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    Home » Main Courses

    Vegan Brown Sugar Glazed Tofu (Vegan Glazed Ham)

    Published: Apr 9, 2022 · Modified: Sep 14, 2022 by Larisha Bernard · This post may contain affiliate links · 13 Comments

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    This vegan brown sugar glazed tofu is the perfect substitute as a vegan glazed ham recipe. So much flavor and the perfect texture!

    A white dish of Vegan brown sugar glazed tofu with rice.

    For many people, Easter holidays, meant ham was on the table. Obviously we are vegan, so we no longer do that, but that doesn’t mean that people still don’t want that flavor or taste. This vegan brown sugar glazed tofu is the perfect substitute for a vegan glazed ham style of tofu.

    Tofu, is neutral in taste and with the frozen tofu method that we use in this post, the texture is also amazing! It takes on the flavors of the brown sugar glaze so well and you’ll be absolutely shocked at how delicious this recipe is!

    While we made this as an alternative to spring holidays, that doesn’t mean that it’s only for that time of year. This vegan brown sugar glazed tofu is delicious year round!

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    A close up of two pieces of Vegan brown sugar glazed tofu.

    VEGAN BROWN SUGAR GLAZED TOFU INGREDIENTS:

    Below are notes about the ingredients before we get into the full recipe located lower in this post on how to make these the best vegan honey garlic oven fried tofu:

    • tofu – used as the main component of the dish, tofu takes on any flavor profile that you build with it and we are using it for a spin on “honey garlic chicken” for this dish
    • brown sugar– the base of the sauce, brown sugar is rich from the molasses which adds caramelization while cooking as well as moisture.
    • agave – the liquid from the agave adds more sweetness while allowing for us to make a sauce
    • pineapple juice – the flavor of pineapples with vegan ham are classic and go so well together
    • dijon mustard – the tang of the mustard balances out the sweetness
    • seasoning– we add cloves, cinnamon, ginger and black pepper for warming spices to the dish
    • liquid smoke – this helps with that classic smokey taste that ham has
    • vegan ham flavoring – while you could get awhile with omitting this ingredient, if you want a very similar profile to traditional ham, we highly recommend adding it. Purchase vegan ham flavoring on Amazon
    • pineapple slices – again this is how traditional hams are often made and just helps to continue building that delicious caramelized flavor

    SUBSTITUTIONS AND VARIATIONS:

    • tofu – swap tofu for jackfruit, seitan, cauliflower or even oyster mushrooms
    • brown sugar– granulated coconut or date sugar would be a good substitute
    • agave – try maple syrup, date sugar or a bee free honey
    • pineapple juice – orange juice will also work
    • dijon mustard – stone ground mustard would be the best swap.
    • vegan ham flavoring – you can omit this, if you do, we recommend adding an addition teaspoon of liquid smoke flavor to the sauce
    A piece Vegan brown sugar glazed tofu overtop rice and peas with a slice of pineapple.

    TIPS FOR MAKING THE PERFECT TOFU:

    WHAT IS THE BEST TYPE OF TOFU TO USE?

    We prefer extra firm tofu for this recipe and would highly recommend using that.

    This recipe will also work with firm tofu if needed.

    We do not advise using silken or soft tofu for this recipe.

    WHY SHOULD I FREEZE TOFU FIRST?

    Freezing tofu gives it a more meat-like texture. While this isn’t a requirement, we highly recommend doing it this way.

    Freeze to tofu in the store packaging. Then remove and let thaw completely before adding it to a tofu press to drain (see below)

    HOW DO I PRESS OUT TOFU?

    The easiest way to press out tofu is to use a tofu press. We use this tofu press because it’s easy to use and works great.

    However, if you don’t have a tofu press then you could wrap the block of tofu in a kitchen towel, place it on a plate, and then put something heavy on top like a cast iron skillet.

    A bowl of brown sugar glazed tofu with rice and peas.

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

    Can I make this vegan brown sugar glazed tofu Top 9 Allergen Free?

    Tofu is the main ingredient for this dish, but you could use it with other ingredients (listed below) to make top 9 free. The vegan ham flavoring also contains soy, so you could look for an alternative version that does not or omit as instructed in the substitutions above.

    Can I prep this tofu recipe ahead?

    This is best served immediately, however, you can store in an air tight container after cooled for up 5-7 days in the fridge. Make sure they are completely cooled before storing

    Can I make this vegan oven fried tofu recipe oil free?

    This dish is oil free as written!

    What can I replace the tofu with?

    You could make this recipe with oyster mushrooms, jackfruit, seitan pieces, or even cauliflower!

    Can I double this recipe?

    Yes! Just doubled all the ingredients listed.

    What do you serve with vegan brown sugar glazed tofu?

    Rice or vegan mashed potatoes, as well as our vegan lemon garlic butter asparagus, are great options!

    A sheet pan of vegan honey garlic oven fried tofu with broccoli.

    What other vegan tofu recipes could I make?

    If you love tofu, then you’ll love these other recipes as well!

    • Vegan Honey Garlic Tofu Sheet Pan Meal
    • Authentic Jamaican Jerk Tofu
    • Vegan Chipotle Mango BBQ Tofu
    • Vegan Garlic Soy Lime Tofu
    • Tofu Parm (Vegan Chicken Parm)
    • Vegan Sesame Tofu
    • Crispy Fried Tofu
    • Baked Tofu with Maple Blackberry Ginger Glaze

    Pin this Vegan Brown Sugar Glazed Tofu for later!

    A plate of Vegan brown sugar glazed tofu with rice and peas on the side.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 7 votes

    Vegan Brown Sugar Glazed Tofu

    This vegan brown sugar glazed tofu is the perfect substitute as a vegan glazed ham recipe. So much flavor and the perfect texture!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time45 minutes mins
    Freezing Time8 hours hrs
    Total Time8 hours hrs 50 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 443kcal
    Author: Larisha Bernard

    Ingredients

    • 2 packages extra firm tofu, frozen then thawed and pressed (see post for details)
    • 1 cup brown sugar
    • ¼ cup agave
    • ¼ cup pineapple juice
    • 3-4 tablespoon dijon mustard
    • 2 teaspoon vegan ham flavoring*
    • ½ teaspoon liquid smoke
    • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ginger
    • ¼ teaspoon cloves
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 8 slices fresh or canned pineapple

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
    • Add all the ingredients except the tofu into a medium bowl. Whisk together.
      (We prefer 4 tablespoon dijon – If you don't want as much of a tang add 2-3tbsp)
    • Add ⅓ cup of the mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 casserole dish and spread evenly.
    • Cut each tofu block in half for a total of 4 pieces**. Cut shallow crosshatch pattern over the tofu with a sharp knife only on the top side.
    • Brush all four sides of each piece of tofu with the mixture. With the crosshatch side, gently brush some of the mixture into the slices. Then place into the casserole dish, pushing down gently for the bottom of the tofu to absorb some more of the flavor. Place pineapple slices on the top.
    • Bake for 45 minutes, brushing every 15 minutes with more of the brown sugar mixture. After the last time brushing, turn the oven temp to 400 degrees F and bake for 15 more minutes.
    • While waiting for the last 15 minutes, add any remaining mixture to a small pan and heat to at least 200 degrees F (this is so that the ham flavoring is not raw).
    • Remove and drizzle remaining sauce over the tofu when ready to eat.

    Video

    Notes

    *You can still make this recipe without the vegan ham flavoring; however, if you want the most authentic taste, then we highly recommend it! Purchase vegan ham flavoring on Amazon. 
    **You can serve the four pieces as an individual piece, or you can slice it once finished to make more pieces.  Alternatively, you could slice each block into four piece or you can cube if desired. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1piece of tofu and ¼ of broccoli and sauce | Calories: 443kcal | Carbohydrates: 89g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 267mg | Potassium: 557mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 82g | Vitamin A: 66IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 3mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tammy

      April 18, 2023 at 11:30 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this for Easter last week and it was PHENOMENAL!!! My parents, hubby and picky 17 year old all loved it. I subbed agave for maple syrup and the ham flavoring for Better Than Bouillon Vegetable Base. I was a little nervous I wouldn’t get a “ham” flavor but it turned out perfect. The sauce is sooooo good, I could almost drink it and the way the flavors came together transported me right back to childhood… with the benefit of no harm to any animals! Thank you so much for this super easy but amazing recipe.

      Reply
      • Larisha Bernard

        June 27, 2023 at 8:54 pm

        yay! So glad you loved it

        Reply
    2. Missy

      April 04, 2023 at 2:14 pm

      Going to make this for Easter. Have you ever marinated it in advance? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Larisha Bernard

        July 18, 2023 at 10:21 am

        We haven’t, but wouldn’t see why it would hurt

        Reply
    3. Courtney R

      May 06, 2022 at 7:46 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious!!

      Reply
      • LarishaBernard

        May 11, 2022 at 4:43 pm

        We’re so happy you loved it!

        Reply
        • Jenn

          April 10, 2023 at 2:06 pm

          Made this dish yesterday for Easter Lunch! We loved it, made extra but had no left overs! Thank you

        • Larisha Bernard

          July 11, 2023 at 1:40 pm

          that’s wonderful!

    4. Casey

      April 30, 2022 at 7:18 pm

      Excited to make this this upcoming week! I bought the seasoning from the link and am wondering if you guys have any other ideas for uses for it? Thanks! It won’t let me post this comment for some reason. I am adding extra words to see if it works!

      Reply
      • LarishaBernard

        May 04, 2022 at 7:28 pm

        We are working on more ideas! Here’s one we already have on our site: https://makeitdairyfree.com/vegan-puerto-rican-rice-arroz-con-gandules/

        Reply
    5. Joanne Annese

      April 20, 2022 at 6:39 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is spot on! ( Like all the others I’ve tried on this web site!) . The “ham ” tasted just like a traditional baked ham . Scary really. Just goes to show you you Don’t need to cause harm to animals. The flavor is all in the way you prepare your food! ,Be it tofu or whatever! Another hit guys! Rock on☮️

      Reply
      • LarishaBernard

        April 21, 2022 at 11:16 am

        So glad that you enjoyed the recipe so much!

        Reply
    6. Jordan Garcia

      April 18, 2022 at 6:53 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for my Easter main dish. SO. GOOD. The brown sugar pineapple dressing was amazing. I’d use over and over again for any protein or veg!

      Reply

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