Everyone who tries these vegan chocolate chip cookies loves them. It’s not hard to see why. They’re lightly crisp on the outside, soft and chewy in the middle, and packed with gooey chocolate chips. I think they’re the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve tasted, vegan or otherwise!
And these cookies aren’t just delicious—they’re also easy. You can whip them up with basic ingredients in less than 30 minutes (no chilling required!).
I’ve been making this vegan chocolate chip cookies recipe for years, and it’s still one of my favorite treats. I hope it becomes one of yours too!
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this vegan chocolate chip cookies recipe:
- All-purpose flour – Spoon and level it to avoid packing too much into your measuring cup.
- Baking powder and baking soda – They help the cookies puff up as they bake.
- Brown sugar – Light brown sugar and dark brown sugar both work well here.
- Coconut oil – Virgin coconut oil will give the cookies a light coconut flavor, whereas refined coconut oil will have a neutral taste. If you prefer not to use coconut oil, you can substitute melted vegan butter. Because vegan butter is generally salted, you should then reduce the salt in the recipe by half.
- Tahini – The secret ingredient in these vegan chocolate chip cookies! Similar to eggs (or flax eggs), it helps bind the cookie dough together. But as a bonus, it adds rich flavor too.
- Water – For moisture.
- Vanilla extract – For warm depth of flavor.
- Chocolate chips – I love dark chocolate chips here, but feel free to use semi-sweet if you prefer! And if you don’t have chocolate chips handy, a chopped chocolate bar or chocolate chunks will work instead. See my favorite brands of vegan chocolate below.
- And sea salt – To make all the flavors pop!
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Where to Find Vegan Chocolate Chips
Heads up: not all chocolate chips are vegan. Check package labels when you shop to make sure you buy ones that are 100% dairy-free.
Thankfully, high-quality vegan chocolate chips are becoming more and more widely available. Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Morsels are my favorites. You can find them online, at Whole Foods, and in many other major grocery stores.
Another great option is to use chopped vegan chocolate instead of vegan chocolate chips. Tony’s Chocolonely, Divine, and Endangered Species are just a few major brands that make excellent vegan chocolate bars.
How to Make Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Making this recipe is easy! Here’s what you need to do:
First, make the cookie dough. Whisk together the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet ingredients in another. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and use a rubber spatula to mix until they’re just combined.
Then, fold in the chocolate chips!
Next, shape the cookies. Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop dough balls onto two parchment-lined baking sheets. Leave about 2 inches between cookies. They’ll spread a little as they bake!
Then, bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, in a 350°F oven for 12 to 14 minutes, or until they’re lightly brown around the edges.
Remove the cookies from the oven. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy!
Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Tips
- Smooth/runny tahini is key. This recipe works best with runny tahini that will easily mix with the other ingredients. Tahini brands vary widely in consistency, so look for one with a smooth, pourable texture. (I like Cedar’s, Trader Joe’s, and Seed+Mill.) If your tahini is too thick, add 2 to 3 additional tablespoons of water to get the dough to come together.
- Chill the dough if you need to. If your dough is too thin to scoop into balls, stick it in the fridge! Various factors can affect the dough’s consistency (the thickness of your tahini, the temperature of your kitchen, etc.), so don’t worry if the dough is too soft. Whenever this has happened to me, I’ve chilled the dough for just 20 minutes, and the cookies have turned out perfect every time.
- Let them cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet. These vegan chocolate chip cookies will be very delicate when you take them out of the oven. It’s tempting to reach for one right away, but if you let them rest for 10 minutes on the baking sheet, their texture will be better and their flavor will be richer. After 10 minutes, try one (or two), and transfer the rest to a cooling rack.
Storage
These vegan chocolate chip cookies keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
They also freeze perfectly. Let frozen cookies thaw at room temperature for about an hour, or quickly defrost them in the microwave.
How to Freeze Cookie Dough
You can also freeze the raw cookie dough balls! Bake off a few at a time so that you can enjoy a freshly baked cookie whenever you’re craving one.
Here’s how to do it:
- Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Freeze the cookie dough on the baking sheet for 2 hours, or until firm.
- Transfer to an airtight container or bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Bake the frozen cookie dough balls according to the recipe. No need to thaw first!
More Vegan Cookie Recipes
If you love these vegan chocolate chip cookies, try one of these vegan cookie recipes next:
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
rate this recipe:4.96 from 63 votesPrep Time: 15 minutes minsCook Time: 12 minutes minsTotal Time: 27 minutes minsServes 24Save Recipe Print RecipeGet ready to fall in love with these vegan chocolate chip cookies! They have lightly crisp edges, chewy middles, and plenty of chocolate in every bite.- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until combined.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, coconut oil, tahini, water, and vanilla until smooth.
- Pour the dry ingredients into the bowl of wet ingredients and use a spatula to combine. Fold in the chocolate chips. Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the dough onto the baking sheets. Bake, one sheet at a time, for 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes.
*Tahini brands can vary in thickness. If the dough is too thick, stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons water. If it’s not thick enough to scoop, chill it in the fridge for 20 minutes. (My favorite tahini brands are Cedar's, Trader Joe's, and Seed + Mill)Adapted from Weeknight Baking by Michelle Lopez
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