If you’re looking for a sweet, simple, and vegan-friendly treat to make this holiday season, you’ve come to the right place! These Easy Cut-Out Vegan Sugar Cookies are soft, buttery, and perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re decorating them with colorful icing or enjoying them plain, they make the ideal addition to your Christmas cookie box or any festive gathering.
Why You’ll Love These Cookies:
- Vegan-friendly: No dairy, eggs, or animal products. Just plant-based goodness.
- Perfect texture: Soft and tender with a slight crunch on the edges. The best of both worlds!
- Customizable: Decorate with royal icing, sprinkles, or gold leaf for a festive touch, or keep them simple and delicious.
- Simple ingredients: You’ll only need a few pantry staples, yet they taste incredible.
Why This Recipe Works
When it comes to baking vegan cookies, we all know how tricky it can be. But don’t worry, this recipe is foolproof! Let me tell you why it’s the secret to perfect cookies every time:
- Sharp edges and soft interiors: Baking soda works wonders for sharp, clean edges. Plus, chilling the dough keeps the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, ensuring they hold their shape perfectly.
- Tangy flavor: The combination of vegan yogurt and baking soda reacts in the dough to create a slightly tangy flavor that beautifully complements the sweetness of the cookies. It’s the flavor you never knew you needed.
- Freezing the dough: Chilling or flash-freezing the dough is a game-changer! This step helps the cookies retain their shape and gives them a tender texture once baked.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe is as simple as it is delicious, with ingredients that are easy to find and won’t break the bank. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 150g (⅔ cup) vegan block butter, softened to room temperature
- 150g (¾ cup) granulated sugar (you can use cane sugar or any preferred alternative)
- 30g (1.5 tbsp) vegan Greek-style yogurt or thick coconut yogurt (both work well!)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract, if you don’t have the paste)
- 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional, but it adds a lovely depth of flavor)
- 250g (2 cups + 3 tsp) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (cornflour) for that perfect cookie tenderness
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda (this is the key to achieving those crisp edges)
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt (balances out the sweetness)
- Vegan royal icing for decoration (or you can use melted vegan chocolate)
- Gold leaf or sprinkles (optional, for that final festive touch)
Step-by-Step Instructions
These cut-out sugar cookies are super easy to make. Just follow these steps, and you’ll be enjoying freshly baked cookies in no time:
1. Prepare the Cookie Dough
Start by beating together the softened vegan butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer and whip until the mixture is light and fluffy—this should take about 2-3 minutes. Once that’s done, add the vegan yogurt, vanilla bean paste, and almond extract (if using), and mix until everything is fully combined.
2. Add Dry Ingredients
Now, sift in the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and sea salt. Use a rubber spatula to mix everything together until a dough starts to form. It might look a little crumbly at first, but keep mixing, and soon enough, you’ll have a smooth dough ball.
3. Chill the Dough
Form the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. If you’re looking to get ahead of time, you can refrigerate it overnight. This chilling process is crucial because it firms up the dough, making sure your cookies hold their shape when they bake.
How to Roll, Cut, and Bake the Cookies
Once the dough is chilled and ready, it’s time to roll, cut, and bake these delicious cookies!
4. Roll Out the Dough
Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F). Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin to prevent the dough from sticking. Then, roll out the dough to about ½ cm thickness. Keep a bowl of flour handy to dust your cookie cutters before cutting the dough—this will make the process much easier and prevent sticking.
5. Cut Out the Cookies
Now comes the fun part! Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out the cookies. Christmas tree shapes are always a hit for the holidays, but feel free to use snowflakes, stars, or any shape you like. Once cut, transfer the cookies to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving a little space between each one to ensure they don’t touch while baking.
6. Bake the Cookies
Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes. You’re looking for the edges to be lightly golden, but the centers should still look slightly underbaked—this is exactly what you want for soft cookies. After baking, let the cookies sit on the sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorating Your Cookies
Now that your cookies are baked and cooled, it’s time to make them extra special with some decoration. Whether you prefer intricate designs or a simple touch of sparkle, these cookies can be customized to fit any occasion.
1. Prepare Vegan Royal Icing
To start decorating, prepare a batch of vegan royal icing. You can color the icing as you like by adding food coloring, and adjust its consistency by adding a little more powdered sugar or aquafaba (chickpea water) if needed. The consistency should be thick enough to outline the edges but thin enough to flood the cookie’s surface.
2. Outline and Flood
Using a piping bag, pipe a thick outline around the edges of each cookie. This will help contain the flooded icing. Once the outline is done, you can flood the inside with thinner icing. Use a toothpick to spread the icing evenly and cover the entire cookie. Allow each layer of icing to dry before adding more decorations.
3. Add Decorative Touches
For a festive touch, add sprinkles, a drizzle of melted vegan chocolate, or even gold leaf. The sky’s the limit when it comes to creativity. If you want a bit of sparkle, edible glitter or colored sugars are great options too.
Recipe Tips for Perfect Cookies
To ensure you get perfect cookies every time, here are some helpful tips:
- Don’t skip chilling the dough: This step is crucial to prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking. It also helps maintain the structure for perfectly cut-out shapes.
- Flour your cookie cutters: Dust your cookie cutters with a bit of flour before each use to prevent the dough from sticking and help you achieve cleaner cuts.
- Allow icing to set: After decorating your cookies, let the icing dry for at least 1-2 hours before storing them. This ensures the icing stays intact and doesn’t smudge.
FAQs
How should I store my vegan sugar cookies?
Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks!
Can I freeze the dough?
Absolutely! Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. You can freeze it for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to bake, just let it thaw in the fridge before rolling and cutting out the cookies.
Can I use margarine instead of vegan butter?
It’s best to stick to vegan block butter for this recipe. Margarine has a higher water content, which could affect the texture of the cookies.
More Vegan Christmas Recipes to Try
Happy Baking!
These Easy Cut-Out Vegan Sugar Cookies are a fun and festive treat that you can bake with your loved ones. Enjoy making these cookies for your next holiday celebration, and share the joy with friends and family. Baking has never been so sweet—both in taste and memories!