The best vegan Christmas cookies pair festive holiday flavors like gingerbread, cinnamon, eggnog, and chocolate with simple, beginner-friendly recipes you can bake in a single afternoon. This roundup gathers 21 tried-and-loved cookies, from classic cut-outs to fudgy chocolate chip favorites, all completely dairy-free and egg-free. Whether you’re filling a cookie tin, decorating with the kids, or building a holiday dessert platter, you’ll find plenty of inspiration here.
How to Choose the Right Vegan Christmas Cookies
To choose the right vegan Christmas cookies, match the recipe to your baking goal: pick cut-out sugar or gingerbread cookies if you want to decorate, drop-style chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies if you want fast and fuss-free, and spiced options like cinnamon or cardamom for that classic holiday aroma. Consider dietary needs too, since several recipes here are also gluten-free or nut-free. If you’re baking with children, start with thumbprints or simple shaped cookies that are forgiving to handle. For gifting, choose sturdier cookies that travel well and keep their texture for several days.
Start with the timeless, spiced classics that make a kitchen smell like Christmas.
1
Vegan Gingerbread Cookies
These spiced gingerbread cookies bring the classic molasses-and-ginger warmth that defines the holidays, with crisp edges and a soft center perfect for cutting into stars and gingerbread people. They fill the whole kitchen with cozy Christmas aroma while they bake. Chill the dough for at least an hour before rolling so it holds sharp shapes and doesn’t spread in the oven.
Warm cinnamon runs through every bite of these tender cookies, giving them the unmistakable snickerdoodle-like coziness the season calls for. They come together with pantry staples and bake up soft in the middle with a lightly crackled top. Roll each ball in a cinnamon-sugar coating just before baking for an extra sparkly, fragrant crust.
Those nostalgic swirls from the blue tin are surprisingly simple to recreate at home, and this vegan version keeps the buttery, melt-in-your-mouth crumb fully intact. Piped into rings and rosettes, they look elegant on any holiday cookie plate. Use a sturdy star tip and slightly softened vegan butter so the dough pipes cleanly without cracking.
Nutty spelt flour and a whisper of cinnamon make these cut-out snowflakes as wholesome as they are pretty, ideal for decorating with the kids. The dough is forgiving and rolls out smoothly for crisp, detailed shapes. Dust the finished cookies with a light snowfall of powdered sugar right before serving so they look freshly frosted.
Fragrant cardamom gives these snickerdoodle-style cookies an exotic, perfumed twist that stands out on a crowded cookie tray. They stay soft and chewy with a signature sugar-cinnamon crackle across the top. Toast and grind whole cardamom pods yourself for a brighter, more aromatic flavor than pre-ground spice can offer.
These frosted and shaped cookies are made for decorating, gifting, and showing off on the dessert table.
6
Feasting on Fruit
Almond Flour Sugar Cookies
Made with almond flour, these grain-free sugar cookies bake up tender and buttery, and the recipe walks you through a smooth vegan royal-style frosting for decorating. They hold their shape well, so snowflakes, trees, and stars stay crisp. Let the frosting set fully at room temperature for a few hours before stacking so the designs stay perfect.
These pillowy sugar cookies capture the creamy, nutmeg-kissed flavor of eggnog and finish with a soft swirl of frosting on top. They’re thick, cakey, and unmistakably festive. Add a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg to both the dough and the frosting so the eggnog flavor carries all the way through.
A holiday classic, these buttery thumbprints cradle a glossy pool of fruit jam in the center, adding a jewel-like pop of color to any cookie box. They’re simple enough for little helpers to press and fill. Use a thick, set jam rather than a runny one so the centers stay put and don’t bubble over while baking.
Rich vegan cream cheese keeps these cookies wonderfully soft while plump rum-soaked raisins bring a grown-up, boozy warmth that feels right for Christmas. Every bite is tender, tangy, and gently spiced. Soak the raisins in rum overnight so they turn juicy and infuse the whole dough with deeper flavor.
For the chocolate lovers, here are chocolate chip cookies with a festive twist in every batch.
10
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
For the chocolate obsessed, these deeply cocoa-rich cookies are studded with melty chocolate chips for a double dose of decadence. They bake up fudgy in the middle with slightly crisp edges. Underbake them by a minute or two and let them finish setting on the hot tray for the gooiest possible center.
Ground almonds give these chocolate chip cookies a nutty depth and a delicate, slightly marzipan-like aroma that pairs beautifully with dark chocolate. They’re tender, lightly crumbly, and quietly sophisticated. Press a few extra chocolate chips onto the tops right after baking so every cookie looks bakery-perfect.
These loaded cookies fold chopped Oreos and chocolate chips into one irresistibly indulgent dough that kids and adults fight over. Every bite has crunchy cookie shards and pockets of melted chocolate. Chop the Oreos coarsely rather than crushing them fine so you keep satisfying chunks throughout the cookie.
Vivid red and speckled with chocolate chips, these red velvet cookies bring dramatic holiday color to your dessert table with a soft, cake-like crumb. They taste like the beloved cupcake, only easier to make in big batches. Use a gel food coloring rather than liquid so you get that rich red hue without thinning the dough.
Pumpkin puree makes these chocolate chip cookies impossibly soft and cakey, with warm winter spice tucked into every bite. They stay moist for days, which makes them great for gifting. Blot excess moisture from the pumpkin with a paper towel before mixing so the cookies bake up tender rather than wet.
Lighter, fruit-forward, and wholesome options round out the tray for anyone who wants a little less indulgence.
15
Whole Grain Cookies
Made with hearty whole grain flour, these lightly sweet cookies are a wholesome option when you want something less indulgent on the cookie tray. They have a satisfying, rustic bite and pair perfectly with a cup of tea. Fold in a handful of chopped nuts or dried cranberries to dress them up for the holidays.
Naturally sweetened with ripe banana and dotted with tart cranberries, these chewy oatmeal cookies feel both festive and virtuous. The red cranberries give them a cheerful holiday flecking. Use very ripe, spotty bananas for the most natural sweetness so you can keep the added sugar to a minimum.
Classic and comforting, these chewy oatmeal cookies are the kind of everyday treat that disappears fast from the cookie jar. They have golden edges, a soft center, and endless room for add-ins. Stir in raisins, chocolate chips, or chopped walnuts to customize a batch for your holiday spread.
Bursting with juicy blueberries, these soft cookies offer a fruity, slightly tangy change of pace from all the chocolate and spice. Their purple-blue speckles look lovely alongside more traditional cookies. Toss the blueberries in a little flour before folding them in so they stay suspended instead of sinking to the bottom.
Nutty tahini gives these cookies a rich, halva-like flavor and an irresistibly soft, sandy texture that feels a little unexpected. They’re subtly sweet and pair wonderfully with coffee. Sprinkle sesame seeds over the tops before baking for a pretty finish that echoes the tahini inside.
Chickpeas might sound unusual, but they create a wonderfully tender, protein-rich cookie studded with vibrant green pistachios. The flavor is nutty and rich, and nobody will guess the secret ingredient. Rinse and pat the chickpeas very dry before blending so the dough isn’t too wet to shape.
These fluffy coconut macaroons are naturally chewy, golden on the outside, and packed with sweet shredded coconut for a snowy, festive look. They come together in one bowl with minimal effort. Dip the cooled bases in melted dark chocolate for an elegant finish that makes them look bakery-bought.
A vegan cookie contains no animal products, which means no butter, eggs, milk, or honey. Bakers swap in plant-based butter or oil, use a flax egg or aquafaba in place of eggs, and choose dairy-free chocolate. The results taste just as rich and tender as traditional cookies.
Can you freeze vegan Christmas cookies?
Yes, most vegan Christmas cookies freeze beautifully for up to three months. Freeze baked cookies in an airtight container with parchment between the layers, or freeze the raw dough in portioned balls and bake straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time.
What is the best egg substitute for cookies?
For most cookies, a flax egg (one tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with three tablespoons water) works well and adds a subtle nuttiness. Mashed banana, applesauce, or aquafaba are also reliable, with aquafaba being ideal for lighter, meringue-style cookies.
Which vegan cookies are best for decorating?
Cut-out sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies are the best choices for decorating because they hold sharp shapes and give you a flat surface for frosting. Chill the dough well and use a stiff vegan royal-style icing so your snowflakes, stars, and trees stay crisp and detailed.
How far in advance can I make Christmas cookies?
Most Christmas cookies can be baked up to one week ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. For longer storage, freeze them, or prepare the dough in advance and refrigerate it for up to three days before baking fresh.
Are these vegan cookies also gluten-free?
Several recipes in this collection are naturally gluten-free or easily adapted, such as the almond flour sugar cookies and coconut macaroons. For others, you can often substitute a one-to-one gluten-free flour blend, though the texture may vary slightly, so check each recipe’s notes first.
Ruxandra
I'm Ruxandra, a vegetarian food blogger with over 10 years of experience
creating plant-based recipes. I've published over 500 vegetarian and vegan
recipes on Gourmandelle, focusing on healthy, everyday cooking. I'm also a
certified nutrition enthusiast and have helped thousands of readers transition
to a plant-based diet.
