People often think that all vegans can eat is fruit and vegetables, and as soon as you hang up your meat-eating hat, you are kissing goodbye to delicious desserts and sweet treats.
After all, have you tried to find a cookie or cake recipe that doesn’t have butter, eggs, or even milk in it? It’s almost impossible!
It leaves many vegans irritated. Instead of baking, you are forced to spend a fortune on fancy vegan cookies, lovingly prepared, and usually full of pricy ingredients that you wouldn’t find in your own pantry.
Suddenly, having a sweet treat is out of your price range and you start to wonder if there is a way for you to enjoy the cookies you love without breaking the bank.
Well, there is! And we have the answers for you today. We have pulled together 28 of the best vegan cookie recipes that you need to try to help you get back into baking and enjoy delicious treats, without any animal by-products!
Let’s dive straight into our list and get started!
1. Vegan Chocolate Cookies
We are starting strong today with these delicious vegan chocolate cookies! They feature a crunchy outside with a chewy center that is sure to wow everyone that eats them!
The dough for these needs to be drier than you find in other cookie recipes, so don’t add any extra liquid to the recipe. It can be tempting but trust us, the dryness is how you get that lovely crisp texture!
We found chocolate chunks were better than chips at giving the chocolate hit these cookies need! Just grab your favorite vegan chocolate bar and give it a good bash to get some chunks you can add directly to the mix.
You won’t be sorry if you tried this recipe!
2. Vegan Shortbread
Shortbread is one of the trickiest things to find as a vegan, so why not make your own with this delicious recipe? These cookies are buttery and crumbly, just like shortbread should be!
You must pick a vegan butter with the most buttery taste for successful cookies.
If you can find it, Flora Plant Butter is the most buttery we have found! You can get it in some Kroger stores, or online, and it is beautiful for spreading or baking.
You can also customize this recipe if you like, adding some vanilla or chocolate chips to elevate your shortbread!
3. Perfect Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
This recipe will give you classic chocolate chip cookies, but without any eggs or dairy! These cookies are delicious too. You can enjoy soft and chewy cookies that are ready in no time at all!
What we love is that you can make them in just one bowl, so there is minimal washing up to do after baking. And let’s face it, none of us want to clean up after we have spent ages baking!
The recipe doesn’t call for many ingredients either, so you can make these cookies at a pretty low price.
4. Vegan Ginger Cookies
If you love a Gingersnap cookie, then this is the recipe for you! You get a spicy cookie that is packed full of ginger with every bite you take! These cookies are crunchy and crisp too, just snap one and listen to the sound!
You can adjust the ginger quantity too if you don’t want them too spicy, allowing you to make them to your taste buds. We think these are the perfect cookies for a cold winter’s day when you want something warm and tasty!
5. Cranberry Cookies
This recipe calls for simple (and cheap) ingredients, but the end result is beautiful! These cranberry cookies are sensational! The addition of pistachios gives these cookies a nutty and crunchy texture that we couldn’t live without!
Thanks to the cinnamon used too, these cookies have a Christmassy feel, although we have been known to enjoy them all year round!
We think it works well too, if you swap your vegan chocolate chips out for white chocolate, it pairs beautifully with the cranberries.
6. Vegan Lemon Cookies
If you are after a super light cookie, then these vegan lemon cookies are the ones for you! There is also no oil or fat in these, just lots of lemon juice and zest! If you like citrus, you are sure to love these cookies.
They do take a little longer than some other cookies on our list as the batter needs to rest in the refrigerator for around an hour before you can shape and bake them.
But don’t worry, this just makes them taste even better! Plus you can use that hour to relax, clean up, or even have a dance party before you get to bake your cookies!
7. Vegan Gingerbread Cookies
One of the cookies we missed the most as a vegan was a gingerbread cookie around Christmas time, especially shaped like a little man. Well, with this recipe, you can keep the tradition alive and enjoy these vegan gingerbread men!
Instead of using butter, we can swap in almond butter and coconut oil. If you don’t have almond butter, you can use any dairy-free butter that you have, making this recipe super flexible.
No matter the butter you use, you will enjoy the perfect crunch and gingery cookie to get you in the festive spirit!
8. Homemade Vegan Oreo Cookies
It’s no secret in the vegan community that Oreos are vegan and delicious! But if you want to have a go at making your own, use this wonderful recipe! The cookies here are bigger than any Oreo you can buy in-store, and they taste fantastic too!
By making your own Oreos, you can add any kind of filling you want to, making them super personal! Why not make a batch for a party and have your guests add their own filling? That is sure to go down well!
9. Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
peanut butter is a vegan’s best friend, so why not use it in a cookie recipe? These cookies are super sweet and nutty and come with a melt-in-your-mouth texture that is sure to send you to heaven!
The recipe only calls for six ingredients too, so you can whip these up quickly without needing to leave your home. Whenever you get a cookie craving, this recipe will help to satisfy it!
10. Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies
Just because Nutella isn’t vegan, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some hazelnut! These cookies will deliver a Nutella-like flavor, just without the milk powder!
The recipe works well if you toast your hazelnuts and chop them before adding them to the cookie mixture.
The smaller you chop them too, the smoother your cookie will be, so you can tailor this recipe to the texture you prefer.
11. Simple Vegan Oatmeal Cookies
Sure, oatmeal isn’t everyone’s favorite thing, but these cookies are sure to impress you! You can enjoy a chewy texture and wonderful flavor that you only get from oats!
The addition of coconut helps to add a sweet flavor to these cookies too and is sure to keep you returning to this recipe.
The recipe also calls for golden syrup, which is a staple in most UK homes, and can be easily found stateside too! It is super thick and will add a caramel flavor to your cookies, while still keeping them super chewy!
12. Vegan Sugar Cookies
Sugar cookies are super popular, especially at Christmas, and we have a vegan recipe you are sure to love! The recipe is super easy to follow and you can decorate them however you want!
There is a recipe for icing included, but you can add whatever you want to the cookies!
We especially love some edible snowflakes for an extra-festive feel! Or you can add some stars, or even some chocolate chips on top would go down well. Let your creativity flow!
13. Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Do you love pumpkin spice? Then these cookies are the ones for you! Chocolate and pumpkin are a wonderful match and you are sure to be impressed with them!
We recommend swapping out your chocolate chips for chunks of your favorite vegan chocolate. It gives you more to bite into, and when the large chunks melt, it is delicious!
You can use either vegan butter or some solid oil to create light and fluffy cookies that are simply divine!
14. Healthy Vegan Breakfast Cookies
Who doesn’t want a cookie for breakfast? These are beautiful cookies, packed full of seeds, oats, dried fruits, coconut, and some almond butter. They are super quick to make and are sure to keep you feeling full all morning!
Enjoy them as part of your breakfast with some fresh fruit or as a mid-morning snack with your coffee. If you don’t have time to shape them, pour the mixture into a baking dish and cut them into bars once cool.
They taste just as great, no matter their shape!
15. Orange Almond Biscotti
Here is another recipe for a cookie that is perfect with your mid-morning coffee! These orange and almond biscotti cookies are twice baked, so you will need to allow plenty of time to bake these.
It’s the perfect recipe for a rainy Sunday afternoon when you have some time to kill.
While they do take a little longer, and the recipe is more complex, the end result is so worth it! The orange and almond flavors work well together to create a cookie that leaves you wanting more!
16. Fudgy Vegan Brownie Cookies
This recipe blends our two favorite desserts for a fudgy and chocolatey treat you will never want to be without! These cookies are a little thicker than others, so you can enjoy a good bite and a thick, fudgy center!
For the perfect consistency, you need aquafaba. This sounds expensive, but it’s just the water in a can of chickpeas! Instead of draining the water down the sink, save it and whisk it!
It’s a staple vegan ingredient for baking, and works well in chocolate mousses too!
17. Vegan Vanilla Cookies With Walnuts
If you have some leftover walnuts, why not add them to this delicious vanilla cookie recipe? In just five steps, you can enjoy some tasty vanilla cookies with the wonderful addition of walnuts!
The recipe makes three dozen cookies too, so there will be plenty to feed your friends and family, or to enjoy for yourself!
The ingredient list is a little longer than other recipes on today’s list, but if you are after a sweet and nutty treat, then you can’t go wrong with these cookies!
18. No-Bake Unicorn Cookies
These no-bake cookies are perfect for those without an oven, or looking for a delicious and colorful treat! They take no time at all either, you can enjoy them in as little as 30 minutes!
Although, if you want a firmer texture, we recommend popping them in the refrigerator for a few hours. This allows them to harden slightly, without losing their great taste!
You can decorate them how you want as well, although we think the sprinkles the recipe calls for work best as their color spreads across the whole cookie beautifully.
19. Vegan Thin Mints
If you want a refreshing cookie with a rich chocolate taste, then this thin mints recipe is perfect for you! These cookies are crunchy too, with a slightly bitter taste from the cocoa which pairs with the mint beautifully.
The recipe calls for tapioca, which might seem odd, but it offers a sweet flavor that works well in this recipe! It also helps to keep the sugar content down if you are concerned about that.
20. Vegan Flourless Pistachio Cookies
These cookies are perfect for those that love nuts! Pistachio also adds a nice texture to the cookies and is sure to attract people’s attention!
The recipe is super easy to follow too, and with no flour, it’s perfect for those days when your pantry is a little empty!
You can add to the recipe too, making the cookies your own. We love the orange zest and dark chocolate chunks in these cookies for some extra flavor!
21. Vegan Snowball Cookies
These snowball cookies are perfect for the festive season, and are sure to be a hit with your friends and family! The recipe only has six ingredients and these cookies can be made in five simple steps!
These cookies are perfectly sweet, although you might end up with a dusty mouth if you add too much powdered sugar!
22. One Bowl Vegan Sugar Cookies
That’s right, we have another sugar cookie recipe for you! This recipe calls for brown sugar to create a golden color and caramel taste, using just one bowl for the method!
This means less to clean up for you, and you can still enjoy the fantastic taste of a sugar cookie!
These are a good alternative to ginger cookies too if you find them spicy. You can enjoy a mild and sweet cookie that you can decorate how you want. Why not add them to your repertoire now?
23. Vegan Snickerdoodles
These cookies are essentially sugar cookies, just loaded with cinnamon! But don’t let the simplicity of these cookies fool you, they taste sensational! The cookies are rich and sweet, with the tang that you usually get with a snickerdoodle!
The cream of tartar used helps to give the cookies a chewy texture but with a light feel. These aren’t too heavy, meaning you can easily enjoy more than one!
24. Three Ingredient Coconut Cookies
These cookies are super quick to make, taking just 10 minutes, and use only three ingredients! It’s perfect for those with little time on their hands but still want to enjoy a tasty cookie.
You only need coconut milk, sugar, and shredded coconut to create these tasty and crispy cookies.
You still get a crumbly texture too, just without the thickness of other cookies using flour in their recipes. What’s not to love about these sweet treats?
25. Dark Chocolate Molasses Cookies
These cookies are full of cocoa powder and dark chocolate, giving you a super intense chocolate cookie that isn’t overly sweet. It’s ideal for the chocolate lovers in the room, get this recipe on your to-do list!
While there are sweet ingredients like maple syrup and peanut butter in the recipe, the cookies aren’t overly sweet, so we would avoid giving them to children. Instead, use the chocolate cookie recipe we suggested earlier!
26. Vegan Almond Butter Cookies
That’s right, we have another recipe that uses almond butter for you! These cookies are topped with melted vegan chocolate and packed full of almond butter for a sweet taste that you are sure to love.
These cookies have a similar texture to peanut butter cookies, but the chocolate drizzle sets them apart and adds a touch of luxury that you won’t want to be without!
They are also a fantastic option for those who are allergic to peanuts.
27. Raspberry Almond Vegan Thumbprint Cookies
These cookies are sure to make you think back to the fond memories of your childhood. You can make these easily with any child too, and they will enjoy adding their thumbprint!
You can adjust the recipe to suit their tastes too, by opting for a jam flavor they like, whether it is raspberry, strawberry, or even peach!
The almond-flavored cookie will work well with most jams and provides a sweetness that you are sure to enjoy. Drizzle with some melted vegan white chocolate too to elevate the cookie beyond belief.
28. Salted Caramel Pecan Cookies
Finally, we have this delicious salted caramel pecan cookie recipe that you are sure to love! The vegan salted caramel sauce is divine, you will be craving it daily after you have made this recipe!
Plus, you get a soft and chewy cookie that is going to satisfy your sweet tooth!
The raw cashews provide a creamy texture that allows you to enjoy a soft cookie, without requiring much effort from yourself. What more do you want from a cookie recipe?
You could even add some dark chocolate to them if you wanted and melt some on top of the caramel sauce to elevate the cookie further!
Are These Dairy-Free Cookie Recipes Also Vegan?
Are these the best dairy-free cookie recipes? Are they also vegan? Discover delicious dairy-free cookie recipes that are perfect for vegans. Indulge in flavorful treats that cater to dietary restrictions, without compromising taste. Find an array of dairy-free options that are also vegan-friendly and satisfy your sweet tooth.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, 28 delicious vegan cookie recipes that you need to try. Whether you want some triple chocolate cookies, shortbread, or sugar cookies, we have a recipe for you!
Remember to check the ingredient list before you head to the store and to follow the instructions and any helpful tips to enjoy a tasty cookie.
Happy baking!
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you leave us today, make sure to check our FAQ section to get your last-minute queries answered!
Vegan cookies won’t have any dairy butter, eggs, or milk in them as a regular cookie will! Any toppings or extras like chocolate and any sauce will also need to be free of dairy products for the cookie to be considered vegan.
These days, there are so many alternative products that you can make vegan cookies fairly easily!
Yes, some cookie dough will be vegan, but you need to check the label. Some might have egg, butter, or milk added which won’t be vegan.
The chocolate chips in the cookie dough might also have milk in them, meaning they aren’t suitable. However, with the 28 tasty recipes listed above, you can make your cookie dough and cookies easily!
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