HOT HONEY LOLLIPOP FRIED CHICKEN

My wife was craving fried chicken so I made these hot honey fried chicken lollipops 🍗🍭 for dinner. Here’s the recipe if you want to try them! Ingredients For the marinade: * 8 chicken drumsticks * 16 oz buttermilk * 2 tsp kosher salt * 2 tsp garlic powder * 2 tsp onion powder * 2 tsp paprika * 1 tsp cayenne pepper * 1 tsp black pepper * 1 tsp dried oregano, optional * A splash of hot sauce For the coating: * 3 cups all-purpose flour * 1 tsp paprika * ½ tsp salt * 1 tbsp onion powder * 1 tbsp garlic powder * ½ tsp black pepper * 1 tsp baking powder, optional * Vegetable oil for frying For the hot honey sauce: * ½ cup unsalted butter * ½ cup honey * ¼ cup hot sauce * 1 tbsp garlic powder Directions Pat the drumsticks dry. Cut around the narrow end of each drumstick, about 1½ inches below the joint. Remove the skin and meat from that section of bone, trim the tendons, and push the remaining meat downward to form the lollipop shape. Place the chicken in a bowl with the buttermilk and marinade seasonings. Make sure every piece is coated, then refrigerate for at least one hour—overnight is even better. Combine all the coating ingredients in a separate bowl. Remove each drumstick from the marinade, coat it thoroughly in the seasoned flour, and shake off any excess. Repeat for a thicker crust. Heat the oil to 325°F. Fry about three drumsticks at a time for 10–15 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and fully cooked. For the sauce, combine the butter, honey, hot sauce, and garlic powder over medium-low heat. Let it gently simmer until smooth, glossy, and slightly thickened. Brush, drizzle, or toss the fried chicken in the hot honey sauce, then serve with ranch.