You won't believe these chocolate chip cookies are vegan! They're the perfect blend of chewy and crispy and loaded with dairy-free chocolate chips. They're also super easy and quick to make so you can savor their rich, chocolatey goodness in less than 40 minutes!
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I’ve been waiting to find the best, totally fool-proof vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe to share here on World of Vegan. I didn’t want to share just any recipe. It had to be the most delicious, that’s also easy to make using simple mainstream ingredients.
I’ve played around with many chocolate chip recipes over the years. Last year I even tried veganizing the “Best Chocolate Chip Cookies” from America’s Test Kitchen three different ways…but none made the cut.
That’s when I remembered the chewy, can’t-have-just-one chocolate chip cookies a family member makes every year for Christmas. She kindly shared her recipe with us so that I can share it with you all!
Anyone who has done some vegan baking knows replacing eggs in baking is easy-peasy! This chocolate chip cookie recipe uses ground flaxseed, but I’ve included some easy substitutions if you don’t have everything:
Flaxseed Meal: To make these cookies entirely vegan, you can use a flaxseed meal (found at most supermarkets) mixed with water as an egg substitute. Alternatively, you can opt for a commercial egg replacer of your choice. When I made these with commercial vegan egg replacer (I used the brand Ener-G), the cookies came out a bit more cakey. The flaxmeal “egg” version fell more when they came out of the oven and were a bit more chewy and crispy (my personal favorite).
Crisco Shortening: Crisco shortening adds classic cookie texture, but you can also use vegan butter for another vegan-friendly alternative.
Sugar: A mix of white and light brown sugar creates the perfect balance of sweetness and chew.
All-Purpose Flour: You can use regular all-purpose flour or opt for an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend if you have dietary restrictions.
Baking Soda, Vanilla Extract, Salt: The usual cookie suspects—don’t skip!
Vegan Chocolate Chips: Use your favorite dairy-free brand (many mainstream brands now offer vegan options).
How To Make Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
This vegan cookie recipe couldn’t possibly be more simple. Just mix everything together with an electric mixer according to the instructions below, roll them into balls (1 tablespoon of dough for mini cookies, or 2 tablespoons for medium cookies), and bake!
This recipe makes about 25 medium-sized cookies (2 tablespoons of dough each) or 50 mini vegan chocolate chip cookies (1 tablespoon of dough each). I know, this sounds like a lot of cookies. But trust me, they go fast. And that’s just more vegan cookie love you can spread all around!
The full step-by-step process can be found in the printable recipe card below.
Baking Tips
I love using silicone baking mats whenever I bake cookies so they never stick to the pan. These silicone baking mats are game-changing—anyone who bakes (or roasts veggies) needs these. Just make sure they fit the size of your baking sheets.
For an extra time-saving tip, buy these Crisco baking sticks that come in pre-measured one-cup packages so you don’t even have to measure out the shortening. You’ll have fewer dishes to clean too!
Storage
Makes about 25 medium or 50 mini cookies. The dough and baked cookies freeze beautifully, so feel free to make the full batch. Store in an airtight container at room temp for 3–4 days, or refrigerate for longer shelf life (note: they’ll firm up slightly).
If you make this vegan chocolate chip cookies recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know what you think in the comments below! I love reading your comments!
I make a big batch of these super-easy vegan chocolate chip cookies every year for Christmas, and they're always a hit! They are the perfect cookies to have out at the holidays, and to leave out for Santa with a glass of soymilk. This recipe makes 50 mini chocolate chip cookies, or 25 medium-sized cookies. See the directions for how to adjust baking accordingly!
2tablespoonsflaxseed meal + 5 tablespoons of water, to make the vegan egg; or use commercial egg replacer for two eggs
1cupCrisco shortening
1cupgranulated white sugar
½cuplight brown sugar
2teaspoonspure vanilla extract
2cupsall-purpose flour
1teaspoonbaking soda
1¼teaspoonssalt
1cupvegan chocolate chips
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix the flaxseed meal and water together in a small bowl or cup and allow to sit and thicken for at least 5 minutes. This will be your vegan egg.
In a large bowl, cream the shortening, brown sugar, and white sugar together using an electric mixer until thoroughly combined and no shortening chunks remain.
Add the flaxseed mixture and vanilla extract and mix until fluffy.
Sift in the flour, baking soda, and salt and mix until combined.
Stir in vegan chocolate chips.
For mini cookies: using a tablespoon, measure out one tablespoon of dough, roll it into a ball in your hands, and place onto a lined cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 degrees for 13 minutes. Take them out before they turn golden so they remain a little chewy.
For medium sized cookies: using a tablespoon, measure out two tablespoons of dough, roll it into a ball in your hands, and place onto a lined cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 degrees for 16 minutes. Take them out before they turn golden so they remain a little chewy.
Allow to cool before removing from the baking sheet and enjoying.
Notes
These cookies can be enjoyed fresh out of the oven, but are also great stored in a container to be enjoyed throughout the week. You can freeze them if you want to save them even longer!
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Hi Kimberly, Processed sugar can still be vegan but feel free to use any granulated sugar you prefer. For more information, here’s our guide to sugar as a vegan. Happy baking!
So happy to have a go-to, delicious and simple recipe for vegan chocolate chip cookies! My family are HUGE cookie lovers and, though none of them are vegan, they seem to love vegan cookies. I can’t wait to make them a batch this weekend – yay!
These vegan chocolate chip cookies are out of this world delicious! My favorite recipe by far and only using ingredients I usually have on my pantry! Thank you, Joyce, for sharing it with us!
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is there a vegan sugar substitute for this? Because it’s calling for processed sugar
Hi Kimberly, Processed sugar can still be vegan but feel free to use any granulated sugar you prefer. For more information, here’s our guide to sugar as a vegan. Happy baking!
We make these every Christmas for the vegans in the family!! Everyone loves them 🙂
So happy to have a go-to, delicious and simple recipe for vegan chocolate chip cookies! My family are HUGE cookie lovers and, though none of them are vegan, they seem to love vegan cookies. I can’t wait to make them a batch this weekend – yay!
We love these cookies…I make several batches and freeze them to always have them available. Everyone’s favorite.
SUCH A CLASSIC! I haven’t baked cookies in SO LONG and I’ll have to give these a shot :-). Thanks for sharing such a foolproof recipe for these!
Can it be the holidays already so I have an excuse to make these again and again? Love them so much!
These vegan chocolate chip cookies are out of this world delicious! My favorite recipe by far and only using ingredients I usually have on my pantry! Thank you, Joyce, for sharing it with us!