Want our advice on how to host? DO THE MOST. That means having all your besties over and serving up these brown sugar bacon and waffle bites, preferably on a silver tray with fancy little toothpicks! With a sprinkle of sugar and spice, our Tofurky Smoky Maple Bacon Tempeh bakes into crunchy candied decadence. Each piece crowns a fluffy waffle, perfectly accessorized with a teensy pat of butter and candied pecans. Stir up a batch of our Orange Creamsicle shots with coconut whip, and keep it extra!   Makes 8 servings

what you’ll need:

1 package Tofurky Smoky Maple Bacon Tempeh
¼ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne
1 ½ cups unsweetened, plain non-dairy milk
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ cup vegan butter, melted
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Vegan butter and candied pecans, for serving (optional)

how to make:

1. Preheat oven to 400˚F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly grease with cooking spray.
2. Place tempeh slices in a single layer on prepared baking sheet.
3. In a small bowl, combine sugar, pepper, and cayenne, then evenly sprinkle on tempeh. Bake until crisp and candied, about 30-35 minutes. Check at 25 minutes and regularly thereafter to make sure tempeh does not burn.
4. Reduce oven to 200˚F.
5. In a small bowl, combine milk and apple cider vinegar, and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
6. In a large bowl, whisk to combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in milk mixture until just combined.
7. In a small bowl, whisk to combine butter, sugar, and vanilla, then stir in to the batter until well combined.
8. Heat a mini waffle iron. Add batter and cook according to appliance directions. Place cooked waffles on a sheet pan lined with a cooling rack and set in warming oven until ready to serve.
9. Cut waffles into quarters and place on a serving platter. Top each with ½ slice of brown sugar bacon tempeh plus a small pad of butter and a candied pecan, if desired. Insert a cocktail toothpick through tempeh and waffle to secure each in place.

 

BONUS: Batch Orange Creamsicle Shots
1 ¼ cups vodka
¼ cup triple sec
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 ¼ cups orange juice
½ cup vegan coffee creamer
Vegan whipped cream for serving

In a large pitcher, combine vodka, triple sec, and vanilla. Just before serving, fill pitcher with ice and stir in juice and creamer. Strain and pour into shot glasses. Top with whipped cream.