Vegan Strawberry Orange Sugar Cookies (Print Version)

Soft, zesty vegan cookies with fresh strawberries and bright orange zest — tender, dairy- and egg-free.

# List of Ingredients:

→ Wet Ingredients

01 - 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted (or equal quantity vegan butter)
02 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/4 cup unsweetened plant-based milk (such as almond or soy milk)
04 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
05 - Zest of 1 large orange
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

→ Dry Ingredients

07 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
09 - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Add-Ins

11 - 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, finely diced and thoroughly patted dry
12 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, optional for rolling

# Step-by-step Instructions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together melted coconut oil and granulated sugar until thoroughly combined.
03 - Incorporate plant-based milk, vanilla extract, orange zest, and orange juice into the wet mixture, mixing until smooth.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
05 - Gradually fold the dry mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain tenderness.
06 - Gently fold in the finely diced, patted-dry strawberries, ensuring even distribution throughout the dough.
07 - Scoop the dough into tablespoon-sized portions and roll each into a ball. Optionally, coat each ball in granulated sugar.
08 - Place dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets and gently flatten each with your palm.
09 - Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, or until the edges are just set. The cookies should remain soft.
10 - Allow cookies to cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They stay impossibly soft without a single egg or drop of dairy, which still amazes me every time.
  • The orange zest and fresh strawberry combo hits like sunshine in cookie form.
  • The whole thing comes together in about 30 minutes, mixing bowls and all.
02 -
  • Overmixing the dough turns these from soft pillows into tough little discs, so fold gently and stop early.
  • Patting the strawberries bone dry before folding them in changed everything. Wet berries make the dough spread into flat puddles.
03 -
  • Chill the dough for 15 minutes if your kitchen runs warm. It makes shaping so much easier and the cookies hold their shape better.
  • Pull them from the oven when they still look slightly underdone. They firm up as they cool and that is where the magic softness lives.

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