Crunchy Baked Hot Honey Cauliflower (Printable)

Crispy cauliflower bites glazed with spicy-sweet honey. An irresistible vegetarian appetizer in under an hour.

# 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 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 2 tablespoons water

→ For the Hot Honey Glaze

10 - ⅓ cup honey
11 - 2 tablespoons hot sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
13 - ½ 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 wire rack.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
03 - In a second bowl, beat eggs with water until well combined.
04 - Place panko breadcrumbs in 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 25-30 minutes, flipping florets halfway through, until golden and crispy.
08 - In a small saucepan over low heat, combine honey, hot sauce, butter, red pepper flakes, and salt. Stir until butter melts and sauce is smooth. Remove from heat.
09 - Transfer baked cauliflower to a large bowl. Drizzle hot honey glaze over florets and toss gently to coat evenly.
10 - Transfer to serving platter and serve immediately, garnished with extra red pepper flakes or fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Features a perfect balance of sweet honey and spicy hot sauce.
  • Baking at a high temperature provides a lighter, healthier crunch than frying.
  • The three-step breading process ensures every floret is perfectly coated.
02 -
  • Press the panko breadcrumbs firmly onto each floret to ensure the coating sticks well.
  • Toss the cauliflower in the glaze while it is still warm for the most even distribution.
  • Use a wire rack on the baking sheet to help keep the bottom of the florets from becoming soggy.
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