Hot Honey Cheese

Mixing spicy sweetness with smooth richness makes this hot honey cream cheese dip totally addictive. I first tasted hot honey at our neighborhood farmers market and immediately knew it would turn a basic cheese dip into something special. Now it's my go-to party treat that gets gobbled up minutes after serving.

Whenever I bring this to family parties, people crowd around until every last bit disappears. There's something about melty cheese with warm honey that folks just can't resist coming back for.

Picking Your Components

• Cream cheese: Go with full-fat for the creamiest result. Let it sit out to soften on its own
• Monterey Jack cheese: Grate it yourself for the smoothest melt. Skip the pre-packaged stuff with clumping additives
• Hot honey: Try quality store brands or whip up your own by steeping honey with hot peppers
• Smoked paprika: The Spanish kind gives the most genuine smoky kick
• Garlic powder: Pick something fresh-smelling without lumps so it mixes in evenly

Crafting Your Appetizer

Getting Started:

Make sure your cream cheese sits out about 2 hours to reach room temperature. This helps it blend smoothly without clumps. While waiting, heat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grab a small dish that's safe for baking.

Cheese Work:

Shred your Monterey Jack straight from the fridge when it's still cold. Use the bigger holes on your grater and work fast so the cheese doesn't warm up and get sticky. Fresh-grated cheese always melts way better.

Mixing Flavors:

Grab a bowl and mix your garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt together. Stir these dry stuff first before adding to your cheeses. This way the flavors spread out evenly in your dip.

Putting It Together:

With a strong spoon or spatula, blend the soft cream cheese, shredded Monterey Jack, and your spice mix until everything's mixed up good. You want it smooth all the way through with no streaky parts.

Baking It Right:

Scoop everything into your baking dish and smooth the top flat. Bake until you see bubbles around the edges and a light golden color on top, roughly 15 minutes. You want it hot throughout but not browned too much.

Save it

I've found in my kitchen that giving the dip a short rest after it comes out of the oven lets all the flavors come together better and keeps people from burning their mouths when they can't wait to try it.

Tasty Companions

Enjoy this warm dip with thick crackers, crunchy baguette pieces, or raw veggies. For a pretty setup, surround your dip with colorful bell pepper slices, cucumber rounds, and little tomatoes.

Fun Twists

Switch things up by adding crunchy bacon bits on top, mixing in diced jalapeños, or trying different cheese blends. For a taste of the Mediterranean, throw in some chopped herbs and a splash of olive oil before it goes in the oven.

Storing Extras

Any leftover dip can go in a sealed container in your fridge for up to 4 days. Warm it up slowly in the microwave or oven just until it's heated through. Add a fresh drizzle of hot honey when serving it again.

Save it

This dip has become the number one recipe people ask me for after parties. The way the hot honey slowly sinks into the warm, creamy cheese makes a combo that turns first-time tasters into huge fans. It just goes to show that sometimes the easiest recipes bring the most happiness to our dinner tables.

Common Questions

→ What exactly is hot honey? Where’s it sold?

Hot honey is regular honey blended with chili spice. You’ll find it at many stores or make it by simmering honey with chili flakes.

→ Can I prepare it earlier?

Yes, mix the cheese and spices before and chill. Just bake it and add hot honey when you’re ready to serve.

→ How long does it stay warm?

It’s warm for roughly half an hour. Pop it back in the oven briefly if you need to heat it up again.

→ What pairs well with this dip?

Pair it with veggies like carrots, celery, or peppers, or go for bread, crackers, or crostini.

→ How do I tone down its spiciness?

Swap the hot honey with normal honey or use less hot honey and balance it with regular honey as a finish.