Hot Honey Mac & Cheese

A comforting mac and cheese dish with a twist of hot honey, perfect for autumn.

By @fitwaffle

Original recipe source

Cook time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 450 g spirali or cavatappi pasta
• 60 g butter
• 4 tbsp plain flour
• 400 ml whole milk
• 300 ml double cream
• 450 g mozzarella
• 225 g mature cheddar
• 225 g Red Leicester
• 225 g gouda
• 0 salt
• 0 pepper
• 2 tsp dry mustard powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 0 cooked pasta
• 0 cheese sauce
• 0 mac and cheese mixture
• 4 tbsp hot honey

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
2. Cook 450g of spirali or cavatappi pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain.
3. In a saucepan, melt 60g of butter over medium heat.
4. Add 4 tablespoons of plain flour to the melted butter and whisk continuously to form a roux.
5. Gradually add 400ml of whole milk and 300ml of double cream to the roux, whisking constantly until the sauce is smooth and thickened.
6. Stir in 450g of mozzarella, 225g of mature cheddar, 225g of Red Leicester, and 225g of gouda cheese into the sauce until melted and smooth.
7. Season the cheese sauce with salt and pepper to taste, 2 teaspoons of dry mustard powder, and 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika.
8. Combine the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce and mix well.
9. Transfer the mac and cheese mixture into a 9x13” baking dish.
10. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, then switch to a high grill for a few minutes until the top is golden brown and crisp. Drizzle 4 tablespoons of hot honey over the top before serving.