Holiday Glow Vanilla Cookies (Print Version)

Soft, pillowy vanilla cookies with a festive glow, ideal for holiday celebrations and sharing.

# List of Ingredients:

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

02 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

04 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

05 - 3/4 cup vegan butter, softened

06 - 1 cup organic cane sugar

07 - 1/4 cup unsweetened plant-based milk (almond, oat, or soy)

08 - 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

09 - 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

10 - 1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)

11 - 1/4 cup vegan powdered sugar, for dusting

12 - Edible glitter or sparkling sugar (vegan-friendly), for garnish (optional)

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.

03 - Using a hand or stand mixer, beat vegan butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

04 - Add plant-based milk, applesauce, vanilla extract, and optional almond extract to the creamed mixture; mix until combined.

05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing.

06 - Drop rounded tablespoons or cookie scoops of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.

07 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are set and tops appear slightly cracked but remain pale.

08 - Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

09 - Once cooled, dust cookies with vegan powdered sugar and optionally garnish with edible glitter or sparkling sugar.

01 -

These cookies stay soft for days, which means you can bake ahead and not worry about them going stale before your guests arrive.
The dough is forgiving and comes together quickly, even if youre not an experienced baker.
They look impressive with almost no effort, just a dusting of sugar and a sprinkle of sparkle.

02 -

These cookies should stay pale when you pull them out, if they start to brown, they'll lose that soft cloud texture.
Softened vegan butter means you can press a finger into it easily, but it shouldn't be melted or greasy.
Let them cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar, or it will melt and disappear into the cookie.

03 -

If your dough feels too sticky to scoop, chill it in the fridge for 15 minutes, it will firm up and become easier to handle.
Use a light hand when dusting the powdered sugar, you want a delicate coating, not a thick layer that tastes chalky.
For an even more tender crumb, substitute 1/4 cup of the all-purpose flour with cornstarch.