A creamy and spicy Hot Honey Cheese Dip that combines smooth cream cheese with the sweet heat of hot honey, topped with crunchy nuts and optional red pepper flakes or fresh thyme. Perfect for serving with crackers, pretzels, or apple slices as an easy appetizer or snack.
Total Time:15 minutes
Yield:6 servings
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
1 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
¼ cup hot honey, store-bought or homemade
1 tbsp chopped pecans, walnuts, or pistachios (optional)
Pinch of red pepper flakes or fresh thyme (optional garnish)
Crackers, pretzels, or sliced apples for dipping
For Homemade Hot Honey (Optional)
¼ cup honey
½ tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
Prep the cream cheese: Place softened cream cheese on a small serving plate or shallow bowl. Shape or slightly spread it with a spoon to create an even base for the toppings.
Warm the hot honey: Heat store-bought or homemade hot honey slightly—about 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave—until it becomes just pourable but not hot.
Drizzle and top: Pour the warm hot honey generously over the cream cheese. Sprinkle chopped nuts and a pinch of red pepper flakes or fresh thyme on top, if desired, for added texture and flavor.
Serve immediately: Arrange crackers, pretzels, or sliced apples around the dip and enjoy while warm for the best flavor experience.
Make homemade hot honey (optional): Combine ¼ cup honey with ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes in a small saucepan over low heat and warm gently until infused, about 5 minutes. Strain before use if desired.
Notes
Soften cream cheese at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before preparing to ensure easy spreading.
For a milder spice, reduce the amount of red pepper flakes or omit them entirely.
Use a variety of nuts for different textures and flavors, such as pecans for sweetness or pistachios for earthiness.
Serve immediately after assembling to enjoy the honey warm and the cream cheese soft.
Homemade hot honey can be stored in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Try using different dippers like sliced pears or baguette slices for variety.
