
Yields:
30
Prep Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 15 mins
If Santa were vegan, he’d want you to leave these cookies out for him. Soft, buttery, with crispy edges, these are the classic, quintessential sugar cookie, veganized and ready to bring to any of your holiday gatherings. Whether frosted, sprinkled, or eaten plain right out of the oven, we can't get enough of them.
These cookies are pretty straightforward, but if you’re not used to baking without eggs and butter, you might have some questions. We’ve got the answers!
What vegan butter should I use?
I tested with both Miyoko's Vegan Butter and Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks. Both work, but try to get Earth Balance if you can. It's easier to bake with and the cookies had a slightly better texture. Whatever butter you use, don’t skip the almond extract. It gives these cookies a little something special that’s perfect for the holidays.
How do I roll out the dough?
Make sure your dough is properly chilled before rolling. If the dough isn't chilled, the cookies will be too hard to roll out and will spread while baking and not hold their shapes. A little trick I like to use is to roll the dough between two sheets of parchment before putting in the refrigerator to chill. When rolling out, try not to go too thin! Between 1/4" and 1/8" thickness is perfect. If you go too thin, you'll end up with crunchier cookies that might get too toasty with our cooking times.
And now the best part: the decorating!
Using corn syrup in the icing makes it shiny and pretty. If you aren’t comfortable using it, you can omit it. Just be sure to add a bit more milk or even water to get the right consistency. Want decorating ideas? Check out our leg lamp cookies, our swirl Christmas tree cookies, or our Santa cookies.
What about food coloring and sprinkles?
Not all food colorings and sprinkles are vegan, though there are many available now. Be sure to read the ingredients before buying. If you don’t want to use food coloring, just go with a classic white frosting. If you can’t find vegan sprinkles, use organic coarse sugar, coconut flakes, cocoa nibs, or seeds (such as chia, hemp, or flax) instead.
Made these? Let us know how it went in the comments below!
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Ingredients
Cookies
- 2 1/2
(320 g.) all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
- 1 Tbsp.
cornstarch
- 1 tsp.
baking powder
- 3/4 tsp.
kosher salt
- 1 cup
(2 sticks) vegan butter, slightly softened
- 1 cup
(200 g.) vegan granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp.
non-dairy milk
- 1 tsp.
pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp.
almond extract
Icing
- 3 cups
(or more) vegan powdered sugar
- 3 Tbsp.
(or more) non-dairy milk
- 1 Tbsp.
light corn syrup (optional)
- 1/2 tsp.
pure vanilla extract
Directions
Cookies
- Step 1In a large bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt.
- Step 2In the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in another large bowl, using an electric mixer), beat granulated sugar and butter on medium speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 4 minutes. Add milk, vanilla, and almond extract and beat until combined. With mixer on low speed, gradually add dry ingredients and beat, using your hands if needed to push together, until just combined; do not overmix.
- Step 3Divide dough in half and form into 2 discs. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill until firm, 2 to 3 hours. (Alternatively, divide dough in half and roll each half between 2 pieces of parchment to 1/4" thick. Chill until firm.)
- Step 4Preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment. On a lightly floured surface, roll one disc to 1/4" thick. (Alternatively, peel off top sheet of parchment from dough.) Cut out desired shapes with a cookie cutter and arrange on prepared sheets.
- Step 5Bake cookies until slightly puffed and set, 8 to 10 minutes, depending on size of cookie. Let cool on baking sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
Icing
- Step 1In a medium bowl, whisk powdered sugar, milk, corn syrup, if using, and vanilla until smooth, glossy, and not runny. If icing seems too thick, add a little more milk; if it seems too runny, add more powdered sugar.
- Step 2Frost and decorate cookies as desired.
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