Crispy Baked Cauliflower Buffalo Wings (Vegan)

Jan 29, 2021 (Last updated Jan 7, 2025) by Hannah Sunderani

Crispy Baked Cauliflower Buffalo Wings (Vegan)

This vegan recipe for homemade cauliflower buffalo wings bakes lightly seasoned cauliflower florets and tosses in store-bought buffalo sauce. There’s no breading in this easy appetizer recipe! Enjoy the crispy buffalo cauliflower bites straight out of the oven together with a quick-to-make vegan ranch for dipping.

I am so excited to be sharing this delicious vegan cauliflower buffalo wings recipe with you today! They are so addictive that I made it twice last week. If you haven’t tried cauliflower buffalo wings before, boy are you in for a treat. They are so easy to make, and the perfect vegan and great alternative for chicken wings. 

In fact, since transitioning to a vegan diet, my husband Mitch always tells me that the only thing he misses from his old diet is chicken wings! It’s something he says often in fact – that he can get on board with all the vegan versions of his old favourites, like vegan sausages, burgers, and hot dogs. But he really misses the chicken wings! 

So, this recipe was made for my husband as a great alternative to chicken wings. (And, well – it fixed his craving!). 

So, let me tell you exactly how to make these vegan cauliflower buffalo wings, so that you can get your fix too.   

Vegan Cauliflower Buffalo Wings Recipe

These vegan cauliflower buffalo wings ticks all the boxes. They are:

• Vegan
• Comfort food 
• Saucy and spicy 
• Crispy and baked, with a soft and supple interior 
• Low-carb and healthy
• Melt in your mouth
• Easy recipe for beginner cooks
• Served with a creamy vegan ranch to dip
• So close to the real-deal!

Pretty much, they’re everything you would hope for in a vegan cauliflower buffalo wings recipe – actually, they’re better!

If you don’t already know, I’m a big fan of vegan recipes with cauliflower! My Cauliflower Nachos and Cauliflower Chickpea Curry are recipes that we have on rotation in our home. (Another cauliflower recipe that I highly recommend is the the Cauliflower Gratin from my cookbook – It’s so… freaking… good.)

But this recipe idea was inspired to satisfy my husband’s buffalo wings craving, and there’s no better veg to take the challenge than cauliflower! It’s an easy vegan appetizer idea that’s become popular with vegan and non-vegan alike. (A great alternative to chicken wings!)

My recipe itself is inspired by Broma Bakery’s Buffalo Cauliflower Wings. Made vegan of course with some modifications, and then some more to taste.  

I also absolutely love the homemade vegan ranch dressing for dipping. It’s made with a base of coconut yogurt for a healthy, creamy, and tangy dip. 

Make These Baked Cauliflower Wings Gluten-free:

In addition to being vegan, these cauliflower buffalo wings are baked – not fried, which makes it a pretty healthy option. The recipe can also be made gluten-free by substituting the all-purpose flour in the batter for 1:1 gluten-free flour.

COOK THESE VEGAN CAULIFLOWER WINGS WITH ME!

Make these plant-based cauliflower wings with me on my latest episode, 4 Healthy Vegan Cauliflower Recipes on YouTube!

How to make vegan cauliflower wings

To make these plant-based cauliflower wings we’ll start by making the batter coating. In a small mixing bowl, combine the flour, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. Add the almond milk and apple cider vinegar mixture and whisk until smooth and combined.

Then, dip the cauliflower florets one-by-one into the batter, and roll to coat, using a spoon to scoop the batter into all the nooks and crannies. Place the florets onto the baking tray, spreading out so they are not crowded.

Bake for 20 minutes and then flip the cauliflower florets over to bake the other side for an even bake. Bake for another 20 minutes on the other side (total of 40 minutes).

While you’re waiting for the cauliflower wings to get crispy. You can prepare the buffalo sauce and ranch dip. 

To prepare the buffalo sauce: In a large mixing bowl combine the melted coconut oil and buffalo sauce. Mix until smooth and silky in consistency. Set aside. 

Once the cauliflower florets are crispy and baked, transfer them to the mixing bowl and toss gently to cover in the sauce.

Plate the vegan cauliflower wings and serve with my simple ranch dip!

Easy Ranch Dip

As for the ranch dip, this is a simple mix of coconut yogurt, apple cider vinegar, dill and other spices. I love this dip not only because it’s creamy and flavourful, but the ingredients are so clean. Which you often can’t find with store-bought brands.

To make the ranch dip: In a small bowl, combine the coconut yogurt, apple cider vinegar, dill, onion powder, sea salt, paprika and pepper. Mix to combine.

If you have more time on your hands, I highly recommend that you try my vegan ranch dip recipe that uses cashews. It’s a little more work but well worth the effort!

Recipe FAQ’s

Other recipes you might like:

If you’re digging this recipe, you might also like these:

• Fully Loaded Black Bean Nachos
• Vegan Cauliflower Pizza Crust
• Cauliflower Chickpea Curry

And that’s pretty much all you need to know for making this delish cauliflower wings recipe. An easy recipe for beginner cooks, a great vegan alternative to chicken wings. These cauliflower wings are healthy, wholesome, full of flavour, crispy and so comforting. They’re best enjoyed straight out of the oven with homemade vegan ranch for dipping.

And, if you do make this recipe please let me know in the comments below what you think! I truly love hearing from you, and I’m always here to answer any questions you might have. And of course, tag me on Instagram with your pictures using the hashtag #twospoons. Nothing makes me happier than to see your recreations.

Pin it on Pinterest!

See more step-by-step instructions by visiting the recipe story here!