These simple, vegan butter cookies are crispy, sweet, buttery and they can easily be made gluten-free. Sprinkled with a pinch of sparkling sugar for added crunch and shine.
What is the difference between butter cookies and shortbread cookies?
While they are both delicious cookies, butter cookies are crispier than shortbread cookies which are softer and more crumbly. This is due to their fat to flour ratio. Shortbread cookies have a higher fat to flour ratio, while butter cookies have a lower ratio. Butter cookie dough is typically pipped into a baking sheet or placed in a cookie press to create fun, beautiful shapes, while shortbread cookie dough is typically rolled into a log, sliced and baked at a lower temperature.
What about sugar cookies?
Sugar cookies have the lowest fat to flour ratio. They make a sturdier dough that is typically rolled between two pieces of parchment paper and cut into shapes. It is the ideal dough for decorated cookies.
Ingredients in vegan butter cookies
- butter-flavored coconut oil
- sugar
- vanilla-flavored plant milk
- natural vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour (you can also use gluten-free 1-to-1 baking flour)
- Pinch of salt
- Sparkling sugar (optional)
What kind of fat is best for vegan butter cookies?
We used butter flavored coconut oil for this recipe. If you can't find butter flavored coconut oil, you can use plain, refined coconut oil or your favorite vegan butter, but take into consideration that the flavor will not be the same. You can also add a natural vegan butter flavoring, such as this one.
How to make vegan butter cookies
Using an electric mixer, cream the coconut oil and sugar until smooth. Add the milk and vanilla and continue beating until light and fluffy.
Carefully add the flour and salt and beat until just incorporated.
Form a log with the cookie dough and place it in a cookie press, using your favorite shape. If you don't have a cookie press, roll the dough on a well-floured surface and use a cookie cutter.
Press the cookie dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet, sprinkle with sparkling sugar.
Let the butter cookies cool completely before taking them out of the cookie sheet. They will crisp up once they cool.
Other vegan cookies you will enjoy
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
- Peppermint Chocolate Cookies
- Cranberry Pecan Cookies
- Moroccan Cinnamon Cookies
- Pink Salt & Tahini Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Orange Ginger Spice Cookies
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Vegan Butter Cookies
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Description
These simple, vegan butter cookies are crispy, sweet, buttery and they can easily be made gluten-free. Sprinkled with a pinch of sparkling sugar for added crunch and shine.
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter-flavored coconut oil here we used this one, see note)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla-flavored plant milk
- 1 tsp natural vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (you can also use gluten free 1-to-1 baking flour)
- Pinch of salt
- Sparkling sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F
- Using an electric mixer, cream the coconut oil and sugar until smooth. Add the milk and vanilla and continue beating until light and fluffy. Carefully add the flour and salt and beat until just incorporated
- Form a log with the cookie dough and place it in a cookie press, using your favorite shape (See Note)
- Press the cookie dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet, sprinkle with sparkling sugar (if using) and bake for 15-16 minutes, until very lightly golden. Let them cool completely (cookies will crisp up when cool)
Notes
If you can't find butter flavored coconut oil, you can use plain, refined coconut oil or your favorite vegan butter, but take into consideration that the flavor will not be the same. You can also add a natural vegan butter flavoring, such as this one
If you don't have a cookie press, roll the dough on a well floured surface and use a cookie cutter
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 4.2
- Sodium: 0.2
- Fat: 4.6
- Saturated Fat: 3.8
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.4
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 9.1
- Fiber: 0.2
- Protein: 0.7
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: how to make butter cookies, cookies for parties, easy cookies, vegan cookies
Cindy says
Easy to follow recipe and no butter!!
★★★★★
Vicky & Ruth says
Thank you Cindy, so glad you enjoyed our butter cookies.
Loren says
Easy, simple and vegan! What else can you ask for? I really enjoy these cookies!
★★★★★