I’m all about starting fresh in the new year, but I’ve never been one for detoxes or diets. I like food … real, fulfilling, comforting food and I see no reason to sacrifice on goodness in anyway, whether it be nutrition or rich flavor, year round. Hence why these cream biscuits and gravy are a new favorite – and a rather genius recipe, if I do say so myself.
The idea for these cream biscuits and gravy came about when I received several boxes of Enjoy Life All-Purpose Flour Blend to trial out. Unfortunately, that blend was discontinued, but this recipe lives on! I actually couldn’t believe how perfectly this sneaky gravy turned out. My cauliflower-hating, gravy-loving husband proclaimed it “really good” and had no idea it was made with veggies!
I did trial both “traditional” biscuits (made with coconut oil or buttery spread and milk beverage) but we much preferred these cream-style biscuits. I absolutely LOVE biscuits made this way! And because the flour blend is full of whole grain goodness, the biscuits don’t puff up high (just as whole wheat biscuits don’t!). In fact, you can omit the starch and up the wholesome flour blend to 2 cups if you’re fine with even a touch less height. Regardless, they still gain just enough rise (I was able to slice or simply break them apart horizontally), have a wonderful flavor, biscuit-y consistency, and are the perfect base for this cream biscuits and gravy recipe …
Special Diet Notes: Cream Biscuits and Gravy
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, and soy-free. The cream biscuits are naturally vegan, too, and vegan / plant-based options have been included for the delicious cauliflower gravy.
Also, this recipe for cream biscuits and gravy comes together quite easily and quickly, especially once you’ve already tried it a couple of times. I’ve just included TONS of notes and very detailed instructions for your initial guidance with this recipe.
- 1½ cups dairy-free, gluten-free flour blend
- ½ cup non-GMO cornstarch or tapioca starch
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon xanthan gum*
- 1⅓ cups coconut cream (see note below)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey or agave nectar (for strict vegan)
- Homemade turkey or vegan breakfast sausage (see below for easy recipe / recommendations)
- 2 cups steamed cauliflower florets
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup Enjoy Life All-Purpose Flour Mix
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- In a large bowl, whisk the flour, starch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and xanthan gum until thoroughly combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the coconut cream, vinegar, and honey until smooth.
- Add the coconut cream mixture to the flour blend, and stir with a spoon to combine. Gently work it with your hands to bring everything together. It should be somewhat sticky.
- Dump the dough onto a floured mat (I use more of the Enjoy Life All Purpose Flour). Gently bring it together and pat it until about ¾- to 1-inch high. Use a 2- to 2½-inch biscuit cutter dipped in the flour to cut circles and place them in a greased baking dish, touching one another.* Bring the scraps together and cut again, an repeat the cutting process. If using a 2-inch biscuit cutter, you should get around 16 biscuits, 12 biscuits if using a 2½-inch cutter.
- Place the biscuits in the freezer while you preheat your oven to 425ºF (about 20 to 30 minutes).*
- Bake the biscuits for approximately 13 to 17 minutes, or until lightly risen and looking slightly browned. This flour blend is whole grain, so they don't have a fluffy "white" rise, but are perfect for the gravy.
- Blend the soft-cooked cauliflower with half of the water and the nutritional yeast, until smooth. Blend in the rest of the water.
- Heat the oil over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook (may just be heating through if using pre-cooked vegan sausage), breaking up with a spatula as you go.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Whisk in the flour for about 1 minute, it should absorb into the sausage and oil. Whisk in the cauliflower blend, and cook until thickened to your liking (I simmer about 5 minutes). If it thickens too much, add a little more water.
- Season with salt, to taste, and the black pepper.
- Cut biscuits horizontally with a serrated knife and plate, cut side up. Top with generous amounts of cauliflower gravy.
Easy Homemade Breakfast Sausage: In a medium bowl, stir ¾ lb lean ground turkey with ¾ teaspoon salt, ¾ teaspoon sage, ¾ teaspoon marjoram, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and a dash of nutmeg.
Vegan Breakfast Sausage Options: Most come pre-seasoned so you simply cook them up. A couple of products I've heard great things about are Neat Breakfast Mix (a nut-bean-oat blend) and Field Roast Apple Sage Sausage (grain-based), but there are many brands available. Or, you can make your own with this recipe.
*To help a bit with the rise, I do add a touch of xanthan gum and the biscuits are placed against one another to cling on to each other. Freezing also seems to help the rise (I tested both straight to the oven and freezing first - there was a noticeable difference). If you are avoiding gums, or if your flour blend already contains gum, you can skip the gum. Without any gum, they will just spread a bit more (try placing in muffin cups or small ramekins to help prevent this).
Nutrition: This recipe can provide 154mg Calcium, 5mg Iron, and 521mg Potassium.
41 Comments
Gravy only review: I just made the gravy. It was surprisingly fast and easy. I used 1/2 package Bob Evans Natural sausage. Using cauliflower as the base seemed weird, but I’m telling you it worked great! Nice taste and texture. I gave it to my 10 year old and 17 year old boys without telling them it was cauliflower and they liked it. I used a different biscuit recipe so no comments on this one. I haven’t had biscuits and gravy for about 30 years due to a milk sensitivity – thank you!
So glad you and your boys enjoyed it Phil! Thank you for the feedback.
Do you have nutrition info on this?
I added them, but keep in mind, it depends on what flour you use, amounts used, etc. This is based on 6 servings.
?Hi such a Wounderfull find great for me thank you ?