Vegan Sugar Cookies
Vegans rejoice! We finally have a delicious, crispy, cut-out Vegan Sugar Cookie recipe that will bring you back to childhood with every bite.
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Growing up in a family of chefs and bakers, we made cookies by the hundreds. While most of the cookies were, and still are, traditional German cookies, like Pfeffernüsse and Linzer Tarts, we always had roll-out sugar cookies too. Choosing the shapes was always the most fun part. But making them perfectly, strictly, and evenly rolled was the worst and most challenging part. One thing that these cookies all have in common is lots of butter.
Anyway, what does this have to do with Vegan Sugar Cookies? My brother’s wife is vegan, so we had to adjust the recipe. This didn’t sit well with Omi, who could not fathom cookies without butter. She also could not serve anything but fish for Christmas dinner. But, finally, Omi adjusted and made fried eggplant one Christmas Eve. Then we all adjusted and made sugar cookies with vegan butter!
What’s amazing about this recipe is it does not stray too far from our traditional recipe. We just substitute vegan butter for butter, and applesauce for eggs. Some recipes call for aquafaba, avocado oil, or vegetable shortening which can change the flavor of something that should be quite simple. Another awesome thing about these Vegan Sugar Cookies is that you can make a huge batch of dough, freeze it, and take some out whenever you want more vegan cookies.
Are Vegan Sugar Cookies Healthy?
Although vegan, they are still cookies with a decent amount of sugar. However, with our substitutions, they are low-cholesterol and lower in calories than traditional sugar cookies. We also use organic cane sugar which contains minerals and is a bit better for you than white, refined sugar. Of course, this recipe is vegan and vegetarian-friendly. You can opt for gluten-free flour if you want to make them gluten-free. However, I haven’t tried that yet. Please let me know if you do and how they come out!
A Note on Vegan Substitutions
Luckily, there is a wide variety of vegan substitutes and products available in stores these days. However, making homemade treats and meals can leave us in a bind if you have to accommodate a food preference or allergy last minute. We can’t simply leave out eggs and butter because they help bind the ingredients and give our finished product a desirable texture. Here is a quick cheat sheet list of butter and egg substitutes:
- Applesauce
- Coconut oil
- Dairy-free yogurt
- Mashed bananas
- Mashed avocados
- Flaxseed mixed with water
- Chia seed mixed with water
INGREDIENTS
- 3/4 cup vegan butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups organic cane sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce, room temperature
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Cream
Combine butter and sugar.
Mix
Incorporate wet ingredients.
Chill
Prepare and rest dough.
Cut
Roll, cut, and arrange cookies.
Bake
Bake until golden, then cool.
Decorate
Ice and let set.
Devour!
FAQs & Tips
Vegan Sugar Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for up to a week. The dough can be made in advance and stored in the freezer for three months.
While you can use store-bought royal or vanilla icing, homemade anything is better. Simply mix vegan butter with powdered sugar and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. However, they can also be enjoyed without icing.
Be sure not to over-mix the dough. The more you handle it the gluten in the flour will develop and result in one tough cookie (but not in the good, cute way).
Serving Suggestions
Vegan Sugar Cookies can be served with or without icing (see above for recipe). Another delicious topping or dip is this Vegan Carrot Cake Dip or this gooey, dreamy Vegan Caramel Sauce made with coconut milk. Your vegan sugar cookies can also be part of a to-die-for vegan dessert board. Some of my favorite bite-size vegan treats are Vegan Chocolate Truffles, Almond Joy No-Bake Bars, and Vegan Magic Cookie Bars. Arrange them neatly on a chic platter, serve, and enjoy!
Vegan Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup vegan butter softened
- 1 1/2 cups organic cane sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce room temperature
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Cream the vegan butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Mix in the applesauce and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Sift in the flour, baking powder, and sea salt, folding to combine into a dough.
- Form the dough into a disk, wrap, and chill for 30 minutes.
- On a floured surface, roll the dough to 1/4″ thickness, cut shapes, and transfer to a baking sheet.
- Chill the cut cookies in the freezer while preheating the oven to 350°F.
- Bake for 7 minutes until edges are golden. Cool completely before icing.
- Decorate with vegan royal icing as desired and let set.
Nutrition
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