Vegan Shortbread Cookies (2024)

Vegan Shortbread Cookies are buttery, crisp and delicious with a cup of tea! Made with only 4 ingredients, they are perfect for the holiday season or any time of year.

Shortbread cookies are a classic and simple cookie made with very few ingredients. I swapped the dairy butter for vegan butter, and used powdered sugar instead of granulated for a smoother texture.

Then all you need is flour and a little vanilla extract. So easy!

These Vegan Shortbread Cookies make a great base for other cookies that call for shortbread as well, and I have many ideas for the future! My favorite thing to do is mix some colorful sprinkles into the dough (my kids love it, too!).

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How to make Vegan Shortbread Cookies

*The exact amounts and instructions are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of the post, this is a visual overview.

First, preheat your oven to 325 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour and powdered sugar.

Now add the softened vegan butter and vanilla to the bowl. Mix with a hand mixer until crumbly and soft.

The dough will look crumbly like this, but if you grab it in your hands and squeeze it, it should hold its shape and be able to be formed into a ball of dough.

Form it into a ball of dough with your hands, and place it on a piece of parchment paper on your countertop. You can also sprinkle the paper with a tiny dusting of flour to prevent sticking. I didn’t the first time, and it stuck a little bit, so the second time I did and it worked well.

Using another piece of parchment paper, roll the dough about 1/3-1/2 inch thick.

Cut into desired shapes. I used a very small round cutter, but you can use anything you desire. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets, and continue to re-roll the dough until it is all used.

Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the bottoms are just slightly golden. The tops will look almost not done, but they continue cooking after you remove them, so don’t over bake them. The time will also depend on how large your cookies are.

Special Tips & Substitutions

• Gluten free: I haven’t tested them with gluten free flour, but if you try it let me know!
• What brand of vegan butter? I used Earth Balance sticks, as they make for easier measuring and I can find them at my local store. Melt or Miyoko’s brand would likely work as well.
• Is powdered sugar vegan? If you use organic powdered sugar, it should be vegan. If you are very concerned, you can always make your own from organic sugar by blending it in a high powered blender with some cornstarch ( 2 cups sugar + 2 tablespoons cornstarch).
• Additions: Try adding some colorful sprinkles to the dough before baking, or mini-chocolate chips. You could also frost them with the same icing as my Vegan Sugar Cookies.

Want more Christmas cookies to try this season?

• The Best Vegan Sugar Cookies
• Vegan Snowball Cookies
• Iced Vegan Oatmeal Cookies
• Vegan Ginger Cookies
• Vegan Chocolate Crinkle Cookies