Delicious chocolate sugar cookies are a fun and festive treat to make with your kids during the holidays! A dusting of confectioner’s sugar looks like snow. These holiday treats are gluten free and vegan, too!
Oh my…we love our cut out cookies around here. I have two eager little helpers who just love to pull out all the cookie cutters and get down to business whenever there is a chance to bake cookies. And I do love regular sugar cookies as well, but sometimes you need something a bit different, like these chocolate sugar cookies.
And since these are chocolate cookies, they have a lot of flavor, so they are wonderful plain, or with a dusting of powdered sugar. You don’t have to load them up with lots of frosting. You could frost these chocolate sugar cookies if you wanted to, but it’s much easier to just dust them with the sugar (and it looks pretty, too!)
This is a very simple dough to make, and it works really well with many different gluten free flour blends. Use your favorite brand, like Namaste or Bob’s Red Mill, or make my favorite homemade gluten free blend.
Chilling the dough will help these chocolate sugar cookies retain their shape and avoid spreading during the baking time.
How do you make chocolate sugar cookies?
- Place the dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk together.
- Add the wet ingredients and mix on medium speed until combined.
- Divide the dough in half and wrap in plastic wrap, chill for one hour.
- Roll out the chilled dough and cut out the shapes of your choice.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
- Dust with powdered sugar and enjoy!
What can be used instead of applesauce in this recipe?
The applesauce is used to bind the dough together. You can substitute prune puree, beet puree, or even mashed banana.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Chocolate Sugar Cookies (Gluten Free, Vegan).
Ingredients
- ⅝ cup vegan buttery spread (½ cup plus 2 Tablespoons), softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅛ cup light brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce
- 1 ¼ cups gluten free flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
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Whisk together the gluten free flour blend, cocoa powder and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
-
Place the vegan butter spread and the sugars in a mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the applesauce and mix until combined.
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Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
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Form the dough into two discs and wrap in plastic wrap, then refrigerate for one hour.
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
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Lightly dust a surface and the rolling pin with cocoa powder.
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Roll the chilled dough out to ¼ inch thickness and use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes.
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Place the shapes on the cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes, switching positions halfway through baking time.
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Allow cookies to cool completely on the cookie sheets.
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Once cool, dust cookies with powdered sugar if desired.
Recipe Notes
You can make this dough ahead of time and freeze it if you wish. Just allow it to thaw before attempting to roll it out.
Store leftover cookies in an airtight container. They should stay fresh for 4-5 days.
If you can't have applesauce, try prune puree, beet puree, or even mashed banana.
If you aren't gluten free, go ahead and use regular all-purpose flour.
These gluten free and vegan chocolate sugar cookies are:
- fun to make with family
- great for gift giving
- a delicious twist on a classic!
If you’re in a baking mood, you may like to try these gluten free vegan gingerbread men – they’re another fun cookie to make with your children.
This post was originally published in December 2015. It has been updated, but the recipe remains the same.
Katie
Delicious recipe!
Deb
Hello, do these cookies turn out crispy or soft?
Kelly Roenicke
They are soft!
Deb S.
Do these cookies turn out crispy or soft?
KG
Hi Kelly – do you know if I would be able to use cocoa processed with alkali? Or do I need to use regular cocoa?
Kelly Roenicke
I think it would be ok!
Rahul @ samosastreet
Yummy Christmas cookies so easy to bake
Kristine @ Kristine's Kitchen
You weekend sounds just perfect! These cookies are so pretty! I love the idea of chocolate sugar cookies!
Kelly
Thanks, Kristine!
The Average RD
These look yummy. I have never tried chocolate sugar cookies. I will now:)
Andrea @ The Baking Dietitian
YUM! I never think to make CHOCOLATE sugar cookies. These look incredible!
whiskandshout
These look amazing :)
Strength and Sunshine
We should all just be baking a new batch of cookies everyday until Christmas ;)
hungryhobby
I think I bought those same cookie cutters!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
I could never say no to a chocolate sugar cookie! Love this!
Janelle
Yum! Do you think it would be possible to substitute the vegan buttery spread with coconut oil?
Kelly
You could try, but they may spread out. I haven’t tried it that way!
Rachel @ Delicious Balance
I’ve never had chocolate sugar cookies before! These look so pretty!