Easy Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Vegan chocolate chip cookies are an egg and dairy-free variation of traditional chocolate chip cookies. This recipe features coconut oil, white and brown sugar, vegan chocolate chips, plant-based milk, applesauce, all-purpose flour, and baking soda.

You can make vegan cookies with many substitutions, including binding agents—like baking powder, tapioca starch, and flax eggs—and various sugars, like coconut sugar, unrefined cane sugar, or liquid sweeteners like molasses.

Vegan baking requires a few extra ingredients to achieve the right texture. Here are some tips to consider before baking a batch of vegan chocolate chip cookies:

1. 1. Choosing a binding agent: While non-vegan chocolate chip cookies rely on eggs and butter to keep the batter creamy and soft, vegan bakers may use flax eggs, vegan butter, or coconut oil to achieve the right texture. (What you choose depends on the recipe and personal preference, but unrefined coconut oil will lend an undeniable coconut flavor to your cookies. For a more neutral flavor profile, use refined coconut oil.) You can also use unsweetened applesauce to create a moist, chewy cookie.
2. 2. Making gluten-free cookies: To make a gluten-free batch of vegan chocolate chip cookies, use finely ground almond flour or gluten-free flour blends formulated especially for baking. Using gluten-free flour will create a cookie with a more cakey texture than those made using all-purpose or whole-wheat flour.
   
3. 3. Experimenting with mix-ins: Complement the chocolate notes in your cookie with a swirl of peanut butter, a ¼ cup of shredded coconut, or ½ cup of roughly chopped walnuts and the dried fruit of your choosing. Deepen the chocolate flavor with a few tablespoons of cacao and incorporate warm spices like cardamom or cinnamon. Swap out the vanilla extract for almond extract or skip the chocolate chips and use your favorite chocolate bar. (Give it a rough chop before incorporating it into the batter.)
4. 4. Storing the cookies: After they have cooled down, store your baked cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.