Easy Vegan Sugar Cookies
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These vegan sugar cookies are soft, sweet, chewy, and totally gluten-free! Whip them up in one bowl and decorate them to your heart’s content.
No matter the holiday party or special occasion, sugar cookies always bring the perfect touch of sweetness.
And with this vegan sugar cookie recipe that’s dairy-free, egg-free, and gluten-free, everyone can get a bite of the sweet delight worry-free.
Personalize the plant based sugar cookies with your favorite cookie cutters and toppings, and easily bake a gift-worthy batch from scratch!
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Got a vegetarian friend? These are the best soft sugar cookies for them!
And if you love frosting more than icing, our rich and creamy vegan buttercream is the perfect match for your homemade sugar cookies.
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Sugar Cookies Recipe
- These vegan sugar cookies mix up in one bowl for a quick, mess-free bake!
- These frosted cookies are both vegan and gluten-free, so no one has to miss out on the fun.
- This vegan sugar cookie recipe makes soft, light cookies with the perfect buttery sweetness using simple ingredients. Enjoy them as is, or top them with icing or frosting!
Ingredients And Substitutions
Vegan butter – You can’t go wrong with Miyoko’s for a rich, buttery flavor without dairy.
Granulated sugar and powdered sugar – Of course, you can’t make a sugar cookie without sugars. We haven’t tested other kinds of granulated sweeteners for these soft vegan sugar cookies.
Vegan eggs – The binder for these plant based sugar cookies. We’ve used an egg replacer, and we haven’t tried other vegan egg substitutes. Experiment with chia or flax eggs at your own risk!
Pure vanilla extract and almond extract – These additional extracts keep the vegan frosted sugar cookies from just tasting sweet. The added warm, nutty flavors make each bite more interesting.
Gluten-free all-purpose flour – Yep, these vegan vanilla sugar cookies with icing are gluten-free.
Baking powder – Helps the soft cookies rise and keeps them from spreading too much.
Sea salt – To make the sugary goodness of these vegan cookies pop out more!
Vegan icing – You can also whip up a glaze with powdered sugar and vegan milk like almond milk.
Sprinkles – Get creative with your vegan iced sugar cookies! Chopped macadamia nuts or assorted crushed vegan candies will make cute and tasty toppings.
Tips For Making This Recipe
Chill Your Dough
Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out, or it will be too soft and sticky to work with.
Freeze the Vegan Cut-Out Cookies
Place the baking sheet of cut-out sugar cookies in the freezer before baking, or they’ll puff up too much and lose their perfect shapes.
Storage Tips
Keep your vegan sugar cookies soft and chewy by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can put a small piece of bread in the container with the cookies to keep them softer for longer!
Vegan Sugar Cookie Recipe FAQs
What is a replacement for vanilla extract in sugar cookies?
Instead of vanilla, you can experiment with other extracts like lemon extract, hazelnut extract, peppermint extract, or maple extract for a twist on classic sugar cookies.
What can you substitute for vegan butter in vegan sugar cookies?
Vegan butter lends the best flavor and texture to these soft vegan sugar cookies. Coconut oil might work, but the cookies won’t be as rich and might have a crispy, shortbread-like texture.
Do you have to put almond extract in sugar cookies?
Nope. Almond extract is an optional ingredient if you want to give the cookies an extra marzipan-like vibe.
What is a replacement for baking powder in sugar cookies?
I don’t recommend replacing the baking powder in this vegan sugar cookie recipe, as the cookies might not rise properly.
Can I make sugar cookies in advance?
Yes. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Let it soften a bit at room temperature so it’s easier to roll out.
More Delicious Vegan Cookie Recipes
- Plant Based Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Everything Free Cookies
- Vegan Cookie Dough
- Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
- Vegan No Bake Cookies
I found this recipe for Vegan Russian Tea Cakes that I HAVE to try!
Yay! You have made it this far, and I am so glad! Hey – If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Your comment and/or rating helps other readers!
Vegan Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup vegan butter
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 vegan eggs (we used Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacer)
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp almond extract, optional
- 2 1/2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour plus extra for the rolling surface
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- Vegan royal icing for decorating
- Sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line the baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream the vegan butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg replacer and vanilla extract until well-blended.
- Stir in the baking powder and salt. Next, stir in the flour, 1 cup at a time, until well combined.
- Refrigerate the vegan sugar cookie dough for 30 minutes.
- Roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface. Cut it into your desired shapes.
- Arrange them on the prepared baking sheet. Freeze for 10 minutes.
- Transfer to the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
- Cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
Notes
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out, or it will be too soft and sticky to work with.
- Place the baking sheet of cut-out sugar cookies in the freezer before baking, or they’ll puff up too much and lose their perfect shapes.
- Keep your vegan sugar cookies soft and chewy by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can put a small piece of bread in the container with the cookies to keep them softer for longer!
I tried the Vegan Sugar Cookies recipe and they’re absolutely delightful! They turned out perfectly sweet and crisp, just like traditional sugar cookies. The recipe was straightforward and fun to make, especially decorating them. These cookies are a great vegan treat that everyone can enjoy!
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback, Sarah! We’re thrilled to hear that you found the Vegan Sugar Cookies delightful and that they turned out just as sweet and crisp as traditional sugar cookies. It’s wonderful to know that you had fun making and decorating them – that’s always a special part of the baking process. Your comment that these cookies are a great treat for everyone, vegan or not, is heartwarming and truly appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience; it’s so helpful for others looking to try this recipe!
Best wishes,
The HFHL Team