Crunchy Baked Hot Honey Cauliflower (Printer-friendly)

Crispy baked cauliflower florets tossed in a delectable sweet-hot honey glaze. A perfect, irresistible appetizer or snack option.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Cauliflower

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→ For the Hot Honey Glaze

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# 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 flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. In a second bowl, beat eggs with water. In a third bowl, place the panko breadcrumbs.
03 - Working in batches, coat each cauliflower floret in the seasoned flour, then dip into the egg mixture, then coat with panko, pressing gently to adhere.
04 - Arrange coated florets in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 25–30 minutes, flipping florets halfway, until golden and crispy.
05 - While baking, prepare the hot honey glaze: In a small saucepan over low heat, combine honey, hot sauce, butter, red pepper flakes (if using), and a pinch of salt. Stir until butter is melted and the sauce is smooth. Remove from heat.
06 - Once cauliflower is done, transfer to a large bowl. Drizzle the hot honey glaze over and toss gently to coat evenly. Serve immediately, garnished with extra red pepper flakes or chopped fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

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  • The texture contrast—crunchy outside, tender inside—makes these completely addictive
  • That hot honey hits your tongue in the best way, sweet first then sneaky heat
  • They're deceptively simple but look and taste like something from a restaurant
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  • Crowding the baking sheet is the enemy of crispy, so work in batches if you have to
  • The glaze softens the coating over time, so toss right before serving
  • A wire rack yields the crunchiest results, but parchment still works beautifully
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  • Pat cauliflower dry before coating, excess water makes the breading slide off
  • Press the panko on firmly, dont just dip, or it will fall off in the oven
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