Amazing vegan Christmas cookies: 100% festive

Oh, the holidays! It just isn’t the same without that sprinkle of Christmas magic and, of course, a pile of delicious cookies. For years, I’ve loved whipping up festive treats, but finding really good ones that everyone can enjoy, especially my plant-based pals, has always been a bit of a quest. That’s where these absolutely delightful vegan Christmas cookies come in! They’re so simple, taste incredible, and look like they just jumped right off a Christmas card. Honestly, I was messing around in the kitchen last year around Thanksgiving, wanting something easy but super festive, and these were born. They’re now my go-to for cookie exchanges and just cozy nights by the fire. You’re going to love them!

Why You’ll Love These Vegan Christmas Cookies

Seriously, these little guys are a holiday dream come true, and here’s why:

 
• So Easy to Make: Even if you’re a baking newbie, you can totally nail these. No fancy techniques required!

 

• Seriously Delicious: They’re perfectly sweet with that classic cookie flavor you crave. You’d never know they’re vegan!

 

• Christmas Perfection: Load ’em up with sprinkles, and they look absolutely festive and adorable on any holiday platter.

 

• Plant-Based Friendly: A crowd-pleaser for everyone, no matter their dietary preferences. Happy holidays for all!

Gather Your Ingredients for Vegan Christmas Cookies

Alright, let’s get our game faces on for some seriously yummy vegan Christmas cookies! You probably have most of this stuff already, but here’s the rundown of what you’ll need to make these beauties:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour – you know, the regular kind!
• 1 teaspoon baking soda – this helps them get nice and fluffy.
• 1/2 teaspoon salt – just a pinch to balance out the sweetness.
• 1 cup vegan butter, softened – make sure it’sSOFTENED, not melted! This is key.
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar – for that classic cookie sweetness.
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar – this always adds such a nice depth of flavor.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – go for the good stuff if you have it! Makes a difference.
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce – this is our secret weapon for moisture without eggs!
• Vegan sprinkles for decorating – get all the festive colors you can find!

Essential Equipment for Baking

To whip up these fantastic vegan Christmas cookies, you won’t need anything too fancy! Just grab a couple of mixing bowls—a big one for the main action and a medium one for your dry stuff. A whisk is handy, and of course, you’ll need measuring cups and spoons. A sturdy spoon or spatula for mixing, and baking sheets are a must. Oh, and a cooling rack is super helpful so they don’t get soggy!

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Vegan Christmas Cookies

Alright, let’s get down to business and make some absolute magic! Making these vegan Christmas cookies is a breeze, seriously. Just follow these steps and you’ll have a whole batch of festive goodness in no time. You can pop over to my easy recipes section if you need a quick refresher on general baking tips, but these cookies are pretty foolproof!

Preparing the Dough

First things first, let’s get that oven preheated to 375°F (190°C) and line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper. This stops any sticking, which is always a win! Now, in a medium bowl, just give your flour, baking soda, and salt a quick whisk together. In your big mixing bowl, cream together that softened vegan butter and both sugars until it gets all light and fluffy. It should look like lovely pale clouds! Then, beat in the pure vanilla extract and that unsweetened applesauce. Next, it’s time to add your dry ingredients to the wet ones, but do it gradually! Mix until it’s *just* combined. Trust me on this: do not overmix! Overmixing makes cookies tough, and we want tender, chewy ones here. If you like them a little thicker and chewier, pop the dough in the fridge for about 30 minutes now. It’s totally optional but SO worth it!

Shaping and Decorating Your Cookies

Once your dough is ready (chilled or straight from the bowl!), drop rounded tablespoons of it onto those prepared baking sheets. Give them a little space, about 2 inches apart, ’cause they’ll spread a bit. Now for the fun part – decorating! This is where you can really let your creativity shine. Sprinkle on those colorful vegan sprinkles to make them look super festive. Go wild! Stars, jimmies, dots – whatever makes your Christmas heart happy!

Baking and Cooling

Pop those sprinkle-covered beauties into your preheated oven. They’ll need about 9 to 11 minutes. You’re looking for the edges to be just lightly golden brown. They might look a little soft in the middle, but that’s okay! That’s how you get that perfect chewy texture. Once they’re out of the oven, leave them on the baking sheets for a few minutes. This helps them set up a bit so they don’t fall apart. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Patience is key here – warm cookies can be a bit fragile!

Tips for Perfect Vegan Christmas Cookies

Want to make sure your vegan Christmas cookies turn out absolutely amazing every single time? I’ve picked up a few tricks over the years that really make a difference. It’s all about those little details!

• Don’t Skip Softening the Butter: Seriously, this is HUGE. If your vegan butter is too cold, your cookies will be tough. Too warm and melted? They’ll spread like crazy into sad, flat discs. Let it sit on the counter until it’s soft enough to easily indent with your finger.
• Chill the Dough (Seriously!): I mentioned this in the steps, but I can’t stress it enough. Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes (or even an hour!) helps prevent them from spreading too much. This gives you those lovely, slightly thicker cookies with a chewier texture, which is just *chef’s kiss* perfection.
• Watch Them Closely in the Oven: Ovens can be so temperamental, right? Since these are smaller cookies, they bake up fast! Keep an eye on them during those last few minutes. You want that golden edge, but you don’t want them to get hard and dry.
• Taste Test the Dough (Carefully!): Okay, I know it’s vegan, but you can still taste a tiny bit of raw dough *before* adding sprinkles to check the vanilla and sugar balance! Just a lick, though. We don’t want anyone getting a tummy ache.

Ingredient Substitutions and Notes

Sometimes we all need to swap things out, right? Especially during the busy holiday season! For these vegan Christmas cookies, the vegan butter is pretty key for that classic cookie texture, but most brands work well. Just aim for one that’s solid at room temperature. If you want to try a gluten-free version, definitely check out my recipe for my fabulous vegan gluten-free cupcakes – same flours, same idea, just baked differently! Applesauce is our egg replacer here, giving us that lovely moisture without any animal products. It’s super important that it’s unsweetened, otherwise, your cookies might end up a bit too sweet.

Storing Your Delicious Vegan Christmas Cookies

Keeping these vegan Christmas cookies fresh is super easy! Once they’ve cooled completely to room temperature, just pop them into an airtight container. They’ll stay deliciously soft and yummy for about 3-5 days. I usually stash mine right on the counter – no need to refrigerate these guys!

Frequently Asked Questions About Vegan Christmas Cookies

Got questions about these delightful vegan Christmas cookies? I’ve got answers! It’s totally normal to wonder about a few things before diving in, especially with holiday baking being such a special event.

Can I make these vegan Christmas cookies ahead of time?

Oh, absolutely! That’s one of the best things about them. You can totally make the dough, wrap it up tightly, and keep it in the fridge for up to 2-3 days before you plan to bake. Or, you can bake them completely, let them cool, and store them in an airtight container for about 3-5 days. They’re honestly just as good, if not better, the next day!

How do I stop my vegan Christmas cookies from spreading too much?

This is a big one for cookie success! My top tip, which you’ll find in the recipe, is to chill the dough for at least 30 minutes. This really helps firm up the vegan butter and prevents the cookies from spreading too thinly in the oven. Also, make sure your oven is at the correct temperature! If they’re still spreading too much, you can try adding just a tablespoon or two more flour to the dough. Don’t forget to check out my baking tips for more ideas!

Are these vegan Christmas cookies nut-free?

Great question! As written, these vegan Christmas cookies are naturally nut-free, assuming you’re using vegan butter and sprinkles that are also nut-free. Always double-check the labels on your ingredients, especially if you’re baking for someone with allergies. You can find tons of nut-free vegan butter options out there now, and most standard sprinkles are fine, but it’s always good to be safe!

Can I use a different type of vegan butter?

Yep, most stick-style vegan butters will work just fine here! The key is that it’s softened, not melted. Some vegan margarines that come in tubs tend to be softer and have more water, which can sometimes lead to more spreading, but if that’s all you have, try chilling the dough extra well. Honestly, just reach out if you have specific brands in mind, you can always contact me directly!

Estimated Nutritional Information

Just a heads-up, the nutritional info for these yummy vegan Christmas cookies is an estimate, okay? Things like the specific brand of vegan butter or applesauce you use can change the numbers a bit. But generally, you’re looking at around 150 calories per cookie, with about 8g of fat, 18g of carbs, and 1g of protein. Always good to keep in mind, especially if you’re tracking things! For more details, you can always check out my site’s privacy policy to see how we handle data!

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