It’s almost finger food and funny commercial day! Also I hear there are sports involved. Whether you’re here for the snacks or the football, you’ve gotta make some fun food! Personally, I think no Super Bowl is complete with two things: cheese and beer. Thus, vegan mac & beer cheese bites! These bites definitely make enough to serve a crowd, or for you to have leftovers all to yourself (what I’ll be doing on account of covid).

Makes about 48 bites. Spread out to two mini muffin tins or bake a second batch.

Ingredients:

• 1 (16 oz) box cooked elbow pasta, minus 1 cup
• 1 cup soaked cashews
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 2 cloves garlic or 1 teaspoon powder
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 3/4 cup beer (lager)
• Grated vegan cheddar cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350F.
2. Add all ingredients except for beer to a blender and blend until smooth.
3. Pour the cheese sauce into a saucepan with the beer, and heat over medium-low until thick and bubbly (5-10 minutes). Taste and season with more salt if needed. Stir the pasta noodles into the sauce.
4. Lightly oil a mini muffin tin and spoon the mac and cheese into each hole. Pack the mac and cheese down tightly with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle some grated vegan cheddar cheese over the tops. Don’t skip this step because the cheddar shreds help keep the tops of the “muffins” together.
5. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove and let cool for 10 minutes before gently removing each bite with a butter knife or the handle of a spoon. Repeat until all the mac and cheese is gone and you’re left with lots of mac and cheese bites.
6. Serve alone or with a sauce like marinara or ketchup, and enjoy!