-by-Step Instructions

Make the Dough:

Let your dough rest at room temperature for at least thirty minutes so it stretches without tearing. Flour your hands and work surface. Gently press and stretch the dough into a fourteen inch round keeping the outer edge a bit thicker for a good crust.

Prepare the Base:

Place the shaped dough on parchment over a pizza peel or onto a floured baking sheet. Smooth the marinara sauce evenly over the surface leaving a one inch border around the edge for a pronounced crust.

Layer the Toppings:

Scatter mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauced base. Arrange the pepperoni slices so each bite has some of that spicy flavor. In a small bowl stir together the ricotta and chopped basil then dollop spoonfuls across the pizza for bursts of creamy herby goodness.

Bake the Pizza:

Slide the pizza onto your preheated stone or baking sheet in a hot oven at five hundred fifty degrees or as hot as your oven gets. Bake for about ten minutes until the cheese bubbles and the crust turns golden. For even cooking rotate the pizza halfway through. If using parchment lift it out after a couple minutes so the crust contacts the stone.

Finish and Serve:

Let the pizza cool for a minute then scatter with extra fresh basil and drizzle all over with hot honey. Slice and serve while the cheese is still gooey.

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Ricotta is always a crowd pleaser and I love how the dollops catch pools of hot honey. Watching my family fight over the crispiest pepperoni edges might be my favorite part of pizza night.

Storage Tips

Let any leftovers cool completely before wrapping them tightly in foil or storing in an airtight container. The pizza will keep in the refrigerator for up to three days. For best results reheat slices in a skillet or oven to revive the crispness of the crust before serving again. Avoid microwaving if you want to keep that perfect texture.

Ingredient Substitutions

If you cannot find hot honey make your own by stirring a bit of your favorite hot sauce into regular honey. No fresh basil on hand dried basil or a bit of arugula will deliver some peppery bite. Feel free to swap in turkey pepperoni or add chopped olives for a different twist.

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Serving Suggestions

This pizza is fantastic on its own but also pairs well with a crunchy salad with balsamic vinaigrette or garlicky roasted vegetables on the side. Set out extra ricotta and hot honey for guests to customize each slice at the table. For a fun party presentation cut the pizza into small squares for shareable bites.

A Bit Of Italian Inspiration

The idea of combining savory spicy and sweet elements is a nod to Southern Italian traditions where honey and cheese often meet in appetizers and small bites. Using fresh basil and creamy ricotta is also classic in many Italian-American pizzas giving each bite both freshness and richness.

Recipe FAQs

→ What cheese blend works best for this pizza?

A mix of mozzarella and provolone delivers perfect melt and flavor, while ricotta adds creaminess and contrast.

→ How do you achieve a crisp crust?

Use a pizza stone or steel preheated at the oven's highest temperature, and bake the dough on parchment for even crisping.

→ Can I use store-bought dough?

Yes, both homemade and quality store-bought dough work well—just allow it to come to room temperature for easy stretching.

→ Is there a substitute for hot honey?

You can warm regular honey with a pinch of red pepper flakes for a homemade spicy drizzle.

→ What is the benefit of basil-infused ricotta?

Fresh basil stirred into ricotta provides herbal notes that complement the pepperoni’s savoriness and the sweet-spicy honey.