The Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
These Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies are sweetened with applesauce for a healthier, soft and chewy texture that everyone loves. Plus, this is an easy 20-minute recipe!
I've always loved cookies. They're truly the perfect pick-me-up snack. My favorite cookies are soft, chewy and full of chocolate. I also love out-of-the-box cookies like my Chunky Vegan Chocolate Chip + Pretzel Cookies or Soft Oversized Crinkled Sprinkle Sugar Cookies. But these are my favorite classic and timeless chocolate chip cookies that happen to be dairy-free and egg-free.
These are the best vegan chocolate chip cookies that are soft, thick and chewy. Even non-vegans will agree.
How to Make Soft Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cookies take just 20 minutes to whip up. You'll need a few important ingredients to achieve the thick, chewy texture perfectly:
- Coconut oil. This cooking oil is solid at room temperature like butter, so your cookies stay nice and firm after baking. There's no need to melt the oil for your cookie dough.
- Brown sugar. Choose organic sugar to ensure it's vegan.
- Vanilla. To balance the rich chocolate flavor.
- Almond milk. You can use any kind of dairy-free milk.
- Applesauce. This is the secret to soft and cakey cookies without lots of added sugar.
- Flour. I use King Arthur Flour all-purpose (organic).
- Baking soda. To help your cookies rise in the oven.
- Chocolate chips. I use the mini vegan chocolate chips from Enjoy Life Food.
Storing Leftover Cookies
You can store these cookies in an airtight container on the counter for up to four days. To keep them really fresh, I recommend popping them into the freezer. You can freeze vegan chocolate chip cookies for up to six months (if they last that long!).
You can also freeze the uncooked dough. When you want to bake a batch, let the dough defrost in the fridge overnight before scooping out your cookies and baking as directed in the recipe.
Tips for Baking Vegan Cookies
When it comes to baking vegan cookies, this can be quiet the challenge since dairy, egg, and butter play such an important role in the perfect cookie texture and form. However, I’ve learned a few takeaways while failing and mastering vegan cookies and wanted to share them below for you. For additional tips, you can check out Buzzfeed’s article.
MY TIPS:
- Make sure that the chocolate chips are actually vegan. My favorite brand is Enjoy Life Products.
- Choose the best egg substitute and understand the different types. For the cookies, I specifically used applesauce as my substitute, however, you can also use mashed bananas, flaxseeds, or tofu.
- Ensure that you use vegan-friendly brown sugars and cane sugar instead of regular white or brown sugar.
- If you don’t want to use vegan butter, you can use coconut oil, but keep it solid. I always recommend refrigerating the coconut oil beforehand if it’s melted.
- You can substitute honey for Agave or maple syrup at a 1:1 ratio.
- Don’t over bake. With vegan cookies, you literally just need to wait until the edges are brown. No need to keep them in too long since there aren’t any raw ingredients.
- A mixer isn’t necessary! While I often use an electric mixer for regular cookies, I actually prefer mixing my cookie dough for vegan cookies with a rubber spatula. Of course, if physically you need to use a mixer, then do so, but it’s definitely not necessary.
Can I Make the Cookies Gluten-Free?
You can substitute the all-purpose flour for 1:1 gluten-free flour if you're avoiding gluten.
More Vegan Cookie Recipes
- Vegan Superfood Breakfast Cookies
- Edible Vegan Funfetti Cookie Dough
- Vegan Brownie Cookie Dough Cake
PS: The Best Healthy Sugar Alternatives + Substitutes list is all about finding better ways to enjoy your favorite sweets without compromising your healthy lifestyle. For those who follow a vegetarian and/or vegan lifestyle, this lists offers a few great ideas to incorporate healthy sweeteners into your diet.
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you make this Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe, tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea!
The Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
COOKIES:
- 2 ¼ cups organic all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup organic brown sugar
- ¾ cup organic cane sugar
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
- ½ cup softened coconut oil, NOT MELTED! (See Notes!)
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup Almond milk, room temp. (You can use your favorite plant-based milk!)
- ¼ cup organic applesauce, unsweetened
- 1 ½ cups vegan chocolate chips (You can also use chopped vegan whole chocolate as well!)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a large cookie sheet.
- In a large bowl, add in the softened coconut oil and both sugars, whisking everything until well combined and the mixture looks smooth and well combined. Add in the molasses, applesauce, and vanilla, whisking them together until combined.
- Add in the flour, baking soda, salt, and pinch of cinnamon, mixing everything together using a rubber spatula until the mixture becomes wet, thick, and holds together well. Fold in chocolate chips.
- Using a medium-size scoop (about 1 ½ Tbsps), scoop each cookie dough onto the prepared cookie sheet, leaving 1-inches between each cookie for spreading when they bake.
- Bake for 11 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
- OPTIONAL: At 5 minute mark (cookies should be slightly puffed in the center), lift baking sheet and let it drop against the rack. Repeat about twice if needed. This allows the edges to set and the inside to fall down.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and press remaining chocolate chips on top of warm cookies, if desired.
- Cool cookies on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy with your favorite glass of dairy-free milk.
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- TIP: If the dough appears too sticky, add a little more flour (1 tablespoon at a time); However, if the dough appears too dry (add 1 tablespoon of Almond milk at a time).
- STORAGE: Once properly stored in an air-tight container, cookies last for 3-4 days at room temperature.
- FREEZE: You can also freeze your cookie dough (once formed into a ball) so that you can store them longer and bake as needed.
- COCONUT OIL: If Coconut Oil is melted or not that solid, place amount required for recipe into a mason jar and place in the refrigerator for up to an hour, or until fully solid. When ready to use, let sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes so that it is easier to scoop (not rock hard!) and incorporate.
- BANGING METHOD: I love making my cookies chunky, however, if you chose to use the “banging method” in this recipe to avoid cookies from being too puffy, it’s definitely optional!
Nutrition
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The Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies.
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These cookies are delicious! I used vegan butter instead of coconut oil. The next time I make these (and my whole family agrees that there needs to be a next time!), I may try a flax egg instead of the applesauce; my cookies came out super flat, and I’m wondering if the flax egg would provide more structure?They tasted amazing, but I love my cookies thick! Great recipe!
These look and sound amazing! I’ve been looking for a good vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe that does not require using a mixer. What do you recommend as a substitute for molasses?
Hi Dora! Awww, yay! I'm so glad that you decided to make my chocolate chip cookies! I can't wait to hear how they turn out! Great molasses alternatives include: maple syrup, golden syrup, or additional brown sugar (1:1 ratio). 🙂
Hi Shanika!
I was just wondering if I could substitute the coconut oil to something else, and the applesauce?
I haven’t succeeded a vegan chocolate chip cookie yet, but I think maybe this recipe will make it ^-^
Hi Anni, Yes, you can substitute the coconut oil with vegan butter (softened) and for the applesauce, you can always use pureed bananas instead! I hope that this helps! 🙂
Amazing recipe! Truly some of the best vegan chocolate chip cookies I've ever made. I have been using a "flax egg" instead of the applesauce, and it comes out perfectly. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Katya! I'm so happy to hear that you've enjoyed these! Definitely have been a fave in our house! 🙂
This recipe is awesome! I have tried using a recipe very similar to this one, and although the taste is good they would always come out flattened. This recipe worked wonderfully! The cookies are puffy and chewy. I especially appreciated the tip on putting the coconut oil in the refrigerator. Thank you!
Hi Brooke! Thanks so much for choosing my recipe! I'm so happy that they came out great! These are definitely a hit in my house! It's my pleasure! 🙂
Hey Love, do you think I could opt banana for the applesauce and dates for the sugar? I know I’ll probably end up with quite a different texture but am willing to try!
Hi Clem, I'd give it a try with the bananas (pureed) instead of the applesauce, however, I'm not sure what the texture would be with dates. This could create a total change. Do you have date sugar or coconut sugar? If not, I say give it a try and let me know how it turns out! 🙂
I baked some of these cookies and everybody loved them sooo much!! I'm about to make some more today because I barely got any last time! suuuuuupeeeer yummy, dont skip this recipe!
Hi Fatima! I'm so happy to hear that! This is a fave in our house as well! 🙂
Hi! Can you use refined coconut oil in this recipe? The cookies look amazing!
Hi Kim! Thanks so much! Yes, you can! Just ensure that it isn't melted. It should be solid, but softened for the best results! Be sure to let me know how they turn out! 🙂
WOW! These look amazing! I have tried to make chocolate chip cookies with applesauce and they never turn out. I can't wait to try this recipe!! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much, Juli! Yes, it's definitely a bit more challenging making cookies with applesauce, but after a few tries I finally got the hang of it! I hope that you enjoy these!
I love the sound of the combination of ingredients - applesauce is definitely underused but a great option in baking. They look good!
I so agree, Caroline! Applesauce is so underused but so a great option, especially in Vegan recipes!
These are the best looking chocolate chip cookies! I wish I had a couple right now!
Thanks so much, Taylor! I hope that you get a chance to try them!
I believe you 100% because these cookies look amazing! The images are just mouthwatering - they are beautiful, delicious and so inviting. I definitely need to make these cookies for a weekend because there is no such thing as 'too many cookies'! 🙂
Thanks so much, Elaine! They really are so good and I'm sure you'll love them! You definitely can't have too many cookies!
You are using all my favorite ingredients here. I love that type of almond milk and use it every single day. Once I switched to Enjoy Life chocolate chips I cannot eat any others. They just aren't as good. I seriously want to jump in the screen and grab some of those cookies!
Haha! Thanks so much, Karen! I am so with you!