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Closeup of a skillet of Sticky Coca-Cola Cauliflower Wings
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5 from 1 vote

Sticky Coca-Cola Cauliflower Wings

Crispy, saucy baked cauliflower are the perfect little bites when it comes to these Sticky Coca-Cola Cauliflower Wings!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Keyword: appetizer, baked, bites, cauliflower, coca cola, dairy-free, gluten-free, meatless, snack, sticky, sweet, vegan
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 449kcal
Author: Shanika

Ingredients

CAULIFLOWER WINGS:

  • 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)
  • 1 cup Almond milk (You can use your favorite plant-based milk)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

COCA-COLA SAUCE:

  • 1 ½ cups coca-cola
  • ¾ cup organic brown sugar
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch + 2 Tbsps warm water (optional)
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, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, thyme, and smoked paprika, and whisk together until fully combined. Set aside.
  • In ziplock bag, add the crushed corn flakes and breadcrumbs, 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 COCA-COLA 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 5-6 minutes or so, stirring occasionally. Once thickened enough to desired consistency, Once cauliflowers are crisp, remove from oven and toss them in the sauce until fully coated. NOTE: If the sauce is still too 'liquidy', simply add 1 tablespoon of arrowroot starch mixed in with 2 Tbsps warm water and stir it in until thickened.
  • Add coated cauliflower back to baking sheet and place them back in the oven (turning oven on broil) for about 3-4 minutes.
  • 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 4 days. Reheat in oven when ready to serve.
  • SWEETENER: Instead of brown sugar, you can always use maple syrup or agave as a sweetener.
  • GLUTEN-FREE OPTION: To ensure that these bites are GF-friendly, ensure that you use GF breadcrumbs as well as GF-friendly flour, cornflakes, etc.

Nutrition

Calories: 449kcal | Carbohydrates: 101g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1456mg | Potassium: 434mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 54g | Vitamin A: 2390IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 202mg | Iron: 8mg