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    Home » Sweets » Vegan Sugar Cookies (Soft & Chewy!)

    Vegan Sugar Cookies (Soft & Chewy!)

    Published: Dec 6, 2021 by Kaylie Grace · 48 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read the affiliate disclosure here. 

    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!

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

    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

    • Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
    • Vegan Hot Chocolate Cookies
    • Vegan Peanut Butter Blossoms
    • Vegan Snickerdoodle Cookies
    • Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Vegan White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
    • Vegan Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

    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!

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

    Vegan Sugar Cookies (Soft & Chewy!)

    ★★★★★ 4.9 from 19 reviews
    • Author: Kaylie Grace
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 12 minutes
    • Total Time: 22 minutes
    • Yield: 12 cookies 1x
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Bake
    • Cuisine: American
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    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. #vegancookies #cookies #cookierecipes #christmasdesserts #holidaybaking #holidaydesserts #vegandessert


    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • ½ cup vegan butter, slightly softened
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 tbsp light brown sugar, tightly packed
    • ¼ cup almond milk
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (or GF all-purpose flour), measured correctly*
    • 1 tsp cornstarch
    • ½ tsp baking soda
    • ½ tsp baking powder
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ⅓ cup granulated sugar, for rolling

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
    2. 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 (typically 2-3 minutes on medium speed). Add almond milk and vanilla extract, then cream together once more just to combine.
    3. Add all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt to the bowl. Mix together until the flour is evenly incorporated.
    4. 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 granulated sugar, then transfer to the baking sheets.
    5. Bake cookies on the middle rack in the oven, one tray at a time, for 10-12 minutes. Remove cookies from the oven when their edges are beginning to firm but the center still looks underbaked. The cookies will be very puffy! This is totally normal. Lift the baking sheet 2 feet above the countertop and drop it. Repeat this action 6-7 times. This will force the cookies to slightly crack and de-puff while cooling, creating a delicious soft and chewy texture. Let the cookies cool before devouring. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • *Be sure to measure the flour correctly. Flour should never be scooped or packed into a measuring cup, as that will result in way too much flour. Instead, add spoonfuls of flour into the measuring cup until you reach the amount needed. Level off the top with a flat surface, such as the back of a knife.
    • I recommend baking the cookies one tray at a time on the middle rack in your oven. This allows the cookies to bake evenly and helps you achieve the best results.
    • For a soft and chewy texture, be sure to remove the cookies from the oven while the center still appears slightly underbaked. Don’t forget to drop the baking sheet against the countertop 6-7 times before cooling.
    • Do not skip rolling the cookie dough in extra granulated sugar. This is essential for a sweet and authentic sugar cookie flavor.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 cookie
    • Calories: 210
    • Sugar: 16g
    • Fat: 8g
    • Saturated Fat: 2g
    • Carbohydrates: 33g
    • Fiber: 0.5g
    • Protein: 2.5g

    Keywords: vegan sugar cookies, dairy-free sugar cookies, vegan christmas cookies

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @purelykaylie on Instagram and hashtag it #purelykaylie

    This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use, trust, and love!

    More Healthy vegan dessert recipes

    • Sugar Cookie Truffles
    • Edible Sugar Cookie Dough (Vegan & Gluten-Free)
    • Vegan Pecan Pie Bars
    • Protein Truffles

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Brianna G

      December 13, 2022 at 6:38 pm

      Followed the directions exactly (even dropping the tray 6 times) and these came out perfect! Love the flavor, they are super addicting!!!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        December 14, 2022 at 6:49 am

        Wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Brianna! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Sal

      December 11, 2022 at 10:56 am

      These came out yummy! Thank you for sharing! Will these hold well for cut outs? If so, any added tips?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        December 11, 2022 at 3:12 pm

        Thank you, Sal! I don’t recommend using these for cut-outs because of the soft and chewy texture. Cut-out sugar cookies should be firmer with a smooth, flat top!

        Reply
    3. Jack

      December 10, 2022 at 1:34 pm

      Love this recipe! I’ve made it several times and they always turn out great. My only gripe is that I don’t bake on proper cookie sheets, so when I drop the pans to flatten the cookies, sugar goes EVERYWHERE. Today I made these, and instead of dropping the pan I used a big fork to flatten each cookie. Worked just fine for me. Thanks for a terrific, delicious recipe!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        December 11, 2022 at 10:16 am

        So glad you love these vegan sugar cookies, Jack! Thanks for sharing that tip as well!

        Reply
    4. Jesse

      December 07, 2022 at 6:59 pm

      Haven’t made these yet- can I freeze them after baking? Trying to bake some in advance for a Christmas selection

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        December 08, 2022 at 6:19 am

        Hi Jesse! Yes, you can freeze them. However, they will always taste best when they are freshly baked!

        Reply
    5. Francesca

      December 05, 2022 at 12:30 pm

      I will start by saying that I’m not crazy about vegan baking. I find it’s very difficult to find a good recipe and unfortunately it’s lead to a lot of ingredients being tossed out. I was desperate for a cookie recipe to complete by holiday baking gifts for a vegan coworker. I had tried 3 batches of cookies and all them ended up in the trash. I finally found yours. Worked beautifully! This is an awesome recipe. Super easy to follow and the cookies come out exactly like they look in the photos. Unfortunately I can’t taste them because my sinuses are acting up and my sense of taste isn’t where it normally is. Regardless, they look great and I’m sure they taste great too.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        December 06, 2022 at 10:57 am

        Thanks for sharing, Francesca! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Stevi Latiolais

      December 04, 2022 at 6:03 am

      Is it possible to sub the cornstarch for something else? Working around a corn allergy and these look the most appealing of all the vegan sugar cookie recipes out there. Thanks

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        December 04, 2022 at 6:08 am

        Hi Stevi! You can omit the cornstarch if needed. Cornstarch helps give them a soft cake-like texture. They will still be delicious without it though!

        Reply
    7. Katherine

      November 28, 2022 at 7:06 pm

      Made these today and they were a 100% success!! I used oat milk instead of almond milk because that is what I had on hand. The recipe made 15 for me. Thanks for a GREAT recipe 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        November 29, 2022 at 11:34 am

        Wonderful to hear! Thanks for sharing, Katherine 🙂 Enjoy your sugar cookies!

        Reply
    8. Jaznea

      November 21, 2022 at 2:26 pm

      I want to make this for a family friend for the holidays can I store this recipe uncooked in the fridge for a day and then make in the next 24 hours or best to bake as soon as you make it?

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        November 22, 2022 at 12:26 pm

        Hi Jaznea! I would recommend baking them as soon as you make the dough. If you want to refrigerate the dough for 24 hours, you can do that but they won’t spread as much. If you refrigerate the dough ahead of time, just keep that in mind! They’ll be fluffier and cakier

        Reply
    9. Shar

      October 30, 2022 at 9:36 am

      This was my first time to make vegan cookies. These are so good. Sugar cookies have always been my favorite and I’m so glad I found a great recipe on the first try. The only downside is that they are so good that it’s hard not to eat them all in one sitting.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        October 31, 2022 at 11:21 am

        Thanks so much, Shar! Enjoy 🙂

        Reply
    10. Merle

      October 23, 2022 at 11:32 am

      I used munkfruit sweetener (6 TBSP) in place of the granulated sugar. Gluten Free flour.
      I rolled smaller balls and got 21 cookies. Made them a few lower points on weight watchers too.
      They taste just like sugar cookies
      Very impressed. Will roll them in more sugar next time as i was worried about the amount in the cookies themselves.

      Thanks

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        October 24, 2022 at 4:37 pm

        I’m happy to hear those substitutions worked well for you, Merle! Thank you for sharing 🙂

        Reply
    11. Lee

      September 19, 2022 at 11:45 pm

      Kaylie, I’ll be honest, I un-vegan’d this recipe as I was just looking for an easy sugar cookie recipe while bored one night. Nevertheless, these things are AMAZING. I used regular butter instead of vegan butter and cow’s milk instead of almond, but followed the rest of the recipe, I can’t stop eating these!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        September 20, 2022 at 1:27 pm

        Thank you for sharing, Lee! Vegan or not, I’m so happy to hear you loved these sugar cookies!

        Reply
    12. Mary

      September 18, 2022 at 5:14 pm

      What vegan butter did you use?

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        September 19, 2022 at 8:11 am

        Hi Mary! I always use the Earth Balance brand for cookies because it produces the best results. Between the two options, their tub butter works better than their buttery sticks!

        Reply
    13. Tania

      September 06, 2022 at 3:00 pm

      Hi! this recipe was perfect honestly. I wanted to know how I could transform this into a pumpkin spiced sugar cookie? Not sure if just adding about a half cup of pumpkin purée would affect the a cookie too much.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        September 06, 2022 at 3:07 pm

        Hi, Tania! Thank you so much. I’m so happy to hear you loved these vegan sugar cookies! I actually have a post for pumpkin cookies. You can remove the chocolate chips if you don’t want to add chocolate!

        Reply
    14. Kinnie

      August 03, 2022 at 5:55 pm

      I love these, but want to make them into cut out cookies. How can I achieve this worh this cookie?

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        August 04, 2022 at 7:56 am

        Hi, Kinnie! These cookies are not meant to be cut out. Cut out cookies would require a totally different recipe!

        Reply
    15. Kim

      July 27, 2022 at 6:10 am

      My brother and I found this recipe to make cookies, and it blew our expectations! These cookies had the perfect taste and texture. Even amateurs like us were able to make this. Will definitely be making these again!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        July 27, 2022 at 9:25 am

        Aw thank you, Kim! So happy that you and your brother enjoyed these vegan sugar cookies 🙂

        Reply
    16. Danielle

      July 07, 2022 at 7:31 am

      So good!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        July 07, 2022 at 8:44 am

        Thanks so much, Danielle! 🙂

        Reply
    17. Lisa Chele

      June 15, 2022 at 1:08 pm

      Ohmagosh these are SO GOOD! Definitely one to pin and make many times again. I ended up with 15 cookies, and they were still a good size – about 2.5 inches. I was out of regular vanilla, so I made these with a t. of Fiori citrus vanilla (like you’d use for Christmas panettone). YUM!
      Thanks for the recipe! I’ll be checking out your other cookie recipes for sure.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        June 15, 2022 at 4:28 pm

        Thank you for such a lovely review, Lisa! I appreciate it and I am so glad to hear you enjoyed these vegan sugar cookies. Happy baking! 🙂

        Reply
    18. Nay

      June 02, 2022 at 3:33 pm

      This cookie was actually good. It’s been hard finding a good vegan recipe but this one was worth it! My son picked it out so I began this journey blind. I’m happy I let him choose it.

      ★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        June 02, 2022 at 4:46 pm

        Thank you for sharing, Nay! I’m so glad you enjoyed these vegan sugar cookies 🙂

        Reply
    19. Alexa

      May 04, 2022 at 4:45 pm

      Just made these, so delicious and easy! Definitely the best sugar cookies I’ve ever made, even from before I went vegan 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        May 04, 2022 at 5:37 pm

        Thanks so much, Alexa! I’m so happy to hear you loved these vegan sugar cookies 🙂

        Reply
    20. rylie

      January 27, 2022 at 10:03 am

      these cookies are absolutely delicious! this the best recipe I have used for vegan sugar cookies and they turned out amazing. thank you so much! :”) I will definitely be making these very often.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Kaylie Grace

        January 27, 2022 at 1:15 pm

        Thank you so much, Riley! I am so glad you enjoyed them 🙂

        Reply
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