Charming Vegan Sugar Cookies

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What do you want out of a sugar cookie? 

Soft? Crispy? A handful of ingredients? Minimal baking time so you can eat them as immediately as possible? 😅

This vegan sugar cookie recipe checks those boxes. But wanna know something else it does? 

Like any reliable family recipe, it brings people together. 

Four generations of gals (and guys) have huddled around the makings of this recipe every Christmas for over three decades.

When my grandmother passed her sugar cookie recipe along to me at my bridal shower over 15 years ago, I knew I’d one day make it with my kids.

And so we did. 

But then we went vegan.

And I wasn’t willing to give up my grandmother’s recipe. 

So, I did what many plant-based beginners do when they start out—I veganized it. And since I liked it, it’s my go-to vegan sugar cookie recipe! As well as a staple in our vegan Christmas cookies line up!

Ready to try it? Get your apron on and meet me in the kitchen!

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What Magic Makes These Cookies Vegan?

Wondering how to make vegan sugar cookies? Worried you’ll need fancy, expensive ingredients for this recipe. Nope.

I swapped the butter with a plant-based option, like Earth Balance, and substituted the egg with a flax egg. Then, to make vegan icing, I replaced cow’s milk with any plant-based milk. 

As for decorating the cookies, surprisingly not all food coloring and sprinkles are vegan friendly. Avoid carmine in food coloring (which is made from beetles and used to make red dye) and confectioner’s glaze and gelatin in sprinkles.

How Do You Make These Easy Vegan Sugar Cookies?

Start with the flax egg because it’ll need 5-10 minutes to thicken. Once baked, the flecks of flaxseed in the cookies add a whimsical touch. 

With an electric mixer, cream the butter and slowly add the rest of the ingredients (making sure to sift the flour). Wrap the dough in wax paper and chill for 1 hour. Then lightly flour a surface and your rolling pin and roll the dough to about ¼ inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut the cookies. Collect the scraps and reroll until you run out of dough.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Pop the cookies in the oven for 6-10 minutes depending on the size of your cookies. If you want softer cookies, bake for a shorter time. If you like a bit of crunch, cook them until the bottoms are lightly brown. Once cool, decorate!

But Do I Really Need to Chill the Dough?

Yeah. You do. I’ve been lazy before and tried rolling the dough out right away.

Here’s what happened.

It stuck to my rolling pin no matter how much flour I added. And the cookies were flat and didn’t hold their shape after they came out of the oven. 

Chill the dough anywhere from 1 hour before to overnight (which is what we do)!

I know it’s hard to wait. But these vegan sugar cookies are worth it.

How Do I Make Vegan Icing?

This vegan icing recipe is even easier than the cookies! Mix together powdered sugar and any plant-based milk, and voila! Vegan icing! For this recipe, I used an unsweetened vanilla almond milk. 

If you want vanilla flavor in your icing, you can add a little. But always start with less liquid than more, to prevent it from being too runny.

Want to add a pop of color? Add vegan-friendly food coloring. When making vegan Christmas cookies, a pop or red and green adds a festive touch. From the research I’ve done, it looks like McCormick (that can be found at most any grocery store) and Wilton are both vegan. If you want a plant-based option, Watkins works too. (I found it at Target.)

How Can I Decorate Vegan Sugar Cookies?

Usually, our family quadruples this recipe because we pass out Christmas cookies to our friends and neighbors. 

With so many cookies to decorate, we call in extra helpers. Sometimes the kids add sprinkles before the cookies go in the oven. But the majority are usually baked plain and we add vegan icing once the cookies cool. 

When icing, we usually work as fast as necessary to keep up with the kids, so we use a butter knife and spread it on each cookie. But for these, I used a piping bag.

Once iced, the kids add the final touch: sprinkles! Usually lots of them.

Why Are These the Perfect Vegan Sugar Cookies to Bake with Kids?

Because there are so many possibilities! 

Brighten up the cookies by adding food coloring to the dough. Let the younger kids have a clump of dough to practice rolling and cutting. Inspire creativity by letting kids decorate before or after baking the cookies. And if you make a vegan icing, let them choose the color icing and sprinkles. 

Will the cookies look like something out of a magazine? Probably not. But they’ll taste like it! 💗

Finally, Let’s Get Baking!

Imagine biting into the scrumptious cookie, topped with sweet icing. 

Imagine the excitement and gratitude of time spent being creative. 

Imagine the connection of doing all that with loved ones. 

Who knew baking could be so meaningful?

But that’s what makes these sugar cookies so special to our family. 

And I’m happy to send some of that sweetness your way!😘

Love this recipe? Let me know in the comments below or pin it for later. Or share and tag me on Instagram @MamaHasHerMindful. ✌

Enjoy,
~Chelsea