Soft, vegan sugar cookies with crispy edges, for all your holiday needs. Have fun with different cookie cutters, easy icing and sprinkles of course!Â
After much trial and error, I finally have the perfect recipe for soft cut-out vegan sugar cookies. Seriously, these are the cookies of my dreams, and I think you will LOVE them!
They are easy to make and roll out. A little trick I learned is to roll the dough onto parchment paper before chilling in the refrigerator. This way, the cookie dough only needs to chill for about an hour before you can cut and bake! And you don’t have to roll out cookie dough that is crumbling everywhere. Easy peasy.
How to make perfect vegan sugar cookies:
First, make the dough, using just 1 bowl and either a standing mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer. Your cookie dough should be similar to the texture of play dough. It will be rather crumbly in the bowl, but not dry, and it should stick together when you use your hands to roll it into a ball. Once the dough is made, break it into two balls. Place one of the doughs onto parchment paper, on a hard surface.
Roll the dough out, about 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle a little flour on top so the dough doesn’t stick to your rolling pin.
Place another piece of parchment paper on top of the first rolled dough.
Repeat with the second ball of dough (I usually do this right on top of the first rolled dough). Place another piece of parchment paper on top and carefully transfer the rolled dough to the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour.
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Remove the dough from the fridge, cut into desired shapes and bake for 8-10 minutes. They will look underdone, but firm up considerably as they cool. This is the key to soft sugar cookies. If you want them crispy, you could roll the dough thinner and cook them a bit longer, but I prefer them softer.
They will look like this when they come out of the oven. See how they don’t puff up a bunch or spread like some sugar cookie recipes do? Cookie perfection.
What’s the best way to decorate vegan sugar cookies?
So, let me tell you a little secret. I am not a natural decorator of sweets! I can bake, but the actual decorating of cookies or cakes is not really my thing, so I watched several videos and almost had a panic attack while decorating the cookies for these photos. 🙂 For real, it took me HOURS…
This video was incredibly helpful. So if you want to make really pretty sugar cookies, I recommend it! The trick is to outline the cookies first with a thicker icing, then flood the inside with a thinner icing, and carefully spread it to all the corners of the cookie.
I used Wilton Bags and decorating tips for this, which I highly recommend for all your cookie and cake decorating needs.
After icing, simply grab some food coloring, if desired, sprinkles of choice and have fun! My family has a tradition of making these cookies, and we usually just slap on some icing and have fun decorating. They don’t usually look quite so pretty, but they always taste amazing!
What food coloring is vegan?
Well this is quite a complicated topic. I’ve done A LOT of research on this online. Watkins brand is for sure vegan. From what I can tell, several of Wilton brand are vegan, such as the gel based color. I found a few at my local craft store, and carefully read the ingredients before buying. If you don’t want to use food coloring, you can also make your own, or just go with white frosting.
Want more Christmas Cookies?
Vegan Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Perfect Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Recipe adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction.
The Best Vegan Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
Sugar Cookies
- 3/4 cup vegan butter (earth balance preferred), slightly softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional, but so good)
- 2-2 1/4 cups all purpose flour, divided (correctly measured)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Easy Icing
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup (can omit, but it makes the icing very shiny)
- 1-2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
Instructions
Sugar Cookies
- In a large bowl either using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the vegan butter for about 1 minute until creamy and smooth. Add the sugar and beat on high speed for 2-3 minutes until fluffy and light.
- Now add in the almond milk, cornstarch, vanilla and almond extract (if using). Beat on high until it is all fully combined, about 1 minute. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add 1 cup of the flour to the wet mixture. Sprinkle the baking powder and salt on top of the flour. Mix on low speed, until just combined. Now add 1 more cup of the flour and continue to mix on low until just combined; don't over mix. The dough should feel similar to play dough when you work it in your hands, but it will look crumbly in the bowl. If it seems too wet for rolling, add another 1/4 cup of flour. You want the dough to be thick, but not dry. I always use the full 2 1/4 cups of flour. If the dough is too wet, your cookies will spread.
- Using a spatula, scoop all of the dough out of the bowl; use your hands if needed to push it all together. Divide the dough in half and roll into two balls.
- On a flat surface, add a sheet of parchment paper. Sprinkle a little flour on it, then add half the dough. Sprinkle a little flour on top of the dough, and roll it out to about 1/4 inch thickness. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top. Repeat for the second ball of dough, and then stack them with parchment paper. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Once the dough has been chilled, set it on the counter for 10 minutes while the oven is preheating to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut into desired shapes using a cookie cutter and place them on the prepared baking sheets. Continue re-rolling the dough until it is all used.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, in the middle rack of the oven, until very lightly colored on top and around the edges. They will appear underdone, but they will firm up considerably as they cool. Let them cool for 5 minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack to let cool completely before icing.
Easy Icing
- Whisk all icing ingredients in a bowl. If it seems too thick, add a little more almond milk. It should be smooth, glossy and not runny. If too runny, add more powdered sugar. You can dip the cookies in the icing, or use brushes, spoons or a squeeze bottle. See this helpful video on how to decorate sugar cookies with icing.
- *If you want really pretty cookies, first make the icing thicker, by using only 1 tablespoon of almond milk. Using a decorating tip, outline the cookies with the thicker icing. Then add a little more milk to thin it and flood the inside with icing. This way the icing doesn't spill over the cookie edges.
- Decorate with sprinkles as desired. The icing will take several hours to harden completely. The cookies will stay soft for about 5 days at room temperature.
Notes
- Try to get the earth balance sticks if you can; they are easier to bake with. Results will vary with other brands of vegan butter.Â
- Almond extract is optional but it adds a very good flavor to both the cookies and the icing, so use it if you can.
- To correctly measure flour, make sure to spoon and level by scooping the flour into the measuring cup with a spoon and level it off with the back of a knife. If you don't correctly measure the flour, you can end up with way too much flour and the dough will be dry!
- If you aren't comfortable using corn syrup, you may omit it. I rarely use it, but it makes cookie icing pretty and shiny and it's just 1 tablespoon.
- Baked sugar cookies freeze well, but don't freeze them once frosted.Â
Nutrition
Delicious!! Just pulled them out of the oven!
My dough was cracking and falling apart when I tried to roll it. I did finally get it rolled out but it was a pain trying to keep it together. Did I do something wrong? I measured everything exactly.
Hi there. It sounds like your cookie dough was too dry, causing it to crack and fall apart. If you even added a few tablespoons too much flour accidentally, or if your vegan butter was too cold to begin with, this could happen. If the dough seems dry like that, a quick fix is to add a tablespoon or two of plant milk until it’s easier to work with. Just don’t add too much, or the cookies will spread in the oven. Hope that helps.
It would be helpful if the recipe told how many cookies it makes.
It’s under servings, about 24 cookies depending on the size of your cookie cutters of course.
These were amazing! Thank you for your hard work discovering this recipe. I made these for a party. Everyone thinks I’m a baker now but I’d never baked before! 😀
Hi Linda. How fabulous the cookies were a hit! I appreciate your fabulous feedback and review! Thank you!
I’m going to try this recipe, I have one question please.
Does this dough freeze well?
I want to use half of dough to bake Thanksgiving cookies and the other half of dough for Christmas cookies.
Thank you so much.
Hi Elizabeth. Yes, you can freeze the cookie dough! Happy baking!
Hello! What can i use as a substitute for vegan butter please? Is vegan ghee ok? Or shortening?
Thanks a bunch
I haven’t tried it with anything else, but possibly vegan ghee or shortening. The flavor won’t be quite the same, but hopefully it will work.
Hello, do you know if tapioca starch will work instead of corn starch? Allergic to corn products. Also, do you know if cane syrup in the icing will work? Thanks
Yes, tapioca starch works just as well as cornstarch. I’m not sure about the cane syrup, but it’s worth a try to see if it will make the icing shiny.
Thank you. They turned out just like mine, but my recipe uses 2 flax meal eggs and 2 1/2 cups flour. A friend I’m making cookies for can not tolerate flax so this worked well. I used 2 Tbsp. tapioca and 4 Tbsp. water so in essence like my recipe. When using all purpose flour I don’t need to chill my dough, but certainly do chill it first when using gluten-free flour. …And these and mine are the best I’ve ever tasted!
Worked great
I baked these cookies today and they were great. Some of mine were on the thinner side so they ended up crunchy but were still delicious. I will definitely make this again. I used Trader Joe’s Vegan Buttery Spread.
I am glad you had great luck with the cookies! I appreciate your valuable feedback and review! Happy cooking!
This is my go-to sugar cookie recipe! I use it every year at least 2-3 times a year for Halloween cookies, Christmas cookies and as gifts for colleagues, friends or at other gatherings. EVERYONE loves them and asks for the recipe!! Thanks so much for sharing it with us all 🙂
Hi Hayley. Your fabulous feedback and review means a lot to me! Thank you for taking the time to share! Wishing you lots of happy cooking!
Quick question, can you use soy or coconut milk instead of almond?
Yes, that should work.
these look delicious! i plan on making these for a potluck with some coworkers and i’m so excited to get to try another one of your recipes, they’re always a hit 🙂 i was wondering, is it possible to mix by hand? i don’t have a mixer, but i am willing to put in some elbow grease to get the same results!
Hi Jenn. It is a bit difficult to mix this dough by hand with spoon, but it can be done! Have fun at your potluck and happy cooking! Thank you for your encouraging feedback, and for using my recipes!
Hi! I’m wondering if you’ve ever made these ‘spiced’ eg with cinnamon etc? Would that affect the consistency of the dough at all?
Thanks!
I haven’t, but it won’t affect the dough at all, other than flavor. I might use pumpkin pie spice for fall. 🙂
I need to make some vegan sugar cookies topped with fondant for a wedding. How far in advance can I make the cookies before applying the fondant. Once fondant added how long is cookie good for??
You can freeze the cookies without the fondant up to 3 months in advance. Once decorated, the cookies should keep well for about 5 days at room temp.
How do you make it high altitude cookies couldn’t find any on the internet I am looking for a vegan high altitude cookie😡
I’m not experienced with high altitude cooking but here is a guide to adjusting baking recipes that you might find helpful: Baking Cookies At High Altitude.
I have made these with both AP and GF flour, and both are so good! Thank you for this recipe!
You are welcome, Ann! Thanks for your wonderful review and feedback!
Hi! How much butter is needed for the icing? I don’t see it listed in the ingredients. Thank you!
That’s because there is no butter in the icing. 🙂
I have baked these cookies on several occasions and always get rave reviews. Why can’t these be frozen after iced?
I’m glad you are loving the cookies, Susan! You can freeze them with the icing. I think they hold up better, and look prettier, if you don’t freeze them with the icing. Hope that helps!
These are, in fact, the best vegan sugar cookies! I used Miyoko’s European Butter and they came out kind of short-bready (delicious), and I think next time I will try it with Earth Balance to see the difference. I baked these to practice decorating cookies and had a great experience with this recipe. I think they would also taste awesome with some lemon flavor.
Thank you so much, Nora!
You are welcome! I loved your feedback! Thank you for sharing your great review!
Hello Amber Cooks.
After much trial & error, I use Miyko’s “butter” for baking.(it makes the BEST vegan pie crust!)
You mentioned these cookies came out short bread-y.
Did they frost well?
Thank you for your reply.
Mb
These came out perfect without a fuss. I love that they completely held their shape during baking without needing to be refrigerated beforehand. i used lemon zest rather than vanilla and almond, and oat milk instead of almond milk due to personal preference. Thank you!
Hi Danny. How wonderful the cookies turned out great for you! Your flavorings sound delicious! Thanks for your fabulous feedback and review!
How long does the icing stay good for? We substituted with oat milk
Hi Sarah. The icing is best made and used the same day, fresh, as it hardens as it sits. Sometimes I make it a few hours ahead of time, then whisk it smooth and add more milk if needed. Hope this is the information you were seeking!
Amazing recipe! I used the metric measurements and found it then needed another quarter to half cup of flour to reach the right consistency. I also used naturli vegan block butter which seemed to work perfectly.
I used this recipe to make pink sakura cookies (using a mix of vanilla and sakura essence), and used sakura shaped cutters+ design imprints for the top of the cookies – and they all held their shape PERFECTLY while baking, even the details! I’ll definitely use this recipe again 🙂
Hi Jess! I’m thrilled about the great turnout on your sugar cookies! Thanks for your fabulous feedback and review!
Love this recipe for regular vegan sugar cookies! Wondering if you’ve ever tried making these with gf flour and how did that work out?
I have a friend that needs gf/vegan sugar cookies for a shower and I was hoping to use your recipe😊
Yes, I have had good results making these cookies with King Arthur’s measure for measure gluten free flour. Happy baking!
I used the sugar cookie recipe as a base for some fondant cookies for my son’s birthday and these were delicious! The vegan ingredients were great as my other son is allergic to dairy and eggs. I also subbed out the almond milk for oat milk as he’s also allergic to nuts 🙃
They turned out great and I was so pleased with the lovely texture! Just as good, if not better than my usual non-vegan recipe so will be sticking with this from now on!
How fantastic the cookies turned out great and both of your boys can enjoy them! Allergies can be quite challenging! Thanks for your great feedback and review! Wishing you happy cooking!
Can I make the dough in advance and bake them later ?
Sure! You can refrigerate the dough for probably 2-3 days before baking. You will need to let it warm up a little or it will be crumbly when you try to roll it out. I have found it is much easier to roll it out first, then refrigerate it. That way you can cut out the cookies when they’re cold and bake them before they have a chance to warm up. It makes for much better cookies that don’t spread or puff up. I hope this helps!
Made these for my friends on Valentines Day and they were a hit! They turned out so good. I am very impressed by this recipe. I used maple syrup instead of corn syrup and I think it worked out okay. I also used the natural grocers vegan stick butter and it worked great.
I will say that I used the metric measurements and I had to add probably another quarter cup or so of flour to roll them out properly.
Hiya. Can the dough be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze the cookie dough, no problem.