Vegan Gluten Free Snickerdoodles are a whole food plant-based version of the classic snickerdoodle cookie. Soft and chewy, these cookies are a delicious holiday treat.
Mmm snickerdoodles. Snickerdoodles are a classic winter cookie. Usually snickerdoodles have tons of eggs and butter and are covered with cinnamon and sugar, but not this recipe, friends! These Vegan Gluten FreeSnickerdoodles are incredibly healthy!
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If you can't tell by the large number of dessert recipes I have on this blog, I love to bake! There's something so life-giving about spending time in the kitchen making delicious treats. Plus, I have a huge sweet tooth!
One of my favorite things about baking though, is that I can invite friends to bake with me! I had so much fun with my friend Sam making these cookies. She's a maple syrup expert and helped me pick out the perfect bottle of maple syrup for this recipe. She did most of the mixing (the hardest part!). And she was her beautiful self.
It's that time of year where spending time with people is that much more meaningful -- so I encourage you to bake these with a friend and enjoy!
What are snickerdoodles?
Snickerdoodles are different from sugar cookies in that you use cream of tartar. Regular sugar cookies don't have cream of tartar.
The name suggests that cream of tartar isn't vegan, but I'm happy to say that cream of tartar is completely vegan. It is just a chemical of sorts, similar to baking powder or baking soda. The scientific name is potassium bitartrate.
When baking, what we should care about is what cream of tartar actually does. And the answer is that it makes sooooffft cookies. It also provides a slight tang.
Bottom line: snickerdoodles = sugar cookies + cream of tartar.
Why I love these Vegan Gluten Free Snickerdoodles
- Dietary needs - these vegan gluten free snickerdoodles are plant-based, gluten-free, oil-free, and refined sugar-free.
- Whole foods ingredients - no refined sugar here! We use date sugar for sweetness. And no eggs or butter. Just ground flax and nut butter.
- Perfect easy dessert - these cookies are pretty simple. Whip them up anytime for a dose of sweet cinnamon.
- Healthy version of a classic - loaded with cinnamon, these cookies are deliciously enjoyable
Ingredient Notes
These snickerdoodles mimic a traditional snickerdoodle recipe pretty closely, but healthier! First, the cookie dough:
Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough Ingredients
- Date Sugar: Every cookie dough has sugar. We're using date sugar because it is healthy -- it's high in fiber, which prevents a spike in blood sugar. If you're wondering why these cookies are a slightly darker color than traditional sugar cookies, it's from the date sugar!
- Maple Syrup: maple syrup helps add a little extra sweetness. If you want to keep this recipe completely fruit-sweetened use date syrup instead. Though, this will change the color of the cookies.
- Nut Butter: like almond butter or cashew butter
- Ground Flaxseed: ground flaxseed acts as a binding agent, just like an egg would
- Vanilla
- Oat Flour: My flour of choice -- I like to use homemade because it's fluffier but you can also buy it, especially if you need it to be certified gluten-free.
- Cinnamon: there's plenty of cinnamon in these cookies for a classic snickerdoodle flavor
- Cream of Tartar: The special ingredient. Cream of tartar helps make these cookies super soft.
- Baking Soda
- Salt
Cinnamon-Sugar Coating Ingredients
- Date Sugar: It makes another appearance! We'll use date sugar to coat the outside of the cookies, just like a traditional snickerdoodle.
- Cinnamon: We'll mix the date sugar with cinnamon for that classic snickerdoodle taste.
How to make Vegan Maple Snickerdoodles
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2. In a small bowl, mix the date sugar and cinnamon for the cinnamon coating. Set aside.
Step 3. In a large bowl, whisk the date sugar, nut butter, maple syrup, flaxseeds, and vanilla.
Step 4. Add the oat flour, cream of tartar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Stir until a dough is formed.
Step 5. Scoop two-tablespoon-sized balls and shape into spheres. Place on the baking sheet and use a wet hand to flatten.
Step 6. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture onto each cookie.
Step 7. Bake for 13-15 minutes, until the cookies are set. Remove from the oven and let cool. Serve and enjoy!
FAQ & Expert Tips
I recommend using sugar from fruits as much as possible, which is why there's date sugar in this recipe. But if you'd like to sub the date sugar for coconut sugar or even table sugar, decrease the amount of sugar to ⅓ cup.
Oats are naturally gluten-free, but if you have an allergy, be sure to buy certified gluten-free oats or oat flour to avoid cross contamination during processing.
Recipe Prayer
Jesus, thank you for new ingredients and flavor experiments. Relieve any worries or anxieties we have about food and let us enjoy the food we make. Amen.
Related Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Vegan Gluten Free Snickerdoodles
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Date Sugar
- ½ Cup Cashew Butter
- ½ Cup Maple Syrup
- 1 Tablespoon Ground Flaxseeds
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 ½ Cups Oat Flour
- 1 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar
- 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ Teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 2 Tablespoons Date Sugar
- 1 ½ Teaspoons Cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, mix the date sugar and cinnamon for the cinnamon coating. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the date sugar, nut butter, maple syrup, flaxseeds, and vanilla.
- Add the oat flour, cream of tartar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Stir until a dough is formed.
- Scoop two-tablespoon-sized balls and shape into spheres. Place on the baking sheet and use a wet hand to flatten.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture onto each cookie.
- Bake for 13-15 minutes, until the cookies are set. Remove from the oven and let cool. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is an estimate.
Addison
Oh my GOODNESS!!! I made these cookies and the red velvet cupcakes for Halloween and they did so well, I only have one left! I got so many compliments on them...will definitely be making again!!!