Theseย healthy vegan snickerdoodlesย are the ultimate healthy take on a classic. They're complete with a soft yet chewy texture and the perfect balance of cinnamon and sugar. These cookies are guaranteed to be a hit at any holiday party.

Snickerdoodles have always been a favorite of mine around Christmas time because they are super easy to make and perfect to bring to any party or event. I wanted to make sure to make this recipe with simple ingredients to ensure they would be healthy; however, I also wanted to ensure they still tasted like the classic cookie. After many rounds of testing this vegan snickerdoodle recipe, I bring you the perfect healthy snickerdoodle cookie recipe.
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Jump to:
- โVegan Snickerdoodles Ingredients:
- How To Make Vegan Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles:
- Vegan Snickerdoodles Substitutions:ย
- Vegan Snickerdoodle Cookie Variations:
- What You Need To Make The Best Vegan Snickerdoodle Cookies:
- How To Store Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles:
- Top Tip For Making Vegan Snickerdoodles:
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Related Vegan Cookies:
- The Best Healthy Snickerdoodles (Vegan And Gluten-Free)
- More Holiday Recipes:
โVegan Snickerdoodles Ingredients:
This recipe is the perfect recipe to make during the holiday season because it is made with simple ingredients that you can find at your local grocery store or easily order online.
Dry Ingredients:
- Gluten-Free Flour - Gluten-free flour is suitable for individuals with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease and works perfectly for these gluten-free Snickerdoodle cookies. It's often made from alternative grains like rice, almond, or coconut, providing different nutrients and potentially making the recipe more accessible to a wider audience. If are not gluten-free, you can use either gluten-free flour or all-purpose flour.
- Maple Crystals - Maple crystals are a natural sweetener derived from maple syrup. They contain some minerals like manganese and zinc and have a lower glycemic index compared to refined sugars, which means they have a milder impact on blood sugar levels. I absolutely love using maple crystals in a wide variety of recipes. I always get mine in bulk from Wilderness Poets. As always, you can use my code: "NATURALVEGAN" for $10 off!
- Baking Soda - Serves as a leavening agent, creating carbon dioxide gas when combined with an acid (in this case, cream of tartar), which helps the cookies rise and become light and fluffy.
- Cream Of Tartar - Activates the baking soda, contributing to the leavening process and providing a distinctive texture to the snickerdoodles.
- Ground Flax Seed - When combined with water, ground flax seed becomes a "flax egg" and acts as an egg substitute, providing binding properties to the dough. It also adds omega-3 fatty acids and fiber to enhance the nutritional content.
- Cinnamon - This will be mixed with the cinnamon sugar mixture to give the cookies their signature taste. Additionally, cinnamon may offer health benefits, including antioxidant properties.
โWet Ingredients:
- Coconut Butter - Coconut butter is used as a healthy, oil-free substitute for vegan butter. It contains fiber as well as healthy fats. It's perfect for creating a chewy center without using any oil. It has a high-fat content due to the natural coconut oil in it. However, it also contains fiber which makes it very wholesome.
- Vanilla Extract - Enhances the overall flavor profile of the cookies with a sweet and aromatic note.
- Water - This will be used to create the flax egg.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Vegan Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles:
This vegan recipe for snickerdoodles is a great way to incorporate healthy vegan cookie recipes into your holiday baking because it is so easy to make and absolutely delicious.
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make The Flax Egg:
- In a small bowl, combine the ground flaxseed and water together to form the flax egg.
- Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, maple crystals, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Ensure that the dry ingredients are well combined. The best way to do this is with a whisk
- Prepare Wet Ingredients:
- In a separate large mixing bowl, cream together the warmed coconut butter (I recommended microwaving it for about 30 seconds for best results), vanilla extract, flax eggs, and additional water until well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring well to form a cohesive cookie dough. If the dough is too dry, you can add a little more water, one teaspoon at a time. The cookie dough should be a little stickier than traditional cookie dough.
- Coat In Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture:
- In a shallow bowl, combine the maple crystals and cinnamon and mix until combined.
- Place the cookie dough balls in the cinnamon sugar mixture and roll until completely coated.
- Shape the Cookies:
- Place the cookie dough balls with the cinnamon sugar coating on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each cookie for them to spread.
- Bake:
- Bake cookies in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Remember that baking times vary by oven (so annoying!), so it's a good idea to check after 10 minutes.
- Cool:
- Allow the snickerdoodles to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy:
- Once cooled, your healthy vegan snickerdoodles are ready to be enjoyed! Store them in an airtight container for freshness.
Hint: If you want perfectly round vegan snickerdoodles, you can use the ring from a mason jar to swirl the cookie around when it's fresh out of the oven. This trick works like a charm for any cookie recipe.
Vegan Snickerdoodles Substitutions:ย
There are plenty of great substitutions that can be made to this gluten-free snickerdoodle recipe. Here are some of the common ones.
- Flour - If you are not gluten-free and don't like gluten-free flour, you can use all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour. You can also play around with a paleo flour blend made from almond flour and coconut flour. I have yet to try this substitution, but there are plenty of blends that state they are a 1:1 substitute, so it may work.
- Sugar - If you can't get your hands on maple crystals or need to substitute them for whatever reason, you can use brown sugar or coconut sugar as a 1:1 substitute. You will still achieve a perfect cookie; it may just be slightly darker in color.
- Electric Mixer - If you don't want to mix the cookie dough by hand, you can use an electric mixer like a stand mixer or hand mixer to speed up the process.
If you have any questions about a particular substitution not listed, make sure to leave a comment, and I'll get back to you as quickly as possible!
Vegan Snickerdoodle Cookie Variations:
My favorite thing about this classic Snickerdoodle cookie recipe because there are so many fun variations you can try. Here are some of my favorite ways to mix it up:
- Chocolate drizzle - You can melt some vegan chocolate chips and drizzle the chocolate over top of the cooled cookies. This gives the perfect chocolaty crunch to these pillowy vegan snickerdoodles.
- Extra Chewy Cookies - You can add a teaspoon or two of cornstarch to the cookie dough to make the perfect chewy Snickerdoodle cookies. I always think the chewiness of the cookie is the best part, so I recommend giving this a try!
- Ice Cream - You can chop these cookies up and add them to my Snickerdoodle Ice Cream for the holiday dessert.
What You Need To Make The Best Vegan Snickerdoodle Cookies:
These easy vegan snickerdoodles are the perfect holiday cookie because they require minimal equipment and are easy to throw together. Here's what I recommend having on hand when making these cookies.
- Mixing Bowls - You will need a couple of mixing bowls to combine the wet ingredients and dry ingredients and a small bowl to make the flax egg with.
- Whisk - A whisk is handy for mixing dry ingredients thoroughly.
- Rubber Spatula - A rubber spatula is the best tool you can use to mix the cookie dough together.
- Baking Sheet - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking and for easy cleanup. You can also spray the pan with oil.
- Cookie Scoop or Spoon - Use a small or medium cookie scoop or a spoon to portion the cookie dough and create uniform-sized cookies.
- Wire Rack - After baking, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool. This helps them cool evenly and prevents them from becoming too soft on the bottom.
As always, you can find all my go-to equipment on my Amazon storefront or my affiliate page.
How To Store Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles:
I recommend storing these vegan and gluten-free snickerdoodles in an airtight container for the best results. I also recommend keeping them in the fridge rather than at room temperature. This will ensure that they stay fresh the whole holiday season.
Top Tip For Making Vegan Snickerdoodles:
These vegan snickerdoodles take slightly longer to cool than other cookies. Therefore I recommend letting them sit on the cookie sheet for an extra minute or two for best results.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can experiment with other egg substitutes like chia seeds, applesauce, or commercial egg replacer. Ensure the chosen substitute provides the necessary binding properties. You can also use regular eggs if you are not vegan.
Yes, you can freeze both the cookie dough and baked cookies. If freezing dough, shape it into balls and freeze on a tray before transferring to a freezer bag. Baked cookies can be frozen in an airtight container.
โIt depends on the specific gluten-free flour blend you use. Some blends may contain nut flours, so check the ingredients to ensure the recipe meets your dietary needs.
Related Vegan Cookies:
Looking for more cookies to make this holiday season? Make sure to check out some of the other vegan cookie recipes on my website.
โIf you try thisย Healthy Vegan Snickerdoodlesย Recipe, Iโd really love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Iโd also really appreciate a recipe card rating!ย Make sure to share it on social media and tagย @theallnaturalveganย to be featured!ย Thank you for supporting The All Natural Vegan!
The Best Healthy Snickerdoodles (Vegan And Gluten-Free)
Equipment
- 1 cookie scoop
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 cup gluten-free flour
- 1 ยผ cup maple crystals
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ยฝ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 2 tablespoon ground flaxseed
Wet Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ยฝ teaspoon cinnamon
- 6 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon water
- โ cup coconut butter warmed - should be a thick liquid
Cinnamon Sugar Mixture
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ยผ cup maple crystals
Instructions
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Make The Flax Egg:
- In a small bowl, combine the ground flaxseed and water together to form the flax egg.
Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, maple crystals, baking soda, and cream of tartar. Ensure that the dry ingredients are well combined. The best way to do this is with a whisk
Prepare Wet Ingredients:
- In a separate large mixing bowl, cream together the warmed coconut butter (I recommended microwaving it for about 30 seconds for best results), vanilla extract, flax eggs, and additional water until well combined.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring well to form a cohesive cookie dough. If the dough is too dry, you can add a little more water, one teaspoon at a time. The cookie dough should be a little stickier than traditional cookie dough.
Coat In Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture:
- In a shallow bowl, combine the maple crystals and cinnamon and mix until combined.
- Place the cookie dough balls in the cinnamon sugar mixture and roll until completely coated.
Shape the Cookies:
- Place the cookie dough balls with the cinnamon sugar coating on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each cookie for them to spread.
Bake:
- Bake cookies in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Remember that baking times vary by oven (so annoying!), so it's a good idea to check after 10 minutes.
Cool:
- Allow the snickerdoodles to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy:
- Once cooled, your healthy vegan snickerdoodles are ready to be enjoyed! Store them in an airtight container for freshness.
More Holiday Recipes:
Need some more vegan holiday recipes? Make sure to check out the other ones on my website!
Michelle
Love making snickerdoodles and this was a fun healthy twist!
Anna - Vegnfit
Delicious snickerdoodle cookies. I love how tasty and easy they are.
Billy
I love Snickerdoodles and these look so delicious. Using maple crystals is such a great idea!
Jan
I can't wait to make these, what else can I use instead of maple crystals?
Katie
You could use date sugar for another healthy option, and I am sure brown sugar would work as well!
Josh
Snickerdoodles are a classic and I really enjoyed your healthy spin.
Grace Tejero
So delicious! I'm surely gonna add this to my sweet treats list. Thanks for the recipe!
nancy
can't believe i can make this at home. thanks for the healthy take on this.