Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
If you’re on the hunt for a cookie that’s both indulgent and fits your dietary needs, you’ve got to try this Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe. I promise, these cookies manage to be soft, chewy, and loaded with chocolate chips all while being 100% plant-based and gluten-free. Whether you’re baking for yourself, family, or friends with allergies or lifestyle choices, this recipe is a total winner. Read on—I’ll share all my tips to help you nail these cookies every single time!
Why This Recipe Works
- Perfect texture balance: Combines vegan butter and a good gluten-free flour mix to give chewy yet tender cookies without dryness.
- Flavor-packed: Brown sugar and vanilla deepen the sweetness while a sprinkle of sea salt enhances the chocolate.
- Simple and reliable: Straightforward steps with ingredients you can buy easily make this a stress-free bake.
- Adaptable: Easy to tweak with your favorite dairy-free milk or chocolate chips—flexibility that suits your kitchen stash.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient here plays a role to bring that classic chocolate chip cookie experience with a vegan and gluten-free twist. I’ve learned it’s worth investing in a reliable gluten-free flour blend and good vegan butter to really lift the whole cookie game.
- Vegan butter: I swear by Miyoko’s for its creamy texture and buttery flavor, which mimics traditional butter so well—just make sure it’s softened to room temp for easy mixing.
- Brown sugar: Adds moistness and that caramel-y undertone; light packing keeps it from being overly dense.
- Vanilla extract: Real vanilla amps up the sweetness and rounds out the flavor beautifully.
- Non-dairy milk: Soy milk works great here, but almond or oat milk can do the trick too—just stick to unsweetened varieties to balance sweetness.
- Gluten free flour mix: Better Batter is my current fave because it bakes up soft without that chalky grit that some blends leave behind; plus, xanthan gum in it helps hold everything together.
- Baking soda: Gives cookies that slight lift and helps with browning.
- Salt: Essential for balancing sweetness and enhancing the chocolate chips.
- Vegan chocolate chips: Don’t skimp here—the quality of your chocolate chips can make or break this recipe, and I like to sprinkle a little coarse sea salt on top for a flavor pop.
Make It Your Way
I like to customize this Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe depending on the season or mood. Honestly, the cookie dough itself is so good, I sometimes sneak a little extra chocolate chip or swap in different mix-ins just for fun. Feel free to get creative—you’re the boss of your cookie jar!
- Add nuts: I often toss in toasted pecans or chopped walnuts to give some crunch and warmth, especially in fall and winter.
- Different chips: Try vegan white chocolate chips or even chunks for gooey pockets instead of small chips.
- Spices: A pinch of cinnamon or cardamom adds a lovely cozy note that pairs perfectly with the chocolate.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream the butter and sugar to get that fluffy base
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining your baking sheets. Then, using a stand or hand mixer, beat the softened vegan butter with the brown sugar until the mixture is creamy and smooth—usually around 2 minutes. This step is key because well-creamed butter and sugar trap air and help your cookies rise just right. Don’t rush it; you want the mixture lighter in color and fluffy in texture.
Step 2: Add the wet ingredients and get ready to fold in the dry
Mix in the vanilla extract and non-dairy milk, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed to keep everything incorporated. This keeps the dough moist and ensures even flavor. Once combined, pause and set up to add the dry ingredients.
Step 3: Carefully combine the flour, baking soda, and salt
Sprinkle the gluten free flour, baking soda, and salt over the mixture, then mix on low speed just until combined. Be gentle here—overmixing gluten-free dough can make cookies tough. The dough will be soft and a tad sticky. Fold in those vegan chocolate chips by hand or briefly with your mixer on low speed.
Step 4: Scoop, space out, and bake to perfection
Scoop 1-2 tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto your prepared pans, leaving about two inches between each cookie for spreading. Pop them in the oven and bake for 9 to 12 minutes until the edges are barely golden. They might look soft and underdone—that’s perfect! They’ll firm up as they cool for the soft, chewy texture I love.
Step 5: Cool and optionally salt for that final flavor punch
Let the cookies cool right on the pan for at least 5 minutes before transferring to a rack to cool completely. If you want, sprinkle a little coarse sea salt on top while they’re warm—it adds an incredible contrast that keeps people coming back for more.
Tips from My Kitchen
- Softened Butter Is Key: Make sure your vegan butter is fully softened but not melted; it creams better and helps achieve the right cookie texture.
- Don’t Overmix Dry Ingredients: Mixing gluten-free flours too much toughens baked goods; just mix until you see no flour streaks.
- Watch the Bake Time Closely: Baking a few seconds too long dries them out. Take them out when edges are just turning golden.
- Use Quality Chocolate Chips: Good vegan chocolate chips melt better and have less waxy residue, making your cookies taste incredible.
How to Serve Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I’m a big fan of finishing these cookies with a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt right after they come out of the oven—it really makes the chocolate shine. If you want to get fancy, a dusting of powdered sugar adds a pretty touch for gifting or special occasions.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a cold glass of almond or oat milk, or maybe a warm cup of coffee or chai tea. For a dessert platter, I love serving them alongside fresh berries and a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties or gifts, I like stacking these cookies tied with a rustic twine ribbon and a sprig of fresh mint or rosemary for a festive touch. You can also sandwich a little vegan nut butter or dairy-free cream between two cookies for a decadent treat.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. If they start to lose their softness, a quick zap in the microwave for 10-15 seconds brings them back to life wonderfully.
Freezing
These cookies freeze beautifully. I freeze the unbaked cookie dough balls on a tray first, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. When you want fresh cookies, bake straight from frozen—just add a couple extra minutes to the bake time.
Reheating
To warm up baked cookies, I usually pop them in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes or use the microwave in short bursts. This keeps them soft and melty without drying them out.
FAQs
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Can I use a different gluten-free flour blend for this recipe?
Absolutely! While I recommend Better Batter because of its smooth texture and xanthan gum content, you can use any gluten-free blend that contains a binding agent like xanthan or guar gum for the best results. Just watch for texture—some blends might need a tad more moisture.
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What vegan butter brands do you suggest?
I’m a big fan of Miyoko’s brand for flavor and consistency, but Earth Balance and Country Crock’s vegan sticks also work well. Just be sure to use a stick style vegan butter rather than tub butter for accurate measurements and texture.
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Can I substitute maple syrup or another sweetener instead of brown sugar?
The brown sugar helps with texture and moisture, so replacing it with liquid sweeteners like maple syrup might change the dough’s consistency. If needed, you could try coconut sugar, but I don’t recommend liquid substitutes for a one-to-one swap here.
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How do I prevent my cookies from spreading too much?
Make sure your vegan butter isn’t melted or too soft—it should be softened but still chilled slightly if your kitchen’s warm. Also, chilling the dough for 15-30 minutes before baking can help keep cookies from running together.
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Are these cookies suitable for kids?
Definitely! These cookies are not only allergy-friendly and free of common animal products, but their soft, chocolate-studded goodness always goes over well with kids and adults alike in my experience.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe has become my go-to when I want something comforting yet mindful of dietary needs. I love sharing them at gatherings because everyone assumes they’re “regular” cookies, which always makes me smile. Give it a try—you’ll feel proud pulling these warm, fragrant cookies out of the oven, and I bet they’ll become a favorite in your kitchen too!
PrintVegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 20 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Delicious vegan and gluten free chocolate chip cookies featuring soft, chewy texture with dairy-free butter and non-dairy milk, perfect for a tasty allergen-friendly treat.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1/2 cup vegan butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, lightly packed
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup non-dairy milk (soy milk recommended)
- 1 3/4 cups gluten free flour mix (Better Batter preferred)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup vegan chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Mix butter and sugar: In a stand mixer bowl with paddle attachment or using a handheld mixer, beat the softened vegan butter and brown sugar together until creamy, about 2 minutes.
- Add vanilla and milk: Add the vanilla extract and non-dairy milk to the mixture and blend until combined, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Add dry ingredients: Stop the mixer, add the gluten free flour, then sprinkle baking soda and salt on top of the flour.
- Combine dough: Turn mixer on low and mix until just combined. Stir in vegan chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
- Form cookies: Scoop 1-2 tablespoons of dough, roll into balls, and place on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
- Bake cookies: Bake for 12 minutes or until edges are barely golden. The cookies will look soft but will firm up as they cool. Optionally, sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
- Cool cookies: Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use stick-type vegan butter like Miyoko’s for best flavor and texture.
- Brown sugar provides optimal sweetness, but coconut sugar can be substituted.
- Choose a quality gluten free flour blend containing xanthan gum to improve texture and prevent grittiness.
- Non-dairy milk such as soy milk works best to keep dough moist and cohesive.
- Cookies appear soft when hot but harden as they cool; avoid overbaking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg