Sweet + Spicy Everything Bagel Cauliflower Bites

Fork piercing an Everything Bagel Cauliflower Bite from a skillet

5 from 6 votes

Sweet + Spicy Everything Bagel Cauliflower Bites

Everything Bagel Cauliflower Bites with a sweet and spicy sauce are the best finger-food appetizer or side dish for everyone, from vegans to meat-lovers! Gluten-Free option available.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack

Keyword: appetizer, baked, cauliflower, easy, everything bagel, homemade, spicy, sweet, vegetarian, weeknight meals

Servings: servings

Calories: 342kcal

Author: Shanika

Ingredients

CAULIFLOWER BITES:

1 head of Cauliflower, chopped in medium chunks
2 cups corn flakes, crushed into very small pieces
1 cup bread crumbs (You can make your own Seasoned Toasted Panko Bread Crumbs)
½ cup organic all-purpose flour
2-3 Tbsps Everything Bagel seasoning (See Notes!)
1 cup Almond milk (You can use your favorite plant-based milk)
¼ cup Buffalo sauce (Store-bought or homemade)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika

SWEET + SPICY SAUCE:

½ cup Buffalo sauce (Store-bought or homemade)
⅓ cup organic brown sugar
¼ cup BBQ sauce (Store-bought or homemade)
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon vegetable stock, organic

TOPPINGS:

Everything Bagel seasoning (See Notes!)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

TO MAKE THE CAULIFLOWER BITES:

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and line your baking sheet with parchment paper. NOTE: Doing this step is a MUST to prevent sticking.
In a medium bowl, add the milk, flour, Buffalo sauce, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika, and whisk together until fully combined. Set aside.
In ziplock bag, add the crushed corn flakes, breadcrumbs, and Everything Bagel seasoning together and shake them together until well combined and blended.
Now, dip each cauliflower into batter (shaking off any excess) and then add it into the coating mixture within the ziplock bag, shaking everything together until cauliflower bite is well coated. Then lay each cauliflower side by side on the baking sheet (about an inch apart). Repeat until all cauliflower are coated.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and “crunchy” looking. NOTE: If not crispy enough, turn on broil and bake for another 5-10 minutes.

TO MAKE THE SWEET + SPICY SAUCE:

Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and whisk together until it begins to boil. Reduce heat to low-medium and let everything simmer for about 15 minutes or so, stirring occasionally. Once thickened enough to desired consistency, remove from heat and let cool.
Once cauliflowers are crisp, remove from oven and toss them in the sauce until fully coated. Add coated cauliflower back to baking sheet and place them back in the oven (turning oven on broil) for about 5-6 minutes. Sprinkle with Everything Bagel seasoning for garnish.
To serve, add cauliflower bites to a salad, tacos, atop pasta, as a topping on pizza, with quinoa or rice, or by themselves with Vegan Ranch dipping sauce.
Bon Appetit!

Notes

STORAGE: Best if consumed within the same day. Store leftovers in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in oven when ready to serve.
SWEETENER: Instead of brown sugar, you can always use maple syrup or agave as a sweetener.
HOMEMADE EVERYTHING BAGEL SEASONING: To make your own seasoning blend, be sure to check out my Vegan Everything Bagel Brioche Bread recipe.
EVERYTHING BAGEL SEASONING (STORAGE): This original recipe makes about ¼ cup, however, you can always make a larger batch of this and store it in an airtight container in a dry, cool place for up to 6 months.
GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: To ensure that these bites are GF-friendly, ensure that you use GF breadcrumbs as well as GF-friendly BBQ sauce, Buffalo sauce, etc.

Nutrition