Description
Crispy and spicy vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Wings perfect for game day or as a flavorful appetizer. These oven-baked bites are coated in a flavorful batter, baked to perfection, and tossed in a tangy buffalo sauce with a hint of sweetness from maple syrup. Served best with a cooling vegan ranch dip.
Ingredients
Scale
Cauliflower Wings
- 1 medium head of cauliflower
- ¾ cup flour
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¾ cup unsweetened vegan milk
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Buffalo Sauce
- ½ cup vinegar-based hot sauce (such as Franks hot sauce)
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup
Serving
- Cooling vegan ranch dip
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Slowly add the vegan milk and whisk until you have a smooth batter with no lumps.
- Cut the cauliflower: Break the cauliflower into bite-sized florets, roughly the size of traditional chicken wings for best texture and cooking time.
- Coat the cauliflower: Dip each cauliflower floret into the batter, allowing excess to drip off, then coat evenly with panko breadcrumbs. Place coated florets onto the prepared baking sheet, spaced evenly.
- Bake the wings: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then carefully flip each piece and bake for an additional 7 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Make the buffalo sauce: While the wings bake, melt the vegan butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the hot sauce, garlic powder, and maple syrup, stirring well until combined and heated through.
- Toss wings in sauce: Once baked, transfer cauliflower wings to a large bowl. Pour the buffalo sauce over and toss to coat each piece evenly.
- Serve: Arrange the buffalo cauliflower wings on a serving platter with a side of cooling vegan ranch dip for dipping. Enjoy immediately for the best crispiness.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, spray the coated wings lightly with cooking oil before baking.
- If using a large cauliflower head, double the batter and sauce quantities to ensure proper coating and flavor.
- Maple syrup balances the heat and adds a subtle sweetness to the buffalo sauce; adjust according to your taste.
- Use a vinegar-based hot sauce for authentic buffalo flavor.
- These wings can be reheated in the oven for a few minutes to regain crispiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 wing
- Calories: 35 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 157 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
