Description
Delightfully festive and vegan-friendly, these Vegan Grinch Crinkle Cookies are rich, chocolatey, and perfectly soft with a crackled powdered sugar coating, finished with green sprinkles or chopped peppermint candies for a fun holiday touch. They offer a simple way to enjoy classic crinkle cookies without any animal products, making them suitable for vegan diets.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut oil, solid (not melted)
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Coating and Decorations
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for rolling the cookies)
- 1/2 cup green sprinkles or chopped green peppermint candies
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Coconut Oil and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the solid coconut oil and brown sugar using a hand or stand mixer until the mixture is creamy and well combined, creating a smooth base for the dough.
- Add Wet Flavors: Add the almond milk and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture, mixing thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and homogeneous.
- Whisk Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and cocoa.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined to avoid overworking the dough which can make cookies tough.
- Incorporate Decorations: Fold in the green sprinkles or chopped green peppermint candies to give the cookies a vibrant and festive appearance and flavor.
- Chill Dough: Refrigerate the dough for 20-30 minutes to firm it up, making it easier to handle and shape into balls.
- Shape Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of the chilled dough and roll them into balls, preparing them for the powdered sugar coat.
- Coat Cookies: Roll each dough ball thoroughly in powdered sugar until fully coated, which will create the signature crinkle effect once baked.
- Bake Cookies: Place the coated dough balls spaced apart on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are set and the centers remain slightly soft for a tender cookie.
- Cool Down: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to set before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring optimal texture.
Notes
- The dough must be chilled before baking to prevent spreading and maintain the crinkled appearance.
- Solid coconut oil, not melted, is essential for the proper texture and structure of the cookies.
- Use powdered sugar generously when rolling the dough balls to achieve the classic crinkle look.
- If you prefer a more intense peppermint flavor, use chopped peppermint candies over sprinkles.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
