Holiday Glow Peppermint Twist Vegan Cookies (Print Version)
Chewy vegan cookies with peppermint flavor and festive color swirl. Easy 32-minute preparation for holiday gatherings.
# List of Ingredients:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
05 - 3/4 cup vegan butter, softened
06 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
08 - 1/4 cup unsweetened plant-based milk
09 - 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
10 - 2 tablespoons water
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
→ Add-Ins and Decoration
13 - 1/3 cup crushed vegan peppermint candies
14 - Red and green vegan gel food coloring
15 - 1/4 cup vegan white chocolate chips, optional
# Step-by-step Instructions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a small bowl, combine ground flaxseed with water and let sit for 5 minutes until thickened.
03 - In a large bowl, beat vegan butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
04 - Add flax egg, plant-based milk, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract to butter mixture. Mix until fully incorporated.
05 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
06 - Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
07 - Divide dough in half. Add red or green food coloring to one half and mix until evenly tinted. Leave other half plain.
08 - Pinch small pieces from both dough portions and gently twist together to create marbled effect. Roll into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
09 - Gently flatten each ball. Sprinkle tops with crushed peppermint candies and vegan white chocolate chips if desired.
10 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft.
11 - Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack for complete cooling.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The dough has this incredibly soft, almost pillowy texture that regular cookies just dont achieve, and friends always ask what my secret is.
- Even your most dedicated butter-loving relatives wont notice these are vegan, which I discovered when my uncle asked for the recipe after devouring four at our family gathering.
02 -
- If your dough seems too sticky to handle, pop it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes rather than adding more flour, which I learned after making a batch of cookies that were dry as desert sand.
- The marbled effect works best when both doughs are the same consistency, so color one portion immediately after mixing everything together, not after it has begun to set.
03 -
- For the most vibrant color swirls, use gel food coloring rather than liquid, which can alter the consistency of your dough and result in cookies that spread too much.
- Slightly underbake these cookies by removing them when the centers still look soft but the edges are set, as they'll continue to cook on the hot baking sheet after removal from the oven.