Description
A deliciously bold Sweet Spicy Hot Honey Garlic Pizza featuring a crispy cast-iron skillet crust topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, drizzled with a vibrant blend of honey, hot sauce, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes for the perfect balance of sweet heat and savory flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Base
- 1 pound pizza dough, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced and divided
Cheese Toppings
- 2 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
- 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Hot Honey Garlic Sauce
- 0.25 cup honey
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 0.5 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 0.25 teaspoon kosher salt
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the skillet: Lightly oil a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or round pizza pan with the olive oil, making sure to coat the bottom and sides to help the crust crisp as it bakes.
- Shape the dough: Place the pizza dough in the center of the pan and press it outward with your fingertips until it reaches the edges evenly; if the dough springs back, let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes before stretching again.
- Apply garlic butter: In a small bowl, mix the melted butter with 2 minced garlic cloves, then brush this mixture evenly over the surface of the dough up to the edges.
- Add cheeses: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly across the dough, then top with grated Parmesan, making sure cheese reaches near the edges.
- Mix hot honey garlic sauce: In another bowl, whisk together honey, hot sauce, crushed red pepper flakes, apple cider vinegar, the remaining minced garlic clove, and kosher salt until smooth and combined.
- Drizzle half the sauce: Pour about half of the hot honey garlic mixture over the cheese layer in small pools rather than one solid layer.
- Bake the pizza: Bake in a preheated oven at 475°F (245°C) for 13 to 15 minutes until the crust is deep golden, cheese is bubbling, and edges are crisp.
- Finish with sauce: Remove the pizza from the oven and immediately drizzle the remaining hot honey garlic mixture evenly over the top.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on the pizza, let it rest for about 5 minutes, then slice into 8 pieces and serve warm.
Notes
- Using a cast-iron skillet or a heavy pizza pan helps achieve a crispy crust similar to traditional pizzeria style.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes and hot sauce to control the heat level to your preference.
- Allowing the dough to rest if it springs back makes stretching easier and prevents shrinking during baking.
- Resting the pizza after baking enhances flavor melding and helps cut cleaner slices.
