Vegan Sugar Cookies (Soft & Chewy!)

Name: Vegan Sugar Cookies (Soft & Chewy!)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup vegan butter, slightly softened; 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 2 tbsp light brown sugar, tightly packed; 1/4 cup almond milk; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (or GF all-purpose flour), measured correctly*; 1 tsp cornstarch; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/3 cup granulated sugar, for rolling

Published: Dec 6, 2021 by Kaylie Grace · 79 Comments

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Vegan sugar cookies are soft, chewy, buttery, and sweet! The easy recipe is made with one bowl and ready in 20 minutes. It's dairy-free, gluten-free friendly, and made with no eggs. This classic Christmas cookie recipe is not only perfect for the holiday season, but also enjoyed all year round! They're great for birthday parties, potlucks, and gifting.

vegan sugar cookies on white parchment paper with a bite taken out of the center cookie

I'm pretty sure I've always been a foodie. As a little girl, I used to love grocery shopping with my mom. We'd browse the aisles together, picking out fresh produce and yummy snacks for our large family of 8. When I think back to those grocery trips together, one thing always comes to mind: soft, chewy, sugar cookies!

Oftentimes, once we'd reach the bakery section of the store, the generous baker would offer me a free kid's cookie. Truthfully, I'm not sure why it was labeled as a kid's cookie, since it was nearly the size of my face! She'd ask, "Sugar or chocolate chip?" with a big smile every time. After consistently choosing chocolate chip, I decided to take a chance on sugar... and I was so happy I did! It was love at first bite.

While preparing this classic sugar cookie recipe, I aimed to recreate the soft-baked, melt-in-your-mouth texture of my beloved "Very Generous Baker at the Grocery Store" sugar cookies. The crispy and crackly exterior perfectly complements the soft, tender interior.

These vegan sugar cookies are a classic Christmas cookie recipe, but they can also be enjoyed all year long. You can share them with friends this holiday season, or bring them along to birthday parties and potlucks. If desired, you can even add vanilla frosting and sprinkles on top!

PS: If you love sugar cookie desserts, you'll also want to try my Edible Sugar Cookie Dough and Sugar Cookie Truffles.

These sugar cookies are:

Vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, and gluten-free friendly
Soft, chewy, buttery, and tender
Perfectly sweet & rolled in granulated sugar
Made with pantry staples // no weird ingredients
A quick, easy, one bowl cookie recipe
Ready in 20 minutes with a no chill cookie dough
Great for Christmas, gifting, and holiday parties!

vegan sugar cookies on a wire cooling rack

What are vegan sugar cookies made of?

Flour: All-purpose flour, also known as plain flour, is used for these classic sugar cookies. If you follow a gluten-free diet, you can simply use a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose baking flour. I recommend the Bob's Red Mill brand.
Vegan butter: Vegan butter keeps this recipe dairy-free while providing a buttery flavor.
Granulated sugar: Granulated sugar or cane sugar is the primary sweetener for this vegan sugar cookie recipe.
Light brown sugar: A touch of light brown sugar adds moisture and gives the cookies a chewier texture.
Almond milk: You can use any almond milk, but I typically stick with an unsweetened plain or vanilla variety.
Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract is essential! It adds a sweet, warm flavor and aroma.
Cornstarch: Cornstarch helps create an overall tender texture and slightly gooey interior.
Baking powder and baking soda: These leavening agents help the cookies rise while baking.
Salt: A pinch of salt is needed to enhance the sweet ingredients.

vegan sugar cookies stacked with a bite taken out of the top cookie

a pile of vegan sugar cookies with a bite taken out of the top cookie

How to make soft and chewy vegan sugar cookies

For the full ingredient measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to view the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, add vegan butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar. Using a handheld electric mixer or a stand mixer, cream together until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes on medium speed). Add the almond milk and vanilla extract, then cream together once more just to combine.

Next, add the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt to the bowl. Mix together just until the flour is evenly incorporated.

a photo collage preparing vegan sugar cookie dough

Scoop the cookie dough and roll into 12 balls. Add the extra ⅓ cup granulated sugar to a bowl. Generously roll each ball of cookie dough in the sugar, then transfer to the baking sheets.

Bake the cookies on the middle rack in the oven, one tray at a time, for 10-12 minutes. Remove cookies from the oven when the edges are beginning to firm but the center appears slightly underbaked. The cookies will be extremely puffy, which is totally normal!

Lift the baking sheet 2 feet about the countertop, and drop onto the counter. Repeat 6-7 times. This will force the cookie tops to slightly crack and de-puff while cooling, creating a perfect soft and chewy texture. Allow the vegan sugar cookies to cool before enjoying!

Tips for making the best dairy-free sugar cookies

Measure the flour correctly. Proper flour measurement is an often overlooked aspect of baking. In fact, measuring it incorrectly can result in using way too much. Flour should never be scooped or packed into the measuring cup. Instead, you should spoon it into the cup until your desired measurement is reached. After, level off the top with a flat surface (such as the back of a knife).

Use slightly softened butter. Slightly softened butter will take a subtle imprint when gently pressed with your finger.

Don't forget to roll the dough in sugar. This step is easy to forget, but it's very important. You'll notice the actual cookies themselves contain less sugar than your typical chocolate chip cookie recipe. Well, that's because the sugar cookie dough will be rolled in extra sugar just before baking. This means your cookies will not be sweet enough if you forget this part. (I know, the horror!) So, don't forget it. These are sugar cookies, after all!

Bake on the middle rack in your oven. I highly recommend baking the cookies one tray at a time on the middle rack in your oven. This leads to even baking. If you choose to bake two sheets at a time (one in the middle and one on the lower rack), you will notice the middle sheet always has better results.

Drop the pan, repeatedly. Wait, what? Let me explain. 🙂 When you remove the cookies from the oven, they should appear slightly underbaked in the center and extremely puffy. Like, to the point where you think, "Oh no, these need more time baking and why on earth do they look like literal clouds?"

Firstly, they do not need more time in the oven - don't worry! Secondly, we'll counter that puffiness with a few pan drops. Lift the baking sheet about 2 feet above the countertop and drop it onto the counter. Repeat this action 6-7 times, then let the cookies cool. This will force the cookies to lightly crack on top and de-puff, while keeping a super soft and chewy interior.

a stack of vegan sugar cookies sliced in half

Can I frost these sugar cookies?

Yes, absolutely! Although frosting is not necessary, you can spread Vegan Vanilla Frosting over the cookies if you'd like to. This is a fun idea if you're baking these cookies for a birthday party or a special occasion. I recommend adding rainbow sprinkles or holiday-themed sprinkles as well! Be sure to add the frosting after your cookies cool completely.

How to store them

Once the vegan sugar cookies cool, you can store leftovers in a sealed container on the countertop. The cookies will keep fresh for 3-4 days. For longterm storage, place them in a ziplock bag inside the freezer for up to 3 months. I suggest placing a strip of parchment paper between each cookie to prevent them from sticking together once frozen.

More vegan Christmas cookies you will love

If you try these Vegan Sugar Cookies, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Instagram and YouTube!