Crunchy Baked Hot Honey Cauliflower (Printable)

Crispy cauliflower bites with a sweet-hot honey glaze, perfect for snacking or entertaining guests.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Cauliflower

01 - 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 2 tablespoons water

→ For the Hot Honey Glaze

10 - 1/3 cup honey
11 - 2 tablespoons hot sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
13 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
14 - Pinch of salt

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a wire rack.
02 - In one bowl, whisk together flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
03 - In a second bowl, beat eggs with water until combined.
04 - Pour panko breadcrumbs into a third bowl.
05 - Working in batches, coat each cauliflower floret in seasoned flour, dip into egg mixture, then coat with panko, pressing gently to adhere.
06 - Arrange coated florets in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
07 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping florets halfway through, until golden and crispy.
08 - While baking, combine honey, hot sauce, butter, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until butter melts and sauce is smooth. Remove from heat.
09 - Transfer baked cauliflower to a large bowl. Drizzle hot honey glaze over and toss gently to coat evenly.
10 - Transfer to serving plate and garnish with additional red pepper flakes or chopped fresh herbs if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Crispy on the outside, tender inside, with a glaze that hits sweet and spicy all at once.
  • Even people who claim they dont like cauliflower finish the plate.
02 -
  • Dont skip flipping the florets halfway through, or youll end up with one side soft and pale.
  • Make the glaze on low heat only, high heat can cause the honey to scorch and turn bitter.
03 -
  • Pat the cauliflower completely dry before coating, moisture is the enemy of crispiness.
  • Double the glaze recipe if you love extra sauce, it keeps in the fridge for a week and tastes amazing on everything.
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