Cheddar Cauliflower Bacon Bites are the perfect healthier appetizer for all your holiday entertaining or an easy weeknight side for the family!
Entertaining during the holiday season can be a downfall when you're trying desperately to watch your weight and eat healthier. Forget trying to lose weight, I'm talking let's just maintain status quo, right? The biggest trouble I find is all the picky finger foods! I could eat my weight in those alone just by gabbing and grabbing. The next thing I know I'm full before the party begins or the sit down meal starts.
I've made this recipe quite a few times, changing it and tweaking it along the way for my family. I remember the first time I made them, they were more like fritters which I adapted from my Zucchini Fritter recipe. I thought it would be the only way to fool my kiddos into eating cauliflower.
And I was right! They never saw it coming.
Packed with scallions and bacon, the oldest, who's a teen said, "WHAT!! YOU GOT ME TO EAT CAULIFLOWER, NO WAY???? THESE ARE SOOOO GOOD MOM!"
SO I made them quite a few times as a fritter but wasn't quite happy with how hard it was too cook them in a saute pan and flip them over. Quite flimsy and difficult. I thought, if I'm having trouble flipping these babies no one else will like that either despite the fact the taste is outstanding. I tweaked the ratio of flours a bit, trying different kinds each time and reducing egg and cheese, it was a science experiment every time, but each time, my family ate them all up no matter how I made them.
I decided......well, actually, credit must go to the hubby on this one who said, "just bake them like you do with those zucchini bites you've made before." And he was right. Worked like a charm, no flipping, no frying, easy peasy easy! You might be able to sub the gluten free flour for quinoa as I did in my Broccoli Cauliflower Quinoa bites, although not sure if they would hold as well like the flour but it's worth a try.
These are a win for the family and a great alternative at the holiday appetizer table! You can eat 6 per serving for only around 200 calories, and gluten free as well. You could use regular flour if gluten is not an issue for you. Enjoy!!
Please note: I re-calculated my nutritional information as saw a difference in using Bob's Red Mill All purpose gluten free flour compared to their new 1 to 1 gluten free flour. The difference in one cup is 88 grams of carbs to 120 grams of carbs. Also the calories for the 1 to 1 are 520 in one cup and using the all purpose it is only 400. On 12/4/14, I readjusted the calculations using the regular all purpose gluten free flour instead of the 1 to 1.
UPDATE: I removed the gluten free flour and now use coconut flour, tastes just as good!
Cheddar Cauliflower Bacon Bites
Ingredients
- 4 cups cauliflower florets
- 6 ounces uncured nitrate free bacon cooked till crisp
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup scallions chopped
- ½ cup coconut flour
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Steam cauliflower until fork tender. Cool then add to food processor.
- Pulse until fine crumbs.
- Transfer to a large bowl and add the rest of the ingredients.
- Stir until combined.
- Grease a mini muffin tin.
- Fill mini muffin cups by adding a heaping tablespoon of batter and pressing into each cup. Fills 30.
- Bake 15 minutes and let cool about 10 minutes then remove from pan.
- Enjoy immediately!
Notes
Nutrition
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About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
Marianne
These sound great...I have leftover riced cauliflower but I hadn’t steamed it before putting in food processor. Should I steam the diced cauliflower before carrying out the recipe? Thanks!
Brenda
You don't need to steam it, just thawed if frozen.
KD
Can you use frozen cauliflower, or would it be too wet? Thanks.
Brenda
You can, but I'd probably thaw and squeeze out as much liquid as you can.
Jen
Just made these and all I could taste was coconut - it was overwhelming. I don't have to have GF food, but I am looking for low carb. Do you think almond flour would work?
Brenda
Yes I think you could sub almond flour.
Nicole
Hi,
Just wondering if these hold up well the next day.. reheated or eaten room temperature? (thinking of bringing them to a family get together but there's 1h + traveling and such involved).
I don't personally eat low carb or vegan but a large chunk of my extended family does, so I'm excited to try some of your recipes out!
Brenda
That's great I wish my extended family did, I'm the only one!
Marsha
Can they be frozen and reheated?
Brenda
Yes
Marsha
Super. Making them today and now I'll double the recipe.?
Bridy
My daughter might just eat these. I am always looking for new ways to get her to eat veggies, besides cucumber!
janet cannon
will it work with regular bacon and regular flour
Brenda
yes
Heather
Hi. I have a question...can AP flour and gluten free flour be substituted 1:1.
I'm excited to try some of your recipes.
Brenda
In this recipe you can, but not always in baked goods.