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    Home / Recipes / Small Bites

    Cauliflower Bites

    Published: Oct 26, 2022 · Modified: Nov 17, 2022 by Kathy Carmichael · This post may contain affiliate links.

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

    Cauliflower bites on a plate with mustard dipping sauce on the table.

    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

    cauliflower florets cut on a cutting board and a bowl of cornbread batter in a bowl on the counter.

    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

    Dipping cauliflower florets into cornbread batter.
    • 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

    Cauliflower dipped in cornbread batter on a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • 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. 
    cauliflower bites recipes on a plate with mustard dipping sauce

    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

    What do I eat with cauliflower bites?

    I like cauliflower bites served with a large salad or brown rice on the side.

    How long do I cook cauliflower bites in the sir fryer?

    10-12 minutes at 400 degrees.

    How many calories are in cauliflower bites?

    91 calories per serving.

    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

    • Mediterranean Potato Recipe
      Mediterranean Potatoes
    • buffalo potato recipe
      Buffalo Potatoes
    • dill pickle chips recipe
      Dill Pickle Chips
    • chickpea fritter recipes
      Chickpea Fritters

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

    📖 Recipe

    Cauliflower Bites

    Cauliflower Bites

    Kathy Carmichael
    These cornbread-dipped cauliflower bites are to die for. First, the cauliflower is dipped in oil-free cornbread batter and baked or air-fried. Then dip these tasty little cauliflower bites into a tangy mustard maple dipping sauce.
    4.60 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 17 mins
    Total Time 27 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 227 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 large cauliflower cut into equal-sized floets

    Cornbread batter

    • 1 recipe oil-free cornbread

    Dijon Maple Dipping Sauce

    • ¼ cup dijon mustard
    • 2 Tablespoons maple syrup or substitute date syrup or agave

    Instructions
     

    • Remove the core from the head of the cauliflower.
    • Then, cut the cauliflower into equal-sized florets.

    Make Batter

    • In a large mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, and baking powder; stir.
    • Add the soy milk, applesauce, and maple syrup and whisk to combine.
    • The batter can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator, covered until you're ready to prepare the cauliflower bites.

    Baking

    • 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 Frying

    • 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.  

    Dijon Maple Dipping Sauce

    • Whisk the dijon mustard and maple syrup together.
    • Set aside.

    Notes

    Tips:

    1. Use apple sauce instead of eggs in recipes
    2. Choose unsweetened, unflavored plant-based milk in place of regular milk in any recipe.
    3. Select maple syrup, agave, or date syrup as a sugar substitute to reduce the sugar used in recipes. 
    4. 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. 
    5. Prepare the batter ahead of time ad refrigerate until ready to dip florets
    6. Use parchment paper when baking for air-frying
    7. Air-fryers vary in size and cooking times, so check florets at 10 minutes when ai-frying.
    8. Cook cauliflower bites in batches using a small air-fryer and place cooked florets in a 325-degree oven on a baking sheet to keep warm.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 227kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 6gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 485mgPotassium: 495mgFiber: 6gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 54IUVitamin C: 68mgCalcium: 67mgIron: 2mg
    Tried our recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Kathy Carmichael

    Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂

    www.kathysvegankitchen.com/about-me/

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    1. Michael Victoria

      May 13, 2022 at 5:31 pm

      Any suggestions for substituting cornmeal due to an allergy?

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        May 14, 2022 at 3:46 am

        Hi Michael, there are several different options for substituting cornmeal in recipes. Here are a few: Semolina.
        Ground oats. If you don't necessarily want the corn flavor, this would be a perfect substitute for texture. Or, you can use Wheat flour,or
        rice flour.

        Reply
    2. Stephanie

      April 15, 2022 at 5:36 pm

      How do you make these with frozen cauliflower? They look yummy!

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        April 16, 2022 at 6:55 am

        Hi Stephanie, I have never made them with frozen cauliflower, but I would thaw the florets first, then pat dry them before dipping them in the cornbread mixture. Let me know how it goes.

        Reply
    3. Raj Bharadia

      April 12, 2022 at 8:31 am

      Such delicious recipe! I baked them in conventional oven and used tamarind sauce for dipping.
      Tasted great!

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        April 12, 2022 at 1:19 pm

        Hi Raj, that was quick; I just posted it today! I'm so glad you liked it. Thank you for the feedback.

        Reply

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    102 shares