Who says sugar cookies are just for the holidays? These vegan sugar cookies are here to make life sweeter year-round. From heart-shaped treats for Valentine’s Day to spooky Halloween bats and birthday stars, this recipe is your all-purpose, all-season cookie hero. Soft, buttery, and easy to customize, they’re a little bite of joy no matter the occasion.
Break out the cookie cutters and let your inner artist run wild—icing, sprinkles, colors, and all. These cookies come together in just 25 minutes, making them perfect for impromptu baking sessions with friends, family, or just yourself! Whether you’re going for festive shapes or classic rounds, this recipe is as fun to make as it is to eat.
For even more pretty and delicious cookie recipes, try these jam-filled thumbprint cookies and these lovely edible flower cookies!
These vegan sugar cookies check all the boxes: they’re easy, versatile, and just the right amount of sweet. Whether you’re a baking newbie or a seasoned cookie connoisseur, this recipe brings joy to every bite (and every baking session). Perfect fresh from the cooling rack or dressed up for a holiday party, these cookies fit any occasion. Here’s why this recipe will win you over:
Every ingredient in these vegan sugar cookies has a job to do, working together to create that soft, buttery texture and irresistible flavor. These aren’t just pantry staples—they’re the secret to cookies that come out perfect every single time. Here’s how each ingredient pulls its weight:
Making these cookies is as simple as it is satisfying—like a little baking therapy with a sweet payoff. The dough is forgiving, the icing is fun, and the results are guaranteed to impress. For full recipe details, scroll to the end of this post! Ready to roll?
First, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Step 1: Whip It Good – Use a stand mixer or hand mixer to cream the coconut oil, cane sugar, room-temperature plant-based milk, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. If you’re mixing by hand, you’ll get a workout, but the texture won’t be quite as dreamy—electric mixers are your best friend here for that perfect dough.
Step 2: Flour Power – Sift in the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda) and mix until a soft dough starts to form. For best results, measure the flour correctly: spoon it into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife—this prevents the dough from turning dry and crumbly. If you find it to be a little crumbly, start with a few more kneads. If necessary, add a teaspoon of plant-based milk at a time until the dough comes together beautifully.
Step 3: Roll Call – Lightly flour your surface, then roll the dough to about ¼ inch thick. Thick dough = soft cookies; thin dough = crunchy cookies. Choose your own adventure.
Step 4: Shape Shift – Time for the fun part! Cut out shapes with your favorite cookie cutters, re-roll the scraps, and repeat. Stars, trees, dinosaurs—no shape is off-limits.
Step 5: Bake it ‘Til You Make It – Pop your cookies onto a lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes. Keep an eye out for those golden bottoms—that’s the goal!
Step 6: Whip Up the Icing – While the cookies are baking, mix up your icing. Whisk together powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and water until it’s silky smooth and easy to spread. Want to add some flair? Stir in a few drops of vegan food coloring for a pop of color. Set it aside and get ready to decorate!
Step 7: Cool It Down – Let the cookies chill on a wire rack until completely cool. If they’re even slightly warm, the icing will melt and slide right off, leaving you with a sticky (and sad) mess. Patience is key here—your masterpiece deserves a solid canvas!
Once your cookies have cooled, it’s time to bring on the icing magic. Whether you’re keeping it low-key or channeling your inner pastry artist, there’s an approach for every level of baker:
Here’s how it works:
Feeling inspired but unsure where to start? Check out this quick sugar cookie icing tutorial for extra tips and design ideas—it’s easier than you think, and the results are so worth it!
Now that your cookies are baked, cooled, and maybe even iced, it’s time to let your creativity shine. Think of them as a blank canvas, ready for you to channel your inner pastry artist—or keep it simple with a no-fail classic. Here are some ideas to make those cookies pop (literally and figuratively):
Yes! To make these cookies gluten-free, swap the all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend. Make sure the blend contains xanthan gum for structure; if not, you can add about ½ teaspoon per cup of flour. Keep in mind that the texture may be slightly different, but they’ll still be delicious.
Nope! This recipe skips the chill time, which means you can roll, cut, and bake your cookies right away. The coconut oil in the dough helps them hold their shape, so there’s no need to refrigerate the dough unless your kitchen is particularly warm.
To keep the icing vegan, use plant-based food coloring. Liquid, gel, or powder options all work—just make sure to add a little at a time until you get the desired shade. For natural options, try beet powder for pink, turmeric for yellow, or spirulina for green.
If you make this vegan sugar cookies recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know what you think in the comments below! I love reading your comments!
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Cookies look super delicious! And festive
These cookies are incredible. I’ve baked them so many times and they always come out perfect!
I’m a sucker for sugar cookies! Can’t wait to whip these up!
I make these every Easter and they’re so good! Thanks for the recipe.
Wow, these are beautiful and look sooo tasty! I need to add a hand mixer to my list of appliances!
Incredibly pretty and delicious! Although my design didn’t come out quite as beautiful as the one in the picture, I LOVED these cookies. My family (especially my kids) also loved them…and they were gone before the day was out! The texture is oh-so-amazing and the perfect amount of vanilla sweetness. The next time I need a birthday gift idea, I’m totally making these cookies to add to the package. Especially because you can create whichever color you like! Love!
Love making these sugar cookies! I like that they’re not too sweet and they hold together really well. I usually double the batch so I have plenty of dough for the bigger cookie-cutter shapes 🙂
Mmm… who doesn’t love sugar cookies?! These are delicious, sweet and crunchy. They freeze beautifully so you can make a large batch and have them whenever you get a craving for a delicious yet simple cookie. The ways to decorate are endless and fun to do with little ones.