Vegan Cookie Dough

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Make this edible vegan cookie dough for a treat that’s ready in 10 minutes or less! Loaded with dark chocolate chips, it’s sweet, rich, and indulgent. You’ll want to eat it by the spoonful!

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

• Safe to eat: Unlike traditional cookie dough that must be baked in order to be considered safe for consumption, this dough is ready to go!
• One bowl recipe: Quick and simple to make, all of the ingredients come together in a single bowl (hello easy cleanup).
• Low cost: The ingredient list is minimal, and it contains pantry staples you likely already have on hand. You might not even have to run to the store!
• Allergy-friendly: Naturally nut-free and dairy-free, this vegan cookie dough recipe can easily be made gluten-free to fit all dietary needs.

If you love cookies, you need to try our snickerdoodles, Cookie Monster cookies, 2-ingredient peanut butter cookies, and Mexican sprinkle cookies.

🍪 What is vegan cookie dough?

Contrary to what you might think, vegan cookie dough is not quite the same as regular cookie dough.

Standard non-vegan cookie dough recipes contain eggs, butter, and milk (along with raw all-purpose flour). In order to kill harmful bacteria and pathogens, the ingredients need to be baked.

Meanwhile, edible cookie dough contains no eggs and is made with heat-treated flour. Both of these differences make it much safer for consumption!

♨️ Why heat-treat flour?

Flour is a raw ingredient, meaning that it has the potential to carry harmful germs. Similar to cooking or baking, heat treating brings the flour to a high enough temperature to kill any potential pathogens.

There are two effective methods for heat-treating flour, both of which are extremely simple! In either method, you’ll want to use a thermometer to ensure the flour reaches a temperature of 166 degrees F.

• Microwave method: Add the flour to a bowl, and heat it in intervals of 30 seconds, stirring in between.
• Oven method: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F, and line a baking pan with parchment paper. Spread the flour on top in an even layer, and bake it for 10-12 minutes. Stir the flour and check its temperature every 2 minutes until the correct temperature is reached.

🌱 Is edible cookie dough vegan?

Edible cookie dough is not always vegan as it can contain animal-based products like butter and milk. However, these items can easily be substituted to make your cookie dough completely plant-based.

For our vegan edible cookie dough recipe, we use our favorite dairy-free butter and a splash of soy milk to recreate the same great taste and texture. You won’t miss the dairy one bit!

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

• Vegan butter: We prefer to use high-quality vegan butter, such as Melt Organics, for a rich, creamy, and ultra-smooth texture. You can also use coconut oil, although it will turn out more oily.
• Brown sugar: We recommend brown sugar for a deep, rich, and caramel flavor, but coconut sugar works just as well.
• Cane sugar: When combined with brown sugar, cane sugar helps sweeten the dough and lighten its color.
• Vanilla extract: To enhance the rest of the ingredients. If possible, we always recommend using a premium vanilla extract as it truly does make a world of difference in the overall taste.
• Flour: All-purpose flour forms the base of the dough. Feel free to substitute it with a 1:1 gluten-free blend if needed.
• Salt: Makes all the difference in creating an irresistible vegan edible cookie dough recipe!
• Soy milk: Used sparingly to combine the dough. Any non-dairy milk you have on hand including oat milk, cashew milk, and coconut milk will yield the same result.
• Vegan chocolate chips: Many dark chocolate chips are safe for vegans to eat. However, semi-sweet or white chocolate chips from an allergen-friendly brand like Enjoy Life taste just as great!

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 Instructions

Step 1: Heat treat

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the all-purpose flour in an even layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 166 degrees F.

Step 2: Beat the wet ingredients

In the bowl of a stand mixer or a bowl with a hand mixer, beat the softened vegan butter, brown sugar, and cane sugar until they are light and fluffy.

Step 3: Mix in the rest

Add in the vanilla, flour, and salt, and mix on low until combined. If the dough seems crumbly, add 1-2 teaspoons of milk at a time until it is smooth.

Step 4: Add chocolate chips

Once the cookie dough is smooth, gently fold in dark chocolate chips, making sure they are evenly distributed. Enjoy immediately, or transfer to an airtight container to chill. Happy eating!

If you have questions about this vegan edible cookie dough, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

☕️ What to serve with vegan cookie dough

There’s nothing more classic than the combination of milk and cookies or, in this case, plant-based milk and vegan cookie dough. However, it also tastes incredible with beverages like these:

• Atole de arroz: A sweet and creamy Mexican rice drink.
• Tejuino: An incredibly refreshing fermented corn beverage.
• Champurrado: A warm Mexican chocolate drink thickened with masa.
• Chocomil: A healthy chocolate beverage that’s dairy and egg-free.

🍽️ How to eat vegan cookie dough

This vegan cookie dough is so good, we can almost guarantee you’ll want to dive in with a spoon as soon as it’s made. However, it can also be used in creative ways like the following:

• As a dip with pretzels, crackers, fruit, etc.
• Layered between cookies as a dessert sandwich.
• Dipped in melted dark chocolate for truffle-inspired cookie dough bites.
• Broken into pieces to be sprinkled on top of vegan ice cream.

🌡️ Storage & reheating

If you have leftover vegan edible cookie dough, follow these storage tips so it stays fresh:

• Fridge: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
• Freezer: Store in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. When you’re ready for more, let the cookie dough thaw in the fridge overnight to soften, then dig in!

♻️ Variations

• Chocolate: For an extra decadent dessert, add cocoa powder to the mixture.
• Fruit: Add dates, raisins, blueberries, cranberries, or dried mango bits for juicy bursts all throughout the dough.
• Peanut butter: For a different flavor, try swirling natural peanut butter into the dough.
• Nuts: Add a crunch factor and some healthy fats by mixing in your favorite chopped nuts like pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, or macadamia nuts.
• Candy: Fold in pieces of your favorite candy for added texture and a unique taste.
• Protein: For a healthier and more filling recipe, replace some of the flour with a scoop of vanilla or chocolate protein powder.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

• Heat-treat the flour: This ensures that your vegan cookie dough will be safe to consume raw.
• Use a thermometer: Eliminate the guesswork by checking your flour with a candy thermometer. This will guarantee it reaches an internal temperature of 166 degrees F.
• Mix well: Since this recipe is served raw, the dough can become a bit grainy. Thoroughly mix it to ensure all of the ingredients are well combined and smooth.
• Adjust the dough: Feel free to adjust the dough consistency by adding more milk or flour until it’s just right for your preferences.

💬 FAQ

🍴 More no-bake recipes

If you enjoyed this vegan cookie dough recipe, be sure to check out some more no-bake desserts like these:

• Edible brownie batter: A rich, decadent, and chocolate-stacked recipe.
• Chocolate peanut butter fudge: Made with just chocolate and peanut butter.
• Vegan chocolate: Perfect to keep on hand for all our fellow chocolate lovers.
• Cookie dough bites: Gluten-free treats with mini chips in every bite.