Cauliflower Bites

Cornbread-dipped cauliflower bites are to die for. Baked or air-fried, dip these cauliflower bites recipe into delicious maple dijon dipping sauce.

Recently Paul and I went to this cute little wine bar in Mesa, Arizona. I was surprised to see cauliflower corn dogs on the menu, which I discovered were vegan. So I ordered the dish to give it a try. Unfortunately, it was inedible, greasy, fried, and tasted awful. We sent it back. As a result of this negative experience came the idea to make a cauliflower bites recipe using my cornbread recipe. So what happens when you dip cauliflower in cornbread batter and bake it? You get great cauliflower bites! 

Jump to:

• Recipe Ingredients
• Recipe Ingredient Substitutions
• How to Make Cauliflower Bites
• Baking Opti0on
• Air Fryer Option
• Dipping Sauce
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• Other Great Vegan Recipes to Enjoy
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

I love cauliflower! And the more ways I can make unique cauliflower recipes, the better! Not only do these cauliflower bites taste fabulous, but the savory and sweet combination makes my taste buds dance. Then, I made a maple dijon dressing to dip the cornbread-covered cauliflower. There's something special about a tangy maple dijon sauce to bring out the flavor of the cauliflower and the cornbread. 

Recipe Ingredients

First, begin with a large head of cauliflower cut into equal-sized florets. Then make a batch of oil-free cornbread batter. 

Ingredients

• Cauliflower Florets: Cut one large cauliflower into equal-sized florets, discarding the core.
• Cornmeal: Cornmeal is more coarsely ground, so it feels gritty. It's commonly used to make cornbread, but it's not a suitable replacement for corn flour in gluten-free recipes. Corn flour is more finely ground and has a delicate, floury texture. Polenta is very similar to cornmeal, especially coarse-ground cornmeal.
• Whole Wheat Flour: Whole wheat contains the entire grain, including the fibrous husk, bran and endosperm. Conversely, regular wheat is stripped of the husk and bran, which are loaded with nutrients. antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber
• Organic Vegan Sugar+ Brown Sugar: I like Sugar in the Raw Brand. Did you know all sugar is not vegan?
• Baking Powder: Baking powder is a dry chemical leavening agent, a mixture of a carbonate or bicarbonate and a weak acid
• Plant-Based Milk: I like cooking with oat milk because it is thick and creamy.
• Apple Sauce: I use all-natural organic applesauce with no sugar added. I buy single-serving apple sauces to use in cooking. They are a perfect size and last longer since I don't bake often.
• Pure Maple Syrup:

Recipe Ingredient Substitutions

• Broccoli is often substituted for cauliflower in recipes.
• The best alternatives are corn grits, semolina, ground oats, and breadcrumbs. Rice flour, wheat flour, and tapioca starch will work in a pinch as a cornmeal substitute.
• Use a vegan boxed cornbread recipe of choice instead of making your own.
• Choose gluten-free flour instead of whole-wheat flour. Or use any flour of your choice.
• To replace sugar with maple syrup in general cooking, it is ideal to use ¾ cup of maple syrup for every cup of sugar. When it comes to baking, that same amount is used but also be sure to reduce the amount of overall liquid in the recipe by about three tablespoons for each cup of maple syrup substituted.
• Any plant-based milk works well in this cauliflower bites recipe.
• Pureed apples, bananas, or pumpkin replaces apple sauce.
• Try agave or date syrup as a substitute for maple syrup.

How to Make Cauliflower Bites

• Cut the cauliflower into florets and rinse. Then, dry on paper towels.
• In the meantime, prepare the cornbread recipe.
• Dip each floret in the cornbread batter, covering each floret.

Baking Opti0on

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
• Prepare a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
• Dip cauliflower florets, covering each piece of cauliflower with cornbread batter. 
• Bake for 17-19 minutes until the exterior cornbread surrounding the cauliflower is brown. 

Air Fryer Option

• Place dipped florets on the base of the air-fryer pan, lined with air-fryer parchment paper.
• Air-fry at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes until the cornbread is brown
• Remove florets and cook in batches until all florets are cooked
• Place cooked cauliflower bites on a baking sheet and keep warm in a 325-degree oven until all the florets are prepared. 

Dipping Sauce

I decided to make a simple maple dijon sauce.  

• Dijon mustard
• Maple syrup (or substitute date syrup or agave)

Other Dipping Options

• Mustard Dipping Sauce(another mustard sauce)
• Vegan Ranch Dressing
• Vegan Green Goddess Dressing
• Yogurt Dressing Recipe
• Lemon Basil Dressing

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• Use applesauce instead of eggs in recipes.
• Choose unsweetened, unflavored plant-based milk instead of regular milk in any recipe.
• Select maple syrup, agave, or date syrup as a sugar substitute to reduce the sugar used in recipes. 
• Also, DON'T OVERMIX the batter. Once the ingredients are in the bowl, stir the batter, combining all the ingredients without stirring too much. What does that mean? First, combine all the dry ingredients. Then add the wet ingredients and mix until combined. 

Enjoy these sweet, savory cauliflower bites! You will love these cornbread-coated cauliflower treats!

Other Great Vegan Recipes to Enjoy

If you love this cauliflower bites recipe, give a 5-star review and comment below. We would love to hear from you.

📖 Recipe