Easy Vegan Snickerdoodle Cookies—soft, pillowy clouds of cinnamon-sugar perfection. With just 9 simple ingredients, these snickerdoodles are a breeze to whip up and taste even better than the classic version. These cookies can also be made ahead and freeze well too, perfect for your holiday baking!
If there's one dessert that has my heart, it's definitely cookies. It's why I have shared so many vegan cookie recipes on this blog. Now, let me share with you my latest cookie crush—these easy vegan snickerdoodles. Not only are these cookies fun to make, but they are easy to make too. Just mix the simple dough recipe, shape it into little balls, and then roll in cinnamon sugar before letting them work their magic in the oven. This recipe makes a big batch (about 38 cookies) so it is perfect for sharing. These snickerdoodles are irresistibly tasty, making them the perfect delight to enjoy with friends, family, or simply on your own.
Common Questions About Snickerdoodles:
What's the deal with cream of tartar in snickerdoodles? Cream of tartar is a key ingredient which provides the snickerdoodles with their distinctive tangy flavor and soft, chewy texture. If you need to substitute it, you could sub with 2 teaspoons lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, but note that the cookies won't taste as traditional, and the texture and rise of the cookies will be different.
How do you make Snickerdoodle cookies vegan? To make these cookies vegan I use vegan butter (such as Earth Balance, or another vegan margarine). I also use applesauce instead of eggs which makes the cookies super moist and delicious. Easy peasy!
Why do snickerdoodles use a cinnamon-sugar mixture? The cinnamon-sugar coating is what gives snickerdoodles their classic flavor. It's like a sweet, cozy hug in each bite.
Do I need any fancy tools? Nope! In my recipe, I include instructions for using a stand mixer, but if you don't have one, I also include instructions on how to make them by hand using a whisk and spatula.
Are these the best vegan snickerdoodles? You betcha! After rigorous testing and tweaking, this recipe guarantees the softest, most delectable vegan snickerdoodles you've ever experienced.
How to Make Vegan Snickerdoodles:
Preheat your oven to 375℉ (190℃). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them.
Make the cinnamon sugar topping by mixing 3 tablespoons of white sugar with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon in a small bowl. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt making sure everything is well mixed. Set aside.
Stand mixer method: In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the vegan butter and sugar. Mix well until creamy and fluffy. Add the applesauce and vanilla and mix in.
By hand method: To a large bowl, add the vegan butter and sugar. Use a whisk to mix well until creamy and fluffy. If the vegan butter is too firm to whisk, let it soften at room temperature until you can whip it. Add the applesauce and vanilla and mix in.
Stand mixer method: To the butter mixture, add the flour mixture and mix to form a dough. Tip: I like to add ¼ of the flour mixture at a time so that it doesn't poof everywhere.
By hand method: To the butter mixture, add the flour mixture and use a spatula or wooden spoon to mix and form a dough. Tip: I like to add ¼ of the flour mixture at a time so that it doesn't poof everywhere.
To form the cookies, take about 1 ½ tablespoons of cookie dough and roll it into a ball. Roll the dough ball in the cinnamon sugar to coat the ball. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat using all of the cookie dough, and spacing the cookies on the pans so they have room to spread.
Bake the cookies for 10 minutes until they have puffed up, cracked in some places, and are golden on the bottom. When you remove the cookies from the oven, use the back of a spoon to lightly press the cookies down to flatten them a bit. This also makes them chewier in the center. Allow to cool on the pan for at least 10 minutes before transferring them to a rack to cool. Enjoy fresh, store them at room temperature for up to 5 days, or you can place them in an airtight container and freeze them to enjoy later.
These easy vegan snickerdoodles cookies are...
- easy to make, just 9 ingredients
- sweet, cinnamon-infused, soft, and chewy
- tastes just like the classic, but better!
More Vegan Cookie Recipes:
The Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Easy Vegan Shortbread
Vegan Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies (soft & cakey)
Perfect Vegan Sugar Cookies (for cookie cutters)
Easy Chewy Vegan Molasses Cookies
If you try this recipe let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don't forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.
Bon appetegan!
Sam Turnbull.
(click stars to vote)
Vegan Snickerdoodles
Servings: cookies (roughly)
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Ingredients
For the Cinnamon Sugar Topping:
- 3 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the Snickerdoodle Cookies:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup vegan butter
- 1 ⅓ cup white sugar
- 5 tablespoons applesauce
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375℉ (190℃). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them.
- Make the cinnamon sugar topping by mixing 3 tablespoons of white sugar with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon in a small bowl. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt making sure everything is well mixed. Set aside.
- Stand mixer method: In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the vegan butter and sugar. Mix well until creamy and fluffy. Add the applesauce and vanilla and mix in.By hand method: To a large bowl, add the vegan butter and sugar. Use a whisk to mix well until creamy and fluffy. If the vegan butter is too firm to whisk, let it soften at room temperature until you can whip it. Add the applesauce and vanilla and mix in.
- Stand mixer method: To the butter mixture, add the flour mixture and mix to form a dough. Tip: I like to add ¼ of the flour mixture at a time so that it doesn't poof everywhere. By hand method: To the butter mixture, add the flour mixture and use a spatula or wooden spoon to mix and form a dough. Tip: I like to add ¼ of the flour mixture at a time so that it doesn't poof everywhere.
- To form the cookies, take about 1 ½ tablespoons of cookie dough and roll it into a ball. Roll the dough ball in the cinnamon sugar to coat the ball. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat using all of the cookie dough, and spacing the cookies on the pan so they have room to spread.
- Bake the cookies for 10 minutes until they have puffed up, cracked in some places, and are golden on the bottom. When you remove the cookies from the oven, use the back of a spoon to lightly press the cookies down to flatten them a bit. This also makes them chewier in the center. Allow to cool on the pan for at least 10 minutes before transferring them to a rack to cool. Enjoy fresh, store them at room temperature for up to 5 days, or you can place them in an airtight container and freeze them to enjoy later.
Megan says
These are AMAZING!!!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay! So happy you love them Megan 🙂
Penny says
You list applesauce as an ingredient. It's not something I've ever seen for sale here. How many apples do you think I would need to cook and puree?
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
1 apple should do it! Peel, core, and chop one apple into small pieces. Place the pieces in a microwave-safe bowl, cover, and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes until very soft. Mash with a fork until smooth. Enjoy!
Jessica S. says
I made these for my family's Valentine's Day treat. they turned out fabulously and taste how I remember traditional Snickerdoodles. I used 2 Earth Balance Butterfly sticks, baking sugar and an electric hand mixer. I didn't have to flatten them with a spoon after baking, they spread well by themselves.
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Wonderful! Thanks for your review!
Lori says
I don’t have a stand mixer ( on Christmas wish lists ) can you use electric beater
KP InthePNW says
Help! My dough was super wet/sticky and my 1.5Tbs dough balls made huge flat cookies 🙁
What did I do wrong? I’ve made the vegan molasses cookies a gazillion times with success and thought I’d have similar results with these. Any tips for next time? Thank you!
Paula K. says
I haven't made snickerdoodles in years so when your recipe popped up in my email I just had to try it. The vegan butter amount confused me: 112g or 1 cup. 112g doesn't equal 1 cup of butter so I first measured 112g of butter and mixed it with the sugar and it wasn't creaming so I added butter until it was creamy and fluffy. I didn't use an entire cup of butter, maybe 3/4 cup. The cookies turned out great!
Sam Turnbull says
Sorry about any confusion! It should be 212g vegan butter (not 112g)! It is fixed now.
FYI I always recipe test using measuring cups and spoons and I have a program that automatically calculates the grams. So if you are ever unsure, always go by the cups and spoons 🙂
Paula K. says
Good to know! Thank you so much! Love your website!
Susan says
Sam, this is too crazy. You read my mind because a day or two ago I was wishing you had a Snickerdoodle recipe and here it is. Thank you!! I’ll check back in when I have a chance to make them. You’re the best!
Sam Turnbull says
Wonderful, I hope you love the cookies!!
Melanie says
What butter do you use?
Luba Culhane says
Becel now makes a vegan butter as well as their vegan margarine
Melanie says
Thanks!
Sam Turnbull says
My go to is Earth Blanace Buttery Spread original.
Melanie says
Okay thank you you Sam!