Vegan Vanilla Peppermint Sugar Cookies with Candy Cane

These soft vegan vanilla peppermint sugar cookies are easy to make in one bowl and perfect for the holiday season. With a delicious peppermint flavor and topped with candy cane pieces, you’re sure to love these vegan holiday cookies.

The holidays wouldn’t be the same without baking cookies. Why not choose healthier versions of your favorites this season? I am excited to share this recipe with you. It’s our favorite Christmas cookie recipe in my home and it surely will be yours, too! 

Why You Will Love These Vegan Sugar Cookies

They are tasty. Vanilla meets peppermint all while being dairy-free. These delicious sugar cookies are soft and perfectly sweet. One cookie just won’t be enough, I am sure of it. At least that’s the case for me, LOL.

They are easy to make. Ditch the cookie cutters and make these simple vegan sugar cookies. They are made in one large bowl and baked in just about 12 minutes! Now, that’s my kind of cookie recipe!

They are healthier. What do I mean by healthier? Instead of using cane sugar, these cookies are sweetened only with coconut sugar. You won’t find ingredients such as eggs, or vegetable oils, but instead vegan butter, and a flax egg. 

They are kid-friendly. Not only will your entire family devour these cookies, but they are a wonderful addition to a holiday cookie platter this time of year! Bring them to a potluck, or party, or give them as a hostess gift.

They are topped with real candy cane. How’s that for a fun and festive holiday cookie? You’ll love the crunch and minty flavor that the candy cane pieces bring to these yummy cookies! 

They are festive. Take a classic sugar cookie, add a peppermint twist and more wholesome ingredients and you’ve got yourself the perfect Christmas cookie. 

Are candy canes vegan?

Typically candy canes are vegan. The main ingredients include corn syrup, sugar, natural flavors, and food coloring. Believe it or not, the red stripes in a candy cane used to come from crushed beetles. Yup, you heard me right. Thankfully, candy makers have switched over to red food dyes as an alternative. 

The Ingredient List

Vegan butter: Make sure you are using soft or room-temperature butter for this recipe. Do not heat and melt your butter, however. Simply allow it to sit out on the counter until it reaches room temperature.

Coconut sugar: We replace ultra-processed white cane sugar with coconut sugar in this healthier vanilla peppermint cookie recipe. 

Vanilla: Grab some real and pure vanilla extract for these vanilla cookies. Stay away from imitation varieties which will not provide a rich vanilla flavor. 

Flax egg: I love this simple, healthy, and effective egg replacement. It works like a charm every time. All you will need is a combination of filtered water and ground flaxseed and bam, you’ve got a vegan egg.

Peppermint extract: This ingredient is the key to making vegan peppermint sugar cookies. Find a good-quality peppermint extract or oil to use for this recipe. Do not skip this step.

All-purpose flour: While white flour is not wholesome, you will notice that this recipe cuts the white flour in half by combining half white flour with half oat flour. Using just oat flour will create a very crumbly cookie. 

Oat flour: You can find oat flour at any grocery store. It’s an unprocessed white flour alternative that is much healthier than all-purpose flour. 

Baking powder, baking soda, and salt: Finish off the cookies with these basic ingredients that will create a wonderful thick texture and smooth taste.

Candy canes: You’ll need 3 basic candy canes to top on these cookies. You could also use round peppermint candies if needed. Don’t skip this step. This is most certainly one of the best parts about these cookies.

How to Make Vegan Vanilla Peppermint Sugar Cookies

Step one: Make the flax egg by combining 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed and 3 tablespoons of filtered water. Give it a mix and allow it to sit out to thicken for about 5-10 minutes.

Step two: Unwrap the candy canes and add them to a sealed ziplock bag. Place the bag on a hard cutting board. Use something like a rolling pin to carefully crush the candy canes into small pieces. Pour the candy cane pieces into a small bowl or ramekin. Set them aside.

Step three: Add the softened vegan butter and coconut sugar to a large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer or stand mixer to whisk for about one minute on medium speed. Add in the peppermint extract, vanilla, and the flax egg, and mix again for about 15 seconds.

Step four: Next add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients which include the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix until the batter is smooth. Please note: do not over-mix. This could result in unevenly baked cookies.

Step five: Add about 4 tablespoons of the crushed candy cane pieces to the dough and use a wooded spoon to mix them in.

Step six: This is the hardest part, I know. For best results, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place the bowl of dough in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour. This will contribute to perfectly even and fluffy cookies. *Your cookies will still taste great if you skip this step, however, I recommend not skipping it.

Step seven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

Step eight: Remove the chilled cookie dough from the fridge. Use a medium cookie scoop to create 12 even balls of dough. Use your hands to roll the balls into smooth round balls and then press the tops into the bowl of candy cane pieces. 

Step nine: Place 6 balls of cookie dough on the lined baking sheet, at least 2 inches apart, and then bake for 10-13 minutes. *12 minutes is my sweet spot. Allow the cookies to cool for 10 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack. Repeat for the remaining 6 cookie dough balls.

Tips + Modifications

These candy cane cookies are best stored in the fridge for up to 8 days. Place the cookies into an airtight container and in the fridge for the best texture and quality.

You can freeze the cookie dough for up to two months. Allow the cookie dough to thaw a bit before baking. Keep in mind that you will need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time if you are cooking with frozen cookie dough.

Did you know that you can purchase a bag of crushed candy canes? How easy is that? Most grocery stores sell this convenient product in the holiday baking section. 

If you want very round cookies, immediately after removing the hot cookies from the oven, place a round cookie cutter or larger cup over the cookie and gently swirl it around the cookie to create smooth, round edges. The key here is carefully. 

Other Delicious Plant-Based Holiday Cookies

These white chocolate cranberry oatmeal cookies are dairy-free, simple to make, and hands down the best cookies ever. It features macadamia nuts which give them the ideal crunch. You are going to love this holiday version of the popular oatmeal cookie recipe!

These healthy peanut butter cup cookies are vegan, simple, and without refined sugar. They taste delicious like the original peanut butter blossom but are healthier. Get in the holiday spirit with these melt-in-your-mouth and easy-to-make holiday cookies.

Enjoy!

XOXO

Michelle