Ingredients
Scale
For the Spread
- 8 oz block cream cheese, softened
- 3 tablespoons hot honey
- 3 garlic cloves, prepared using one of the methods below
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided as needed for cooking and mixing
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Up to ¼ teaspoon salt, to taste
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives, optional
- 1 teaspoon regular honey, optional, for extra sweetness
Optional Garnishes
- A small extra drizzle of hot honey
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- Chopped chives
Extra garnishes are separate from the measured ingredients in the base recipe.
Instructions
- For quick garlic, gently sauté the minced cloves in the tablespoon of olive oil over low heat for 1–2 minutes, until fragrant without dark browning. Transfer the garlic and oil to a bowl and cool.
- Beat or stir the softened cream cheese until smooth.
- Mix in the cooled garlic and its oil, hot honey, black pepper, pepper flakes, lemon juice, smoked paprika, and a small pinch of salt.
- Taste and adjust, adding further salt only if needed. Fold in optional chives and regular honey.
- Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Let a serving portion soften briefly if needed, then finish with an optional light hot honey drizzle and cracked pepper.
Roasted Garlic Alternative
Place the peeled whole cloves in a small covered oven-safe dish with one teaspoon of the measured olive oil. Roast at 375°F for about 25–35 minutes, until mashably soft. Cool, mash, and add to the spread with any oil from the dish and the remaining two teaspoons of measured oil. Allow additional preparation time for this option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes | Quick garlic cooking: 1–2 minutes, plus cooling | Chill: 30 minutes