Description
A recipe for crispy, baked vegan buffalo cauliflower bites that deliver a restaurant-quality crunch without deep frying. Perfect for game day, snacks, or appetizers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large head of cauliflower (about 2–2.5 lbs / 1 kg)
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil (e.g., avocado or light olive oil)
- 1 cup chickpea flour (110g)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour (60g)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup cold sparkling water or seltzer (180ml)
- ½ cup Frank’s RedHot sauce (120ml)
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter or coconut oil, melted (30g)
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (for sauce)
- Vegan blue cheese or ranch dressing (for dipping)
- Chopped celery and carrots (for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). If using an air fryer, preheat to 380°F (190°C).
- Cut the cauliflower into medium-sized florets (about 1.5 inches wide). Pat them completely dry with paper towels.
- In a large bowl, whisk together chickpea flour, all-purpose flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, baking powder, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, mix cold sparkling water with neutral oil.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and whisk gently until just combined to form a thick batter.
- Add cauliflower florets to the batter and toss to coat evenly.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange florets in a single layer, ensuring they do not touch.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
- While cauliflower bakes, melt vegan butter in a small saucepan. Stir in Frank’s RedHot sauce, white vinegar, and garlic powder.
- Transfer hot cauliflower to a large bowl, pour sauce over, and toss gently to coat.
- Serve immediately with vegan ranch or blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.
Notes
Patting the cauliflower dry is crucial for crispiness. Do not crowd the baking sheet to avoid steaming. Use cold sparkling water for a lighter, airier batter. Reheat in oven or air fryer to restore crunch; do not microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 8
Keywords: vegan, buffalo cauliflower, crispy, gluten-free option, air fryer, game day snack, healthy appetizer, chickpea flour