TL;DR: Vegan gluten free cookies are easiest from a mix that is already plant based and certified gluten free. You swap dairy butter for vegan butter or coconut oil, use a flax egg in place of the egg, then bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes. The West Food Brands Banana Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Mix makes soft cookies with no eggs, no dairy, and no wheat in about 20 minutes.
Baking cookies that are both vegan and gluten free sounds hard, because you are removing the egg, the dairy, and the wheat all at once. From scratch that means an egg replacer plus a multi-flour blend plus a binder. A mix handles the flour and binder, so you only swap two wet ingredients. Here is the method, the best egg replacers, and how to keep vegan gluten free cookies soft instead of crumbly.
How do you make vegan gluten free cookies from a mix?
You cream vegan butter into the dry mix, add a flax egg, shape the dough, and bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes. The mix already contains the gluten free flour blend and a binder, and it is plant based, so you only replace the egg and the dairy.
A typical pouch of our cookie mix, made vegan, calls for:
· 1/2 cup vegan butter or melted coconut oil
· 1 flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed plus 2.5 tablespoons water)
· 1 teaspoon vanilla, optional
1. Make the flax egg first. Stir the ground flaxseed into the water and let it sit for 5 minutes until it thickens.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
3. Beat the vegan butter until smooth, then mix in the flax egg and vanilla.
4. Add the cookie mix and stir until a soft dough forms. Stop as soon as it comes together, since overmixing toughens the dough.
5. Scoop tablespoon-sized balls 2 inches apart, then bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges just set. Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, since vegan dough sets up softer.
One pouch makes about 18 to 24 cookies. Always check the back of your pouch, since exact amounts can vary by mix.
What is the best egg replacer for vegan gluten free cookies?
Flax eggs are the most reliable, because they bind and add moisture, which is exactly what gluten free dough needs. Each replacer behaves a little differently:
|
Egg replacer |
Amount per egg |
Result in cookies |
|
Flax egg |
1 tbsp ground flax + 2.5 tbsp water |
Best bind, soft and moist |
|
Chia egg |
1 tbsp chia + 2.5 tbsp water |
Similar to flax, tiny seeds |
|
Unsweetened applesauce |
1/4 cup |
Soft and cakey, less bind |
|
Commercial egg replacer |
Per package |
Neutral, reliable |
For cookies that hold their shape, flax is the safest choice. Applesauce makes a softer, more cake-like cookie.
Are vegan gluten free cookies dairy free too?
Yes. A vegan cookie is dairy free by definition, since it contains no animal products at all, including milk and butter. This recipe uses vegan butter or coconut oil instead of dairy butter, so there is no milk anywhere in it. If you only need dairy free and still eat eggs, you can use 1 regular egg and keep the vegan butter or coconut oil.
How do you keep vegan gluten free cookies from being crumbly?
Crumbly is the most common vegan gluten free cookie problem, and it comes from too little bind or moisture. Three fixes solve almost all of it:
· Use a full flax egg, and let it gel for the whole 5 minutes so it binds properly.
· Do not overbake. Pull the cookies at 10 minutes while the centers look soft, then let them firm on the sheet.
· If the dough looks dry, add 1 tablespoon of plant milk to bring it together.
Letting the cookies cool fully before you move them also helps, since the flax bind sets as they cool.
Can you make vegan gluten free cookies soft and chewy?
Yes, and the swaps actually help. Flax eggs and coconut oil both add moisture, so vegan gluten free cookies often turn out especially soft. For extra chew, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking so the cookies stay thick, and pull them early. Store them in an airtight container with a slice of bread to keep them soft for days.
Are vegan gluten free cookies safe for celiac disease?
They are when the mix is certified gluten free and you avoid cross contamination. Certified means the product is tested to contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten, the threshold the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sets for that label. Vegan and gluten free are separate things, so a cookie can be vegan and still contain wheat unless the flour is gluten free. Our cookie mixes are certified gluten free, non GMO, and made with no preservatives or artificial sweeteners. For the full ingredient list, see what is in our mixes.
Frequently asked questions about vegan gluten free cookies
Are vegan cookies gluten free?
Not automatically. Vegan means no animal products, so a vegan cookie can still use wheat flour. It is gluten free only when the flour is gluten free, which a certified mix guarantees.
What can I use instead of eggs in gluten free cookies?
A flax egg is the most reliable, made by mixing 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 2.5 tablespoons water. Chia eggs, applesauce, and commercial replacers also work.
Do vegan gluten free cookies taste different?
The flavor is nearly the same. The texture is usually a touch softer, since flax and coconut oil add moisture, which most people enjoy.
Can I use coconut oil instead of vegan butter?
Yes. Melted coconut oil works well and keeps the cookies dairy free. Vegan butter gives a slightly more classic buttery flavor.
How long do vegan gluten free cookies last?
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze them for up to 3 months.
How many cookies does one mix make?
One pouch makes about 18 to 24 cookies, depending on size.
Key takeaways
· Vegan gluten free cookies are easiest from a mix that is already plant based, so you only swap two wet ingredients.
· Use vegan butter or coconut oil and a flax egg, then bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes.
· Flax eggs give the best bind, with chia, applesauce, or a commercial replacer as backups.
· Pull the cookies early and cool them fully so the flax bind sets and they do not crumble.
· Choose certified gluten free for celiac disease, since vegan alone does not mean gluten free.
Ready to bake a vegan batch? Try the Banana Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Mix or the Apple Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Mix, or see our tips for soft and chewy gluten free cookies.
Trusted sources
· U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Gluten-Free Labeling of Foods
· Celiac Disease Foundation: Sources of Gluten
· American Heart Association: Meatless Meals and Plant-Based Eating
