The Ultimate Vegan Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
Description
Gingerbread cookies, an iconic holiday treat, date back to medieval Europe, where the warm spices symbolized prosperity and celebration. This recipe reimagines the classic with a vegan twist, offering all the nostalgic flavors without animal products. Sharda and Sean, founders of Safe Delights, perfected this recipe after years of tweaking it to suit their plant-based allergen-free lifestyle. It’s now a family favorite, shared to spread holiday joy with a touch of modern health consciousness.
This vegan gingerbread cookie recipe stands out because it’s both indulgent and cruelty-free. Perfect for cookie decorating sessions, these cookies are soft yet sturdy enough to hold their shape. With a balanced blend of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, they’ll fill your kitchen with the scent of festive cheer.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
Icing Ingredients
Instructions
Prepare the Flaxseed Egg
-
In a small bowl, whisk together the ground flaxseed and warm water. Set aside to thicken for 5 minutes.
Prepare the Dry Ingredients
-
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Cream Butter and Sugar
-
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together the softened plant-based butter and brown coconut sugar. Beat for 2–3 minutes until fluffy and well combined.
Combine Wet Ingredients
-
Add the flaxseed egg, molasses, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy.
Incorporate Dry Ingredients
-
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture on low speed. Mix until fully combined, forming a soft dough.
Chill the Dough
-
Divide the dough into two portions. Form each portion into a ball, then flatten into a 1-inch-thick disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (or overnight).
Roll and Cut the Cookies
-
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Sprinkle flour on a clean surface, unwrap the dough, and roll it out to 1/8 inch thickness.
- Use cookie cutters to cut shapes and transfer them to the baking sheet, spacing them 1 inch apart.
Bake the Cookies
-
Bake cookies on the center rack of the oven for 8–10 minutes. They will be soft when removed from the oven, so let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Prepare the Icing
-
In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, plant-based milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Adjust consistency by adding more powdered sugar (for thicker icing) or more milk (for thinner icing).
Decorate and Enjoy
-
Once cookies are completely cooled, decorate them with icing using an icing bag or silicone dispenser. Let the icing set before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 24
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 227.15kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 7.13g11%
- Saturated Fat 6.44g33%
- Trans Fat 0.01g
- Sodium 109.2mg5%
- Potassium 214.61mg7%
- Total Carbohydrate 39.54g14%
- Dietary Fiber 0.77g4%
- Sugars 25.81g
- Protein 1.85g4%
- Vitamin A 0.3 IU
- Vitamin C 1.21 mg
- Calcium 30.13 mg
- Iron 1.34 mg
- Vitamin E 0.35 IU
- Vitamin K 1.89 mcg
- Thiamin 0.13 mg
- Riboflavin 0.08 mg
- Niacin 1.11 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.07 mg
- Folate 5.07 mcg
- Phosphorus 22.76 mg
- Magnesium 27.55 mg
- Zinc 0.17 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Note
Tips for Perfect Cookies:
Keep the dough chilled to prevent sticking and ensure sharp edges when cutting shapes.
Use parchment paper when rolling out the dough to prevent sticking.
If the dough becomes too soft while working, return it to the refrigerator to firm up.
For extra decoration, sprinkle cookies with colored sugar or vegan sprinkles before the icing sets.
Warnings:
Ensure cookies are completely cool before icing to prevent the icing from melting.
Avoid overbaking to keep the cookies soft and chewy.
Substitutions:
Coconut oil can replace plant-based butter, but the texture may vary.
Variations:
Add orange zest or a pinch of cardamom for a unique flavor twist.
Pro Tip:
For soft cookies, bake until just set, as they’ll firm up while cooling.
