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Classic Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies is an easy recipe made from scratch using pantry staples – no chilling time or weird ingredients – just perfectly soft, chewy cookies studded with gooey chocolate chips!

top down view of a vegan chocolate chip cookie broken in half and surrounded by a bunch of vegan chocolate chip cookies on a marble slab

It’s about time these chocolate chip cookies were added to the recipe collection! I’ve been making them forever and finally perfected the recipe.

They are in good company with the other great cookies like these Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies, Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Pecan Sandies, Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies, and 4 ingredient Almond Butter Cookies.

I’m sharing this recipe with you just in time for the weekend so you can have something to bake up and enjoy at your leisure. You’ll find it to be simple, straightforward and so easy to make. Plus, they make the best air freshener ever!

So let’s get to it – a batch of fresh-baked cookies is coming your way!

This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.

side angle view of a bunch of chocolate chip cookies laying on a marble slab with glass of almond milk nearby.

Ingredient Notes

In this recipe, we’ll be creaming together butter, sugar, vanilla, and milk, then mixing in flour and chocolate chips all in one bowl creating the most amazing vegan chocolate chip cookies.

Here is everything you’ll need, plus ideas and tips for substituting as needed.

  • Butter – I absolutely love Miyoko’s Cultured Vegan Butter. It tastes amazing, the ingredients are minimal and it works splendidly in this chocolate chip cookie recipe. You can find it at Target, Sprout’s, Whole Foods & various other grocery stores. Check the store finder to find it locally. You can sub the butter for coconut oil if you prefer.
  • Sugar – This recipe calls for 2 types of sugar, but feel free to use just one type.
  • Vanilla – I love Trader Joe’s or Ashlae’s Real Deal Vanilla.
  • Unsweetened Cashew Milk – This will be our egg replacer and will bind with the flour, adding just the right amount of extra moisture. Use your favorite unsweetened plant milk.
  • Flour – My favorite flours for this recipe are unbleached, all-purpose flour, or spelt flour. I’ve always had the best luck making cookies with Bob’s Red Mills Spelt Flour. The cookies with spelt will be slighter darker and denser, but will taste just as delicious!
  • Baking Soda – If you don’t have baking soda on hand, use 1 teaspoon baking powder.
  • Salt – Mineral salt is my favorite when baking and cooking. It contains essential minerals that other salts don’t have. I purchase it in bulk or buy big bags of it on Amazon. Mineral salt is different from table salt, so do test the recipe first with 1/4 tsp and then adjusting to your taste! Sea salt measures the same as mineral salt.
  • Chocolate Chips – My favorite vegan chocolate chips are these Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips. You can change it up using chocolate chunks, carob chips (which have a butterscotch flavor), or chopped vegan chocolate.
  • Optional Add-Ins. Add nuts such as chopped pecans, walnuts, or pistachios. Dried fruits like cherries or cranberries would be delicious.
side by side photos showing the process of creaming vegan butter and sugar together.

How To Make Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here is a quick overview with step photos for reference (Note – The full printable recipe is at the bottom of this post).

  • Preheat the oven at 350 degrees.
  • In a small bowl, or 2 cup measuring cup, combine the flour, baking soda and salt.
  • Next, in a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugars, beating for 1 minute by hand or using a hand beater (shown above).
  • Add the almond milk and vanilla and beat for 1 – 2 minutes, or until mixture becomes very creamy, whipped and fluffy looking as shown in the left hand picture below.
side by side photos showing the process of adding flour to vegan chocolate chip cookie dough.
  • Add 1/2 of the flour mixture to the creamed butter, mix well (pictured above left).
  • Add the remaining flour and mix to combine (above right).
side by side photos of adding chocolate chips to classic vegan chocolate chip cookie dough.
  • Add the chocolate chips and mix well as shown above.
top down view of raw vegan cookie dough mounds on baking sheet.
  • Drop tablespoonfuls of the cookie dough, 2 inches apart, onto a baking sheet lined with parchment or Silpat, shown above. I like to add a few chips strategically on top each mound to make sure there are a few chips visible after baking.
  • Bake in the oven for 10 – 12 minutes while enjoying the smell of your fresh baked cookies.
  • Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.

The recipe will yield about 2 dozen cookies and can easily be doubled if needed.

Now all you have to do is sit back and enjoy your homemade cookies!

Tips For Success!

  • Pull the butter out early so it has time to come to room temperature. It’s important that the butter is softened, but not melted so it will cream well with the sugars.
  • Don’t overcook the cookies. They will look tender and slightly underdone but will firm up as they cool.
  • If using all coconut sugar, your cookies will be darker in color. This will also happen if using heavier flour such as whole wheat. For lighter cookies, use a mix of white and brown sugars, and all-purpose or light spelt flour.
  • Keep your cookies uniform. For uniformity, I like to use a trigger cookie scoop. Anywhere from a 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons scooper will work great.
  • Substitute the butter with room temp coconut oil. When using room temp coconut oil, make sure all other wet ingredients are at room temp as well, or the coconut oil will seize up and harden.
side angle view of vegan chocolate chip cookies cooling on a wire rack.

Storing + Freezing

You can easily store your baked cookies and/or cookie dough in a variety of ways:

How To Store Baked Cookies

  • Counter: Baked cookies will stay fresh stored in a covered container for 4 – 5 days. They also do well loosely covered.
  • Refrigerator: Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks in a covered container.
  • Freezer: Store in the freezer for up to 2 – 3 months. To freeze, let them cool completely and store in freezer safe container or baggies. Let thaw in the refrigerator, or on the counter for a few hours.

How To Store Cookie Dough

  • Refrigerator: Unbaked cookie dough can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 -5 days.
  • Freezer: Chocolate chip cookie dough can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. My favorite way to freeze cookie dough is to roll the dough into 1 1/2 inch balls before freezing. Put the balls on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer until solid. Place frozen dough balls in a freezer bag or freezer safe container. When ready to bake, no thawing needed, simply place the frozen dough balls on a lined baking sheet and bake for 2 – 4 minutes longer than recipe time.

More Vegan Cookies Recipes!

side angle view of chocolate chip cookie with bite taken.

If you try this easy cookie recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.

Print

The Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 47 reviews

The best vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe with no funny ingredients and no chilling time! Just a simple, straightforward, amazingly delicious chocolate chip cookies that bake up perfectly every single time!

  • Author: Julie | The Simple Veganista
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 10 min
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: Makes 24 cookies 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Vegan

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1/2 cup (113g) vegan butter (I used Miyoko’s), at room temp*
  • 1/2 cup (85g) coconut sugar
  • 1/4 cup (43g) pure cane sugar
  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened cashew or almond milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups flour (light spelt (149g), all-purpose (180g) or gluten free flour blend)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon mineral salt
  • 1 cup (175g) vegan chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or Silpat, or use baking sheet as is, un-greased.

Cookie Dough: Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl, set aside. Beat butter, coconut sugar and pure cane sugar in large mixing bowl until creamy. Add almond milk and vanilla extract, and beat until fluffy and creamy, about 1 – 2 minutes. Add 1/2 of the flour and mix to combine, add remaining flour and mix again. Stir in chocolate chips.

Scoop: Drop rounded 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons full of cookie dough onto prepared baking sheet, keeping them about 2 inches apart.

Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes (don’t overbake). Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes, move to wire racks to cool.

Makes 2 dozen cookies.

Storing:

  • Already Baked Cookies: Baked cookies will stay fresh stored in a covered container for 4 – 5 days. To keep longer, let them cool completely and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months in freezer safe containers.
  • Cookie Dough: Store cookie dough in an airtight container for up to 4 -5 days in the refrigerator. You can keep it longer in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Notes

*Substitute the butter with room temp coconut oil. When using room temp coconut oil, make sure all other wet ingredients are at room temp as well, or the coconut oil will seize up and harden.

Optional Add-Ins: Add nuts such as chopped pecans, walnuts, or pistachios. Dried fruits like cherries or cranberries would be delicious.

Pull the butter out early so it has time to come to room temperature. It’s important that the butter is softened, but not melted so it will cream well with the sugars.

Don’t overcook the cookies. They will look tender and slightly underdone but will firm up as they cool.

If using all coconut sugar, your cookies will be darker in color. This will also happen if using a heavier flour such as whole wheat. For lighter cookies, use a mix of white and brown sugars, and all-purpose or light spelt flour.

For flour measurements in grams see this Flour Weight Chart.

Recipe can easily be doubled.

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT: I love my Silpat or these parchment liners for lining the baking sheet, and this cookie scoop works great for making uniform cookies!

Nutrition information is calculated using 1/2 cup vegetable margarine (since there is no calculation for Miyoko’s butter).

Nutritional values are estimates only. See our full nutrition disclosure here.

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95 Comments

  1. Can I half the amount of sugar used and only use coconut sugar? Will they still spread nicely and have the same consistency?

    1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

      Yes, you can cut the sugar in half and use coconut sugar. I’m not sure how they will spread though. If you’re up for an experiment give it a try. I imagine they will still be delicious, even if they are a little rounded. Would love to know how it goes, it’s super helpful for others as well!

  2. This is by far the best vegan chocolate chip cookie I’ve tried so far. I made a double batch this time since we can’t stop eating them. It’s now my go to cookie recipe.






  3. I have made these a ton! This is by far the best vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe. When I make them, I use a 1/2 cup of brown sugar only and they are still nice and sweet. I also use all purpose flour. This past time, I did not have any vanilla so I used a vanilla almond milk creamer instead of almond milk. Oh My Gosh, they smell soooo decadent, I feel like I am in a bakery! They are delish!!






  4. I tried making this recipe using coconut oil and maple syrup instead of cane/coconut sugar, which was a little trickier. The oil and syrup creamed fine, but when I tried to add the vanilla and the almond milk, it turned into two separate parts – a solid mass of fat, and liquid. The two just would not blend together at all. I warmed up the mix to liquify the fat, so that I could get all the parts to blend, and combined the liquid with the dry ingredients to make a batter. Although a little on the soft side, the batter did still turn into solid cookies of a great consistency once baked. I don’t do a lot of baking, so it’s hard to know how big of a role using maple syrup instead of dry sugars played into my experience. But, just thought I would share my experience with anyone else who wants to try the coconut oil version, too.

    1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

      When using coconut oil in its liquid state, it’s important to make sure the other wet ingredients are at room temp, and not chilled, or the coconut oil will cool and harden. The milk must’ve been too cold. I’ll make a note about that so others will be aware (I should’ve put that in). Good to know about the maple syrup, thanks so much for sharing. Glad you liked the cookies! :)

  5. Made these with dark chocolate chunks and only cane sugar and they were delicious! First time I’ve made vegan chocolate chip cookies!






  6. Michal Paniry says:

    THESE COOKIES ARE UNBELIAVABLE !!!!! MAKE MAKE MAKE






    1. Michal Paniry says:

      also, I only used cane sugar and regular vegan butter and they are completely divine. everyone in my family loved them

  7. I love to bake and I’m not vegan myself, just trying to make things my vegan daughter can enjoy too. These cookies measure up to a standard non-vegan Tollhouse-style cookie! They’re SO good. Thanks for the recipe!






    1. Niyatee Ravipati says:

      Hi can I convert this into edible cookie dough? If I skip the baking soda and bake the flour before adding it into the cookie dough? Please let me know!

      1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

        This cookie dough is edible as is, and it is so good! But you can skip the baking soda since you’re not baking the cookies. No need to do anything to the flour. Enjoy!! :)

  8. Wanted to know if it’s ok to use pink salt and monk fruit sweetener?

    1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

      Yes, both are great! The monkfruit may be too sweet using a 1-1 replacement. The recipe calls for 3/4 cup of sugar total. I would use anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 cup (leaning on 1/3). Hopefully you’ve baked with it before and know what would be a good amount for sweetness. Do let us know how they go, it’ll be helpful for others too! Enjoy :)

      1. Would it be ok to just use one of the sugars not both?

        1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

          Great question, David! You can just use one sugar if you don’t have both on hand. They will be just as delicious! Enjoy :)

          1. By the way I’ve made your applesauce bread, Parmesan cheese and your vegan mayo and they are so delicious!!!!!

          2. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

            Yay, so glad you liked them all!

      2. What if we use xylitol?

        1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

          I’ve never baked with xylitol so I’m not sure how the recipe will turn out. If you’re familiar with using it, you can give it a try making any necessary ratio adjustments. Would love to know how it goes, it’s super helpful to others too!

  9. How large of scoops of the dough do we put on the baking sheet, and how far apart from one another? Thanks. :)

    1. Julie | The Simple Veganista says:

      Use 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons drops, spaced about 2 inches apart. I’ve updated the recipe card to include the info. Enjoy!

  10. Love making these and my non-vegan friend cannot get enough of them! Thanks for the recipe!






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