Vegan Shortbread Cookies

These delicious, buttery, and slightly crisp Vegan Shortbread Cookies are a great addition to your holiday celebration! They are super easy to bake and require only 3 simple ingredients—perfect for beginner bakers or those short on time. With a melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich flavor, these cookies are sure to become a holiday favorite.

For more shortbread cookies, try Shortbread Cookies and Christmas Tree Shortbread Cookies. Enjoy!

Jump to:

• What are Vegan Shortbread Cookies?
• Health Benefits of Vegan Butter
• Variations
• Substitutions
• Storage
• Ingredients
• ⭐ Top Tip
• FAQ
• Vegan Shortbread Cookies

What are Vegan Shortbread Cookies?

These vegan shortbread cookies are buttery, crisp, and sweet biscuits made with all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, and vegan butter. The dough comes together quickly in a large bowl—or you can use a stand mixer for faster mixing. Once shaped and baked, they offer a delicate texture that pairs perfectly with tea or coffee.

This vegan shortbread cookies recipe is versatile and beginner-friendly. You can use cookie cutters to shape them into festive forms or slice them into rounds using a sharp knife for a rustic look. Whether you’re making vegan Christmas cookies or prepping vegan sugar cookies for everyday snacking, this is one vegan cookie recipe you’ll want to bookmark.

Health Benefits of Vegan Butter

• Low in saturated fat
• Gluten-free options available
• Better for the environment
• Dairy-free—great for those with allergies or lactose intolerance
• Still offers that delicious buttery flavor

Variations

• Add 1 tsp vanilla extract or other extracts like almond for a boost of taste.
• Mix in lemon zest for a zesty twist and top with icing made of powdered sugar and lemon juice.
• Stir in mini chocolate chips for a fun and sweet surprise in each bite.
• Swap all-purpose flour with almond flour to create gluten-free cookies (note the change in consistency).
• You can roll out the cookie dough using a rolling pin, cut into fun shapes using cookie cutters, and place them on prepared baking sheets or cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.

Substitutions

• Not vegan? Use dairy butter instead of vegan butter.
• Use icing sugar or powdered sugar in place of white sugar for a smoother cookie.
• Want a richer cookie? Try replacing some flour with almond flour.

Storage

• Let cookies cool completely on a cooling rack or wire rack. Then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
  
• To freeze: Place cookies in layers between parchment paper, wrap in plastic wrap, and store in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.

Ingredients

Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:

• all-purpose flour
• vegan butter
• white sugar

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, add flour, vegan butter, and sugar, and mix until the dough comes together:

Form the dough into a ball, then wrap it with plastic wrap and allow it to firm up in the fridge for 30 minutes or best overnight. (Dough will be firm):

Preheat oven to 350 °F (176.67 °C), and create 42 balls and place each on a prepared baking sheet. Then, flatten with a fork or the palm of your hand. 

After that, bake for 16–18 minutes or until light golden:

Allow to cool down on a wire rack before serving:

Enjoy a delicious cookie treat!

⭐ Top Tip

For the perfect melt-in texture, chill the dough before baking. This keeps the cookies from spreading and helps them maintain their buttery crumb. Don’t overmix—just combine the ingredients until they form a dough. And bake low and slow to get that iconic pale color and delicate bite.

FAQ