Gingerbread cookies bring back many sweet memories for many of us, mainly if we come from a culture that indulges in the treat during the festive season, not to mention the nostalgic sweet smell that comes wafts throughout the streets, which is certainly hard to forget. As a result, Gingerbread has become somewhat of a tradition in many families. It is not uncommon to sit around the table building gingerbread houses when Christmas is upon us, making for an exciting family activity.
However, if you are vegan, you might initially be disappointed that the original gingerbread recipe contains eggs and butter, which are not vegan-friendly, not to mention that icing is not vegan-friendly either. However, don't let that stop you from reliving one of the most joyful times of the year because we have the ultimate recipe for vegan gingerbread cookies below, ensuring your memories can be relived when the time comes. Oh, and did we mention that these make excellent homemade gifts and Christmas tree decorations too?
Nothing beats the smell of Gingerbread throughout the house, nor the experience of baking and decorating these treats with young kids, who love nothing more than cutting out the figures of gingerbread men or the shapes of stars, hearts, and even smiley faces. Finally, we have the best recipe the whole family can enjoy creating and eating.
So, take note of this indulgent vegan recipe, which will put a smile on everyone's face, making it one of the best sweet recipes the whole family can enjoy.
So, What is Gingerbread?
Firstly, if you have never had Gingerbread before, you are certainly missing out, as it is one of the most electable treats you can hope to taste – if you are a fan of ginger, of course. Gingerbread has existed for many years, but it has evolved, and many names worldwide know it, so chances are you might have had it without even knowing. For example, in Germany, it is known as Pfefferkuchen (Pepper Cake); in France, it is called Pain d'épices (Spice Bread); and in England, it is simply Gingerbread which dates back to the 17th Century, with the town of Shropshire claiming to be the 'home of gingerbread' according to the towns welcome sign.
Believe it or not, Gingerbread was used for many other reasons before it became a festive treat or a standard cookie; in fact, it was baked by Swedish nuns at one time to help ease digestion, and it was commonly sold in pharmacies around England too, promising to comfort the stomach. Of course, it wasn't long before gingerbread cookies became a treat at medieval festivals and fairs, and before long, it made itself known in the United States.
These days there are various ways to make Gingerbread, and we can refer to gingerbread cake, soft gingerbread cookies, or even the crispier ginger snap type cookie, which can be found in supermarkets all year round. Gingerbread men are commonly baked at Christmas and have traditionally been given to children or sweethearts as a token of affection. So, now that we have an idea of what makes Gingerbread so special, let us unveil the best recipe for vegan gingerbread cookies, which you can enjoy creating at home.
The Best Recipe for Vegan Gingerbread Cookies
Not only is this one of the best recipes for making delicious vegan gingerbread cookies, but it is also one of the easiest, which means anyone can try it. There are minimal ingredients needed for the recipe, and all can be found quite easily, so here is what you will need to get started.
Ingredients for making vegan gingerbread cookies:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ⅓ cup molasses
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Follow this method for creating the best vegan gingerbread cookies:
Step 1: Prepare a baking tray lined with sheets of parchment paper.
Step 2: Take a large mixing bowl, along with the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger, salt, and all spice. Sift these ingredients into the bowl to ensure a fine consistency.
Step 3: Using an electric mixer, begin to mix the coconut oil, molasses, and sugar, adding in a few drops of vanilla extract along the way.
Step 4: Once this is mixed, continue by adding in the dry mixture that you prepared earlier until you start to see a dough forming, which will be the first sign that you are on your way to creating some excellent vegan gingerbread cookies.
Step 5: Once the dough for the vegan gingerbread cookies is prepared, wrap it up and put it in the fridge for at least thirty minutes - two hours. (Overnight is also an option)
Step 6: When the dough has been in the fridge for some time, preheat your oven to 350°F; ready to go when your mixture is prepared. It may sound like common knowledge, but many of us get so carried away with our recipes that we forget this crucial step.
Step 7: The next step in making these festive vegan gingerbread cookies is to cut out the shapes – an action that any kid will love, but first, you will need to roll the cookie dough onto a floured surface.
Step 8: Take a few cookie cutters of varied shapes and begin by dipping them into the flour before cutting out the dough – this will prevent any sticking.
Step 9: Place each shape on the baking tray; it is full of vegan gingerbread cookies, so it is time to get baking.
Step 10: Lastly, place the tray in the oven for 8-10 minutes until slightly golden, and don't forget to set a timer.
Alas, your vegan gingerbread cookies are ready!
Adding to your Vegan Gingerbread Cookies
One of the most exciting steps to preparing vegan gingerbread cookies is the cutting out process, but let's not forget the exciting step of decorating them, which allows kids of all ages to be creative. Let the vegan gingerbread cookies thoroughly cool down before adding any vegan icing or decorations, which will melt.
Decorating the cookies is where the real fun starts, so you are sure to get your hands on some vegan icing in varied colors if you wish and a small piping bag to create fun additions to the treats. You can add some vegan sprinkles and melt some vegan chocolate into a bowl, which can be used to dip the vegan gingerbread cookies. The choices are endless when decorating your cookies; this is where the whole family will truly make memories, so take your time and enjoy.
Top Tips
Some top tips for creating the best vegan gingerbread cookies include:
- Let the dough chill for as long as possible – this will make all the difference.
- Feel free to add extra ginger if you prefer your cookies a bit spicier.
- Let the icing, melted chocolate, and any added decorations fully set before stacking them on top of each other for storage.
- If you prefer your vegan gingerbread cookies that little bit softer, try baking them for less time, and if you like them to be more on the crunchier side, let them bake longer.
- Get some air-tight containers to store your cookies to stay fresher for longer.
- If you are under time pressure, you can always prepare the dough in advance and leave it in the fridge for up to three days – just don't forget about it.
- Go crazy with your decorations; after all, this is the most fun step when making vegan gingerbread cookies – there is no right or wrong way to be creative.
- If you prefer your cookies thin and crispy, roll them to 1/4cm, and if you like them thicker, roll them to 1/2cm.
- It is worth noting that regular icing and sprinkles are not vegan-friendly. They contain animal-derived ingredients, so be sure to shop for vegan icing, toppings, and chocolate.
- Be on the lookout for vegan-friendly cake decorations, which can make excellent additions to your cookies of all shapes.
- Don't feel like you need to stick to the usual cookie cutter shapes; there are all sorts of ideas nowadays, such as dinosaurs, ninjabread men, animals, and flowers, to suit all kids' interests.
Final Thoughts
So, if you are conjuring up a plan to keep the kids entertained over the festive period or are craving vegan gingerbread cookies yourself, this easy recipe is one to save. These cookies also make excellent gifts, so you can get the family together to create some delicious treats, which you can then wrap up and give to family and friends around the holidays, which will not only allow the whole family to have fun but the receivers will be overjoyed with their homemade gift.
So, what are you waiting for? Let the baking begin!