Here's everything you need to know to make perfect vegan Christmas cookies. Vegan sugar cookies with a layer of vegan royal icing? Yes please! Plus, they're the perfect canvas for your creativity.
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When you think of Christmas, what cookies spring to mind? I always think of chocolate crinkle cookies, thumbprint cookies, chocolate bark and sugar cookies. That's why I wanted to give you guys a great recipe for making vegan Christmas sugar cookies. And, this recipe is for your classic sugar cookie made vegan.
What I love about these cookies, is that you can make them into snowflakes, candy canes, gingerbread men or any other Christmas cookie design you fancy. And, you only need seven simple ingredients to make the perfect canvas for your vegan royal icing designs. If you're looking for a soft and chewy sugar cookie, I have a recipe for that here: Dairy Free Sugar Cookies ~ No Eggs. Or, you could try these soft and puffy vegan snickerdoodles.
Related Post: Vegan Fudge
💚Reasons You'll Love This Recipe
💚Want to make a big batch of edible gifts? These vegan Christmas cookies tick all boxes!
💚Have a cookie decorating party. Adults and kids welcome.
💚If you bake up a storm for your local school's bake sale, these vegan sugar cookies are sure to go down a storm.
💚These cookies are dairy-free and have no eggs, so they're perfect for allergy sufferers as well as vegans.
🛒Ingredients
- Flour: All purpose flour is all you need. If you want to make these cookies gluten-free, simply swap your favorite gluten-free flour for the all flour.
- Vegan Butter: Choose vegan butter that comes in a block. The vegan butter that comes in a tub has a water content that's too high for vegan Christmas cookies.
- Baking Powder: Baking powder is the leavening agent you'll be using to make your cookies rise.
- Applesauce: Applesauce is what we'll be using as an egg replacer. And, trust me, it works a treat.
- Sugar: We will be using granulated sugar in this recipe. Some granulated sugar is processed with bone char, which some vegans may wish to avoid. For more information on this, please have a read of this article by PETA "Is Sugar Vegan?"
- Vanilla: Because these cookies are vegan sugar cookies, you need a little something to deepen the flavor, and give it a bit more complexity . Vanilla is the perfect complement to sweet sugar.
- Salt: Salt is essential in baking because it enhances flavors, balances sweetness, and helps to strengthen gluten in dough.
Please Note: If you want to decorate your vegan Christmas cookies, you'll need a further 3 ingredients for vegan royal icing.
👨🍳How To Make Vegan Christmas Cookies
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the vegan butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the unsweetened applesauce and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms. The dough will be crumbly, but it should hold together when you knead it gently with your hand.
- Divide the dough in half, form each half into a disk using a rolling pin, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until firm.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes.
- Place the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving a bit of space between them.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
🧁To Decorate Your Vegan Christmas Cookies
Ok, confession - I love to bake cookies, but you might be far better at decorating them than I am! If you do want to use icing on your cookies, you can use my vegan royal icing recipe. If you're like me and cookie decorating isn't your top skill set, practice on some parchment paper first.
- Once the cookies are completely cool, prepare the vegan royal icing according to the instructions.
- Transfer the icing to piping bags fitted with small round tips or your desired decorating tips.
- Outline the cookies with the icing, and then fill in the outlines with more icing.
- Use toothpicks or a small, clean paintbrush to help spread and smooth the icing into the desired areas.
- Decorate with additional sprinkles, edible glitter, or other decorations as desired.
- Allow the icing to set and harden before serving or packaging the cookies.
💡Variations On Vegan Sugar Cookies
- Spiced Gingerbread Cookies: Add warm, cozy flavor to your Christmas cookies by incorporating ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves into the dough. These cookies will have a deliciously fragrant aroma and a classic gingerbread taste.
- Chocolate Peppermint Cookies: Infuse your cookies with a combination of chocolate and peppermint. Mix cocoa powder into the cookie dough and add peppermint extract. Top with crushed candy canes for a festive touch.
- Citrus Zest Shortbread: Elevate your cookies with the zesty goodness of citrus. Add grated orange or lemon zest to the dough for a refreshing twist on classic shortbread cookies.
- Almond Butter Cutouts: Replace some or all of the vegan butter in the recipe with almond butter for a nutty flavor.
- Cranberry-Pistachio Delights: Fold dried cranberries and chopped pistachios into the cookie dough for a combination of sweet and tangy flavors, as well as a bit of crunch.
- Coconut Snowball Cookies: Roll cookie dough into small balls and bake until golden. After cooling, roll the cookies in powdered sugar to create a snowball effect.
- Maple Pecan Cookies: Incorporate maple syrup and chopped pecans into the dough for a rich, nutty flavor. The sweetness of maple is perfect for the holiday season.
❄️Storage Instructions
If you plan to eat your Christmas cookies within a few days, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. You can put a piece of parchment paper between layers to prevent the cookies from sticking together.
If you need to store the cookies for a longer period, you can refrigerate them. Place the cookies in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag to prevent moisture from getting in. Vegan Christmas cookies can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 to 2 weeks.
Now, if you want to make your vegan sugar cookies ahead of time and store them for an extended period, freezing is a great option. Arrange the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until they are firm. Then, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag, placing parchment paper between layers. Frozen cookies can be stored for up to 2-3 months. Thaw them at room temperature before serving.
🙋Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Freezing sugar cookies is an excellent way to extend their shelf life. To do so, arrange the cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm. Then, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag, placing parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Properly frozen sugar cookies can be stored for up to 2-3 months, maintaining their flavor and texture. Thaw them at room temperature before enjoying.
Traditional royal icing is made with egg whites, but you can replace them with aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) to achieve the same consistency and texture. When prepared with aquafaba and powdered sugar, royal icing becomes vegan-friendly.
Not all sprinkles are vegan, as some may contain ingredients like gelatin, which is derived from animal sources. To ensure that sprinkles are vegan-friendly, look for those labeled as "vegan" or "plant-based." These sprinkles typically use natural coloring agents and avoid animal-derived ingredients, making them suitable for a vegan diet. Always check the ingredient list on the packaging to confirm their vegan status.
Craving More Easy Vegan Christmas Recipes?
Mashed Potatoes With Almond Milk
Ultimate Dairy Free Green Bean Casserole
Maple Roasted Air Fryer Baby Carrots
How To Make The Best Vegetable Platter
📖 Recipe
Vegan Christmas Cookies
Ingredients
Vegan Christmas Cookies
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup vegan butter softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Decorating Your Vegan Sugar Cookies
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the vegan butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the unsweetened applesauce and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms. The dough will be crumbly, but it should hold together when you knead it gently with your hand.
- Divide the dough in half, form each half into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until firm.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about ¼ inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes.
- Place the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving a bit of space between them.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
To Decorate Your Vegan Sugar Cookies
- Once the cookies are completely cool, prepare the vegan royal icing according to the instructions.
- Transfer the icing to piping bags fitted with small round tips or your desired decorating tips.
- Outline the cookies with the icing, and then fill in the outlines with more icing.
- Use toothpicks or a small, clean paintbrush to help spread and smooth the icing into the desired areas.
- Decorate with additional sprinkles, edible glitter, or other decorations as desired.
- Allow the icing to set and harden before serving or packaging the cookies.
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