Peace Fam!
Vegan sugar cookies are one of my favorite things to make. Now that I finally found a recipe from Minimalist Baker, I can make them more often. Last year, I made some and they came out super janky. This time, I came with my A-game to make some way better vegan sugar cookies.
Vegan Sugar Cookies
Personally, I am not a sweets person in the sense I love all things sweet. Normally, I tend to gravitate towards vanilla sweets. I only eat types of vanilla ice cream, and I love sugary vanilla treats. My partner thinks I am missing out, but since I am the main one baking, they better get used to it, LOL. I am super happy these turned out better. This time, I certainly had more flower on deck and make sure to take some time to freeze the dough after you make your shapes, because they really hold together so much better that way. You can use natural food coloring like beets, or you can buy some. I personally have not seen specifically vegan food coloring, but you can cut down on chemicals by not using them.
| Servings |
servings
|
Ingredients
- COOKIES
- 1/2 cup vegan butter softened* 1 stick, such as Earth Balance
- 1/2 cup organic cane sugar + more for topping
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree* acts as egg substitute | sub with unsweetened applesauce with varied results
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour + more for rolling into shapes
- 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder for thickening/binding
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1-2 tsp non-dairy milk
- Frosting
- 1/2 cup vegan butter softened* 1 stick
- 2 1/2 - 3 cups powdered sugar
- Splash non-dairy milk
Ingredients
|
|
Instructions
- Add softened butter to a large mixing bowl and cream with a mixer.
- Add sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, pumpkin puree, and beat for 1 minute.
- Set your sifter over something that will catch fall out and add dry ingredients (flour, cornstarch, salt, baking soda and baking powder). Use a spoon to briefly stir, then sift over butter and sugar mixture.
- Mix until until incorporated, being careful not to over mix. Then add almond milk and mix until a soft dough is formed. Switch to a wooden spoon if it gets too thick. If it appears to wet, mix in a bit more flour.
- Cover and freeze dough for 15 minutes, or refrigerate for 30-45 minutes (up to overnight).
- Five minutes before baking, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and position a rack in the center of the oven.
- Scoop out heaping 1 Tbsp amounts of chilled dough and roll into balls. Alternatively, roll out between two pieces of wax paper, lightly flouring the bottom layer, remove top layer, and cut out shapes. (NOTE: For shapes, to ensure they keep their form while baking, freeze them on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before baking.)
- Arrange cookies on a clean baking sheet 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. If you’ve rolled the dough into balls, dip a glass into cane sugar and gently smash down into a disc to help them cook more evenly.
- Bake on the center rack for 10-12 minutes for (8-10 for cutout shapes), or very slightly golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let rest on pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Prepare frosting in the meantime.
- FOR FROSTING: Wipe/rinse your mixing bowl clean and add softened butter. Beat until light and fluffy. Then add vanilla (optional) and mix once more.
- Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time and continue mixing until thick and creamy. Drizzle in a little non-dairy milk to thin. You want this frosting to be pretty thick so it will hold its shape once on the cookies, so only add a little milk and add more powdered sugar if it gets too thin.
- To add natural food coloring, finely grate a raw beet into a clean dish towel and then squeeze it over the frosting and whisk.
- Once cooled, frost cookies and top with sprinkles (optional - vegan ones can be difficult to find). Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to a few days. Freeze for longer-term storage (up to several weeks).
Recipe Notes
*Vegan butter sticks are best for baking, as the tubs often contain water to make them spreadable, which can affect the final product. I prefer Earth Balance buttery sticks for baking.
*To speed-soften your butter, simply cut it into thin slices from the stick and it will soften much quicker.
| Servings |
servings
|
Ingredients
- COOKIES
- 1/2 cup vegan butter softened* 1 stick, such as Earth Balance
- 1/2 cup organic cane sugar + more for topping
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree* acts as egg substitute | sub with unsweetened applesauce with varied results
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour + more for rolling into shapes
- 1/2 Tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder for thickening/binding
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1-2 tsp non-dairy milk
- Frosting
- 1/2 cup vegan butter softened* 1 stick
- 2 1/2 - 3 cups powdered sugar
- Splash non-dairy milk
Ingredients
|
|
Instructions
- Add softened butter to a large mixing bowl and cream with a mixer.
- Add sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, pumpkin puree, and beat for 1 minute.
- Set your sifter over something that will catch fall out and add dry ingredients (flour, cornstarch, salt, baking soda and baking powder). Use a spoon to briefly stir, then sift over butter and sugar mixture.
- Mix until until incorporated, being careful not to over mix. Then add almond milk and mix until a soft dough is formed. Switch to a wooden spoon if it gets too thick. If it appears to wet, mix in a bit more flour.
- Cover and freeze dough for 15 minutes, or refrigerate for 30-45 minutes (up to overnight).
- Five minutes before baking, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and position a rack in the center of the oven.
- Scoop out heaping 1 Tbsp amounts of chilled dough and roll into balls. Alternatively, roll out between two pieces of wax paper, lightly flouring the bottom layer, remove top layer, and cut out shapes. (NOTE: For shapes, to ensure they keep their form while baking, freeze them on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before baking.)
- Arrange cookies on a clean baking sheet 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. If you’ve rolled the dough into balls, dip a glass into cane sugar and gently smash down into a disc to help them cook more evenly.
- Bake on the center rack for 10-12 minutes for (8-10 for cutout shapes), or very slightly golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let rest on pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Prepare frosting in the meantime.
- FOR FROSTING: Wipe/rinse your mixing bowl clean and add softened butter. Beat until light and fluffy. Then add vanilla (optional) and mix once more.
- Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time and continue mixing until thick and creamy. Drizzle in a little non-dairy milk to thin. You want this frosting to be pretty thick so it will hold its shape once on the cookies, so only add a little milk and add more powdered sugar if it gets too thin.
- To add natural food coloring, finely grate a raw beet into a clean dish towel and then squeeze it over the frosting and whisk.
- Once cooled, frost cookies and top with sprinkles (optional - vegan ones can be difficult to find). Store leftovers covered at room temperature for up to a few days. Freeze for longer-term storage (up to several weeks).
Recipe Notes
*Vegan butter sticks are best for baking, as the tubs often contain water to make them spreadable, which can affect the final product. I prefer Earth Balance buttery sticks for baking.
*To speed-soften your butter, simply cut it into thin slices from the stick and it will soften much quicker.
