If I make a recovery drive, can I use that to install windows on my new ssd instead of copying it from the hdd to the ssd?

yes you should be able to do that. note: you need CLONE software to Duplicate a hard drive to an SSD such as EASUS/PARAGON copying doesnt work.

Yes, you could use a recovery drive to reinstall a clean copy of Windows on the SSD. It will of course not have any of your programs or data that did not come pre-installed on Windows.

You could clone the drive, but sometimes a clean install will produce better results and less hassle in the long run, then you simply transfer over your data and reinstall the programs you need. You can use a hard drive enclosure or data transfer cable or any number of ways to connect your old drive to your computer for the purpose of transfer.

I kinda prefer clean installs for Windows on new drives. They're usually faster to boot from the get-go and it's kind of a way of cleaning house and getting rid of programs I don't use.

Recovery drives typically don't work that well getting your old programs installed beyond just recovering your saved files. Cloning is by far the best way if you can figure out decent cloning software.

No, my friend. Your current hard drive needs to be cloned. A simple backup of your hard drives contents, which is what making a recovery drive is, will NOT allow you to install Windows onto your SSD.