4.92 from 94 votes

Easy Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

a batch of easy vegan chocolate chip cookies sitting on a cooling rack with a small bowl of salt.
This easy vegan chocolate chip cookies recipe will have you questioning if it's really vegan? Super simple, all in one bowl, and can be Top 8 Allergen Free.

Allergen friendly

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total 22 minutes
a batch of easy vegan chocolate chip cookies sitting on a cooling rack with a small bowl of salt.
4.92 from 94 votes

Easy Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total 22 minutes
This easy vegan chocolate chip cookies recipe will have you questioning if it's really vegan? Super simple, all in one bowl, and can be Top 8 Allergen Free.

Allergen friendly

You won’t be able to get enough of these perfect vegan chocolate chip cookies that only need one bowl and 9 ingredients! You’ll want to make them again and again!

a batch of easy vegan chocolate chip cookies sitting on a cooling rack with a small bowl of salt.

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You can stop your search for the perfect vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe. Why you ask? Because you’ve found it! Vegan or not, this is the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. Period. With dozens of vegan cookie options, this is one we come back to again and again.

If you’re looking for a delightfully soft and chewy cookie with the perfect, subtle crisp on the edges and a caramelized bottom, then you are in for a treat (pun intended!). These are so simple and so tasty!

When we set out to make the best vegan chocolate chip cookies on the internet, we must say it was no easy feat. However! We wouldn’t give up. Our goal was clear. To create not only the best, but a recipe that anyone, even children, could follow and perfect.

More than that though, we know how much you hate dishes, so we also made sure this recipe is all made in one bowl!

We did it using all the traditional cookie ingredients without anything you may have never heard of with a few easy swaps.

Really love chocolate? Try our vegan triple chocolate cookie recipe next!

Get all our cookie recipes! Over 3 dozen varieties!

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These are the BEST Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Easy

I don’t think you can say this enough, but this vegan cookie recipe is truly easy! There’s no obscure ingredients, it’s all pantry staples, so you can have it whenever you want!

Freezable

You have two options, freeze the dough before cooking or bake your cookies, let them cool and then store in the freezer for up to 6 months.

One Bowl

No one likes cleaning up a ton of dishes. This entire recipe is made in one bowl!

No Chilling!

You don’t really want to wait for your cookies to chill in the fridge for 30-60 minutes and we know that. That’s why we created them recipe to be no chill!

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe Ingredients

ingredients to make easy vegan chocolate chip cookies on a table.

Flour

We want to make this recipe simple, so we’re using regular, all-purpose flour. You will want to make sure that you are properly measuring the flour and not over measuring.

Substitute: Want to make it gluten free? Try using Pillsbury 1:1 Flour. We’ve had the best success with this recipe using it. You can also use our Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.

Sugar

While in the past, we’ve used a combination of cane and brown sugar, this recipe uses only brown sugar for these cookies. Brown sugar gives a softer and chewier texture while also creating a caramelization from the molasses that just heightens the sweetness. It also gives a higher rise to the cookies when it reacts to baking soda.

Substitute: You can use other granulated sugars like date sugar or coconut sugar in the same amounts.

Non-Dairy Milk

For the purpose of these cookies, the non-dairy milk is helping with binding and moisture. We have used a lot of vegan egg replacer ideas for these cookies when testing and while they work, we found this was the easiest option that everyone always has on hand.

You can use ANY non-dairy milk here.

Substitute: You can use the same amount of any of the following: full fat canned coconut milk, non-dairy yogurt (we like coconut based), mashed pumpkin or sweet potato, flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flax seed mixed with 3 tablespoon water), applesauce, or mashed banana (this will give a banana flavor).

Non-Dairy Butter

We want the buttery taste, it’s deliciousness, but also for the oil in the batter. You will want to use a vegan butter that has oil listed as the first ingredient and not water – and use sticks instead of tubs based on our vegan butter review.

Substitute: Coconut oil will work as well; however, you’ll loose some of the buttery taste

Vanilla

Not only for flavor, but it also helps with the texture

Salt

Helps to enhance the overall flavor and bring out all the notes you want to taste

Non-Dairy Chocolate Chips

It’s not chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate! Feel free to use regular size chips, mini, dark or semi-sweet, etc.

Substitute: Grab your favorite vegan chocolate bar and chop it up. We love the Lindt Caramel Bar in this and the hint of caramel we get with each bite!

Note: Use ¼ cup less chips if using mini chips.

Baking Soda and Baking Powder

This is our leavening agent that helps the dough rise, but also helps spread the cookies to the perfect size and aeration, as well as the crisp.

Add-ins

Want to level up your cookies? Try some of the following in ½ cup amounts – toasted coconut flakes, chopped peanuts or walnuts, vegan M&Ms, crushed potato chips, and more!

How to Make These Easy Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

  1. Preheat oven to 375˚F (190˚C). In a large bowl, add ½ cup softened vegan butter and 1 cup brown sugar. Beat with a mixer (stand or hand) until light and creamy about 2-3 mins. 

    https://makeitdairyfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/easy-vegan-chocolate-chip-cookies-1-1-1024x683.jpg
  2. Add ¼ cup non-dairy milk, 1 teaspoon each vanilla and baking soda, ½ teaspoon each salt and baking powder, and beat them until combined (about 15 – 20 seconds). 

    https://makeitdairyfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/easy-vegan-chocolate-chip-cookies-1-2-1024x683.jpg
  3. To the same bowl, add 2 cups flour and mix with a spatula until almost completely combined (dough should be soft and pliable)

    https://makeitdairyfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/easy-vegan-chocolate-chip-cookies-1-3-1024x683.jpg
  4. Add 1 cup chocolate chips to the bowl and use a spatula to fold the chips in until fully combined, careful not to overmix. 

    https://makeitdairyfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/easy-vegan-chocolate-chip-cookies-1-4-1024x683.jpg
  5. Drop temperature of oven down to 350˚F(177˚C). Use a cookie scoop to make 12 cookies and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. If desired, place a few more chocolate chips around the top of each cookie. 

    https://makeitdairyfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/easy-vegan-chocolate-chip-cookies-1-5-1024x683.jpg
  6. Bake the cookies for 10-12 if you desire crispy outside with slightly underdone middle or 13-16 minutes for best results. Remove from oven and let rest about 15-20 minutes to set. Sprinkle salt flakes on top if desired. Store any leftovers in an air tight container with a slice of bread for soft cookies or in a glass container for firmer cookies.

    https://makeitdairyfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/easy-vegan-chocolate-chip-cookies-1-6-1024x683.jpg

Tips For Making Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here’s some easy tips on making the best vegan chocolate chip cookies recipe.

  • Preheat the oven before you start making your dough. An accurately heated oven will ensure that the cookies can rise and spread perfectly.
  • DON’T mismeasure flour or overmix your batter. This will alter the texture immensely and not give you cookies that you will think are perfect.
  • Cream the butter and sugar properly. Don’t just beat your butter and sugar together until it’s mixed. You want to keep whipping it until the mixture is a pale yellow and fluffy. It takes about 2-3 minutes to do this. Not doing this properly can cause your cookies to be flat.
  • Use a cookie scoop to ensure uniform size of cookies so they bake at an even temperature.
  • Don’t make substitutions unless you are aware of the changes it will make to your cookies
  • Make sure to watch the video before making
  • Without opening the oven door – watch your cookies in the oven as all oven temperatures are different you may need to pull out your cookies earlier or leave longer
  • If you live in a hot climate, you may benefit from chilling your dough for 30 minutes, otherwise they will still taste amazing but spread more.

How to Store Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cooked cookies should be stored in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

To Store Raw Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

You can store uncooked cookie dough in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 5 days. If you need to freeze, place dough in an air tight, freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months.

close up of a vegan chocolate chip cookie with salt flakes and melted chocolate on top.

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a batch of easy vegan chocolate chip cookies sitting on a cooling rack with a small bowl of salt.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total 22 minutes
This easy vegan chocolate chip cookies recipe will have you questioning if it's really vegan? Super simple, all in one bowl, and can be Top 8 Allergen Free.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 cookies
Calories 279kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375˚F (190˚C). In a large bowl, add ½ cup softened vegan butter and 1 cup brown sugar. Beat with a mixer (stand or hand) until light and creamy about 2-3 mins. 
    vegan butter and brown sugar creamed in a bowl.
  • Add ¼ cup non-dairy milk, 1 teaspoon each vanilla and baking soda, ½ teaspoon each salt and baking powder, and beat them until combined (about 15 – 20 seconds). 
    a bowl of vegan cookie dough without flour added yet.
  • To the same bowl, add 2 cups flour and mix with a spatula until almost completely combined (dough should be soft and pliable)
    a bowl of vegan cookie dough with flour added in.
  • Add 1 cup chocolate chips to the bowl and use a spatula to fold the chips in until fully combined, careful not to overmix. 
    a bowl of vegan cookie dough with chocolate chips folded in.
  • Drop temperature of oven down to 350˚F(177˚C). Use a cookie scoop to make 12 cookies and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. If desired, place a few more chocolate chips around the top of each cookie. 
    scooped vegan chocolate chip cookies on a baking sheet not yet cooked.
  • Bake the cookies for 10-12 if you desire crispy outside with slightly underdone middle or 13-16 minutes for best results. Remove from oven and let rest about 15-20 minutes to set. Sprinkle salt flakes on top if desired. Store any leftovers in an air tight container with a slice of bread for soft cookies or in a glass container for firmer cookies.
    cooked vegan chocolate chip cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Notes

Gluten Free : Use a 1:1 Gluten Free flour for this recipe.  Our favorite at time of publication is Pillsbury Gluten Free.  Use the same amount minus 2 tablespoons. 
Freezing: You can freeze the dough before cooking in an freezer safe container for up to 6 months. We like to scoop ours first and lay on a waxed paper lined tray and then one frozen pop them into a safe container or bag.  
If you want to bake them and then freeze, let cool completely and then freeze up to 3 months.
Dark Tray: If using a dark baking tray, we highly recommend using parchment paper or silicone baking mats.  Otherwise, you will want to remove your cookies around the 12 minute mark so they don’t burn. 
Nutritional facts are just estimates. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. 
 
*This recipe was Originally published in 2020.
After extensive testing, this recipe was updated in 2023 to change baking soda from ½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon and also up the applesauce from ¼ to ½ cup.  We believe this will help the issue some people were having with cookies not flattening and staying in a ball.  
Note that in 2024, we updated again, removing all the applesauce as we wanted to make this recipe even easier and more pantry staple friendly.  It also has added non-dairy milk and baking powder.

Video

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Nutrition

Serving1cookieCalories279kcalCarbohydrates43gProtein3gFat11gSaturated Fat5gPolyunsaturated Fat2gMonounsaturated Fat3gTrans Fat0.04gSodium303mgPotassium57mgFiber2gSugar25gVitamin A379IUVitamin C0.4mgCalcium45mgIron2mg

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make these Top 9 Allergen Free?

You will be happy to know that you can make these completely free of top allergens.
For the vegan butter, we would recommend using a soy free vegan butter, like Earth Balance soy free in the red tub
For gluten free, we have had the best of luck with Pillsbury 1:1 Gluten Free Flour.

Are chocolate chips vegan?

Chocolate itself is always vegan. It’s when things are added during the processing that it becomes potentially not vegan.

Traditionally, milk chocolate chips are not vegan; however, many dark chocolate chips can be vegan.

The main ingredient that makes a chocolate not vegan is either milk or whey (whey powder). If those ingredients are not included in the ingredient list, then the chocolate chips are likely vegan.

You could also make your own vegan chocolate chips by following a homemade chocolate recipe and then piping chips instead.

Where do you find vegan chocolate chips?

If you are looking to just find vegan chocolate chips in the store, then you can absolutely find them. They are actually getting easier and easier.

One of our favorites is Enjoy Life, and they can be found in most grocery stores, Target, Walmart, and stores like Whole Foods and natural grocery stores. They are Top 8 Allergen Free and do not contain and dairy or eggs making them completely vegan.

Stores like Whole Foods will also have a large variety of other vegan chocolate chips like Lilys or Chatfields.

Some other brands to look for are Pascha, Guittard (dark or semi-sweet), Equal Exchange, and many store brands semi-sweet are vegan like Kirkland, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Simple Truth Organic (Kroger) and Bowl and Basket (Shoprite).

Should my dough be sticky?

No. If you have sticky dough and followed the instructions, it could be because of the altitude that you live at or maybe things weren’t measure entirely correctly.

In the case of your dough because sticky, we first recommend that you watch the video.
After that, you can able a few tablespoons of flour at a time until the dough is no longer sticky. We don’t recommend adding more than 3 additional tablespoons of flour.

If you add more flour and your dough is still sticky, place in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Why did my cookies come out cakey?

This is a result of mismeasuring flour or overmixing your batter. You will want to make sure that you are spooning in the flour to your measuring cups and only blending until mixed.

Can I prep these ahead?

Yes! Let cool completely and then leave in an air tight container on the counter for up to 5 days. For softer cookies, place a slice of bread in the container. For crispier cookies, place in a glass container.

Can I freeze the dough?

Of course. Whether you want to eat the entire batch at one time or you just need a couple here and there, you can totally roll out what you need and then freeze the remaining batter in an air tight freezer container or bag.

Can I refrigerate the dough until ready to use?

Absolutely! While chilling dough isn’t needed for this recipe, if you wanted to make the dough ahead, but not ready to make, just cover the bowl and place in the fridge up 3 days.

It does take chilled cookies longer to cook, so check after the recommended baking time and you may need an additional few minutes to finish your cookies.

What is vegan sugar?

In the United States, most sugar has been processed through bone char. While there are no animal parts left in the sugar, many vegans are not okay with the practice of using animal parts in the refining process.

This refers to white sugar, brown sugar, and powdered sugar.

One easy way to ensure that your sugar has not been processed with bone char is to look for Organic or Non-Gmo sugars as bone char is not allowed with either of these.
Some sugar packages also say bone char free.

This is not the case in most other countries. Learn more about why your sugar might not be vegan.

Can I eat this cookie dough?

Many people believe that since there’s no eggs in the dough, that they could just eat the dough; however, flour is actually more a risk for salmonella poisoning than eggs.
For that reason, we do not recommend eating this dough.

However, we do have an edible vegan chocolate chip cookie dough that you can eat. As well as a gluten free edible vegan chocolate chip cookie dough.

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  1. Just made these for the first time. Wow. What a great recipe. They’re so delicious! Everyone loves them especially non vegans. Thank you!

    1. Wow! Thank you so much for giving the recipe a try. It’s amazing to hear that our recipe has earned a permanent spot amongst cookie lineup!