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Crispy Baked Buffalo Cauliflower Bites Recipe with Creamy Ranch Dip

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These crispy baked buffalo cauliflower bites deliver a perfect blend of heat and crunch, paired with a creamy ranch dip for a nostalgic, plant-based twist on classic buffalo wings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for GF option)
  • 1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk (almond or oat milk)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ cup hot sauce (Frank’s RedHot recommended)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (or vegan butter)
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup mayonnaise (vegan mayo optional)
  • ½ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt (dairy-free yogurt optional)
  • 1 teaspoon dried dill
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1–2 tablespoons milk to thin ranch dip if needed

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, plant-based milk, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until smooth and thick enough to coat cauliflower. Add more flour if batter is too runny.
  3. Dip each cauliflower floret into the batter, letting excess drip off, and place on baking sheet without touching. This takes about 10 minutes.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping florets halfway through until golden and firm.
  5. While baking, whisk together hot sauce, melted butter, maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl.
  6. Transfer baked cauliflower to a large bowl and toss gently with buffalo sauce until well coated.
  7. Return coated cauliflower to baking sheet and bake for another 10-15 minutes until sauce sets and edges are crispy.
  8. Prepare ranch dip by mixing mayonnaise, sour cream or yogurt, dill, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add milk gradually to reach desired consistency.
  9. Remove cauliflower from oven, let cool a few minutes, and serve warm with creamy ranch dip.

Notes

Use a wire rack on the baking sheet to allow air circulation for extra crispiness. Avoid overcrowding florets to prevent steaming. Flip halfway through baking for even browning. Prepare ranch dip ahead for better flavor melding. Reheat leftovers in oven at 375°F for 8-10 minutes to maintain crispiness.

Nutrition

Keywords: buffalo cauliflower, baked cauliflower bites, vegan buffalo wings, plant-based snack, creamy ranch dip, gluten-free buffalo bites, healthy buffalo wings

Find it online: https://avabowls.com/crispy-baked-buffalo-cauliflower-bites-recipe-with-creamy-ranch-dip/